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Mali vs Sudan
Side-by-side comparison of Mali and Sudan from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Mali scores 25.3 in the NationsTree Index (175th in the world) and Sudan scores 16.2 (194th), a gap of 9.1 points. Their trees are 4.9 m and 5.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sudan has 2.1 times the population of Mali. Sudan has 51% more land area than Mali. The economy of Sudan is 28% larger than that of Mali (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Mali 25.2 million and Sudan 51.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,503 in Mali and $2,192 in Sudan (2025, international dollars). People in Sudan live on average 5.8 years longer (66.5 vs 60.7 years).
Of 26 indicators reported by both countries, Mali ranks higher in the world on 19 and Sudan on 7. Mali is clearly stronger in trade, economy and institutions & safety. Sudan is clearly stronger in tourism, science & innovation and main industries.
As a nation, Sudan is the older of the two (statehood since 1956, 70 years), compared with Mali (since 1960). Over the last five years Mali improved faster (direction score 49 vs 2 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Mali and Sudan.
Malibetter
40.3%
60th of 189
Sudan
204.4%
188th of 189
UnemploymentEconomy
Malibetter
2.8%
35th of 187
Sudan
7.5%
130th of 187
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Malibetter
2,600
89th of 183
Sudan
81
173rd of 183
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Malibetter
82%
141st of 193
Sudan
39%
193rd of 193
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Mali overtook Sudan in GDP per person (PPP) in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Mali overtook Sudan in the NationsTree Index in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Sudan has been ahead of Mali in GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
MaliSudan All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Mali | Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,241,23823rd/216 · 2024 | 1,878,00015th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,220,19023rd/216 · 2024 | 1,868,00015th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 25.2 m58th/217 · 2025 | 51.7 m30th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.90%14th/217 · 2025 | 2.38%30th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 20.1186th/216 · 2024 | 27.0176th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 32.2%190th/217 · 2025 | 34.9%183rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 45.8%6th/217 · 2025 | 40.2%24th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.4%211th/217 · 2025 | 3.4%182nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $30.07 bn114th/210 · 2025 | $60.16 bn91st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $88.27 bn107th/199 · 2025 | $113.26 bn98th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $75.43 bn107th/199 · 2025 | $96.78 bn99th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,193190th/210 · 2025 | $1,165191st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,503181st/199 · 2025 | $2,192190th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,120182nd/201 · 2025 | $900189th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.6%42nd/210 · 2025 | 3.1%112th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.3%94th/180 · 2025 | 138.8%179th/180 · 2022 |
| Unemployment % | 2.8%35th/187 · 2025 | 7.5%130th/187 · 2022 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 865.9%1999 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 40.3%60th/189 · 2025 | 204.4%188th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.5%63rd/192 · 2025 | -3.1%110th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 33.0%8th/197 · 2025 | 29.4%15th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 23.4%103rd/200 · 2025 | 33.6%39th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.5%129th/192 · 2025 | 5.1%2009 |
| Services % of GDP | 36.6%191st/200 · 2025 | 37.0%189th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.64 bn121st/182 · 2025 | $663.6 m163rd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $8.03 bn124th/182 · 2025 | $769.4 m170th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.1%136th/183 · 2025 | 1.1%183rd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 26.7%147th/183 · 2025 | 1.3%183rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 48.8%147th/183 · 2025 | 2.4%183rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.6%109th/170 · 2023 | 14.3%2018 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 6.5%143rd/171 · 2023 | 1.1%2018 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 6.2%135th/171 · 2023 | 50.6%2018 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.7%139th/171 · 2023 | 0.7%2018 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 5.4%95th/168 · 2023 | 2.2%2018 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 0.1%75th/191 · 2025 | -8.6%167th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.8%75th/196 · 2025 | 0.0%179th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 18.4%27th/209 · 2021 | 12.8%39th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 3.30%31st/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 16.18%6th/209 · 2021 | 6.63%18th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.23%32nd/209 · 2021 | 2.81%26th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 5.5%133rd/206 · 2024 | 11.2%94th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,60089th/183 · 2022 | 81173rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 217,000150th/194 · 2019 | 836,000106th/194 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $231.0 m119th/175 · 2018 | $1.04 bn71st/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.5%81st/168 · 2018 | 20.9%32nd/168 · 2018 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 195,0001995 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 60.7211th/217 · 2024 | 66.5182nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 73.0184th/196 · 2024 | 61.6177th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.19148th/174 · 2023 | 0.252017 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.32018 | 0.7132nd/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 82%141st/193 · 2024 | 39%193rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 10.2%151st/153 · 2022 | 26.2%136th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 38.9%164th/173 · 2023 | 43.5%2019 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 35.3%39th/55 · 2021 | 7.4%2009 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.6%205th/217 · 2025 | 6.0%180th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.8%158th/193 · 2023 | 2.9%182nd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 35.6%97th/98 · 2024 | 53.5%2008 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 5.1%2015 | 15.9%2015 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.419188th/193 · 2023 | 0.511176th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.763rd/108 · 2021 | 34.22014 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 36.1%95th/108 · 2021 | 10.1%2014 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 49.5%201st/215 · 2024 | 66.0%180th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 20.0%127th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 36.8%160th/186 · 2024 | 18.6%2017 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 112116th/210 · 2022 | 70180th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.8174th/208 · 2022 | 0.1199th/208 · 2022 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.00148th/164 · 2022 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 7332002 | 2,74744th/82 · 2020 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 02014 | 911,090100th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3031st/203 · 2024 | 0.4339th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 71.1%28th/212 · 2022 | 61.0%37th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 35.5168th/200 · 2023 | 37.6174th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 8.7%172nd/214 · 2024 | 11.9%160th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 359136th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 24.3191st/205 · 2025 | 12.4202nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 29.1163rd/207 · 2025 | 16.3202nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 39.1177th/207 · 2025 | 28.0203rd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 21.8206th/207 · 2025 | 29.3201st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 41.6166th/205 · 2025 | 25.5199th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 34.7168th/205 · 2025 | 21.2200th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 5.12008 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $952.9 m84th/156 · 2025 | $369.4 m113th/156 · 2021 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.9%14th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%119th/156 · 2021 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 14.8%18th/154 · 2025 | 9.5%32nd/154 · 2021 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 41,00079th/170 · 2020 | 144,00043rd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.54%107th/168 · 2020 | 1.34%47th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 64.0 m58th/163 · 2025 | 57.0 m60th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 11.0 m2013 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.15%92nd/110 · 2023 | 0.23%2005 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 15366th/137 · 2020 |
| Scientific articles articles | 117137th/197 · 2023 | 471104th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Mali or Sudan?
Sudan has the larger population: 51.7 m (2025) compared with 25.2 m for Mali (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Mali or Sudan?
Sudan is larger: 1,878,000 km² (2024) compared with 1,241,238 km² for Mali (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Mali or Sudan?
Sudan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $113.26 bn intl. (2025) compared with $88.27 bn intl. for Mali (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Mali or Sudan?
Mali has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,503 intl. (2025) compared with $2,192 intl. for Sudan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Mali or Sudan?
Sudan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 66.5 years (2024) compared with 60.7 years for Mali (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Mali or Sudan?
Mali spends more on the military: $952.9 m (2025) compared with $369.4 m for Sudan (2021). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Mali or Sudan?
Mali: 25.3 points (175th in the world); Sudan: 16.2 points (194th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Burkina Faso
Guinea
Senegal
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Cameroon
UgandaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Mali vs Sudan — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/mali-vs-sudan. Data as of 26 October 2026.