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Sudan vs Uganda
Side-by-side comparison of Sudan and Uganda from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Uganda scores 32.6 in the NationsTree Index (154th in the world) and Sudan scores 16.2 (194th), a gap of 16.4 points. Their trees are 5.2 m and 7.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sudan and Uganda have a similar population. Sudan is 7.8 times larger than Uganda by land area. The economy of Uganda is 58% larger than that of Sudan (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Sudan 51.7 million and Uganda 51.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,488 in Uganda and $2,192 in Sudan (2025, international dollars). People in Uganda live on average 2.0 years longer (68.5 vs 66.5 years).
Of 26 indicators reported by both countries, Sudan ranks higher in the world on 4 and Uganda on 22. Sudan is clearly stronger in tourism, infrastructure & digital and military. Uganda is clearly stronger in trade, institutions & safety and economy.
As a nation, Sudan is the older of the two (statehood since 1956, 70 years), compared with Uganda (since 1962). Over the last five years Uganda improved faster (direction score 73 vs 2 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Sudan and Uganda.
Sudan
7.5%
130th of 187
Ugandabetter
2.7%
31st of 187
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Sudan
39%
193rd of 193
Ugandabetter
91%
93rd of 193
General government gross debtEconomy
Sudan
204.4%
188th of 189
Ugandabetter
53.2%
96th of 189
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Sudan
12.4
202nd of 205
Ugandabetter
46.0
133rd of 205
Regulatory qualityInstitutions & safety
Sudan
25.5
199th of 205
Ugandabetter
45.3
143rd of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Uganda overtook Sudan in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Uganda overtook Sudan in the NationsTree Index in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Uganda overtook Sudan in life expectancy in 2017 and has stayed ahead since.
Sudan has been ahead of Uganda in 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
SudanUganda 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 | Sudan | Uganda |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,878,00015th/216 · 2024 | 241,55180th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,868,00015th/216 · 2024 | 200,52085th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 51.7 m30th/217 · 2025 | 51.4 m31st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.38%30th/217 · 2025 | 2.70%21st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 27.0176th/216 · 2024 | 249.455th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 34.9%183rd/217 · 2025 | 31.9%192nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 40.2%24th/217 · 2025 | 43.1%10th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.4%182nd/217 · 2025 | 2.2%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $60.16 bn91st/210 · 2025 | $61.99 bn89th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $113.26 bn98th/199 · 2025 | $179.21 bn83rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $96.78 bn99th/199 · 2025 | $153.15 bn83rd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,165191st/210 · 2025 | $1,206189th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $2,192190th/199 · 2025 | $3,488182nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $900189th/201 · 2025 | $1,120182nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.1%112th/210 · 2025 | 6.3%28th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 138.8%179th/180 · 2022 | 3.6%108th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 7.5%130th/187 · 2022 | 2.7%31st/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 865.9%1999 | 54.4%28th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 204.4%188th/189 · 2025 | 53.2%96th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.1%110th/192 · 2025 | -6.6%170th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 29.4%15th/197 · 2025 | 26.1%18th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 33.6%39th/200 · 2025 | 24.3%93rd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 5.1%2009 | 14.5%49th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 37.0%189th/200 · 2025 | 42.1%178th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $663.6 m163rd/182 · 2025 | $13.29 bn102nd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $769.4 m170th/182 · 2025 | $17.83 bn97th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 1.1%183rd/183 · 2025 | 21.4%140th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 1.3%183rd/183 · 2025 | 28.8%136th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 2.4%183rd/183 · 2025 | 50.2%143rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 14.3%2018 | 2.3%98th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 1.1%2018 | 14.3%120th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 50.6%2018 | 39.3%42nd/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.7%2018 | 0.7%142nd/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.2%2018 | 1.9%132nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -8.6%167th/191 · 2025 | -5.1%139th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.0%179th/196 · 2025 | 5.4%40th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 12.8%39th/209 · 2021 | 7.5%57th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 3.30%31st/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/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 | 6.63%18th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.81%26th/209 · 2021 | 7.48%9th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.2%94th/206 · 2024 | 43.6%11th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 81173rd/183 · 2022 | 824135th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 836,000106th/194 · 2018 | 473,000128th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.04 bn71st/175 · 2018 | $518.0 m97th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 20.9%32nd/168 · 2018 | 9.2%62nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 195,0001995 | 568,00074th/107 · 2016 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 66.5182nd/217 · 2024 | 68.5166th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 61.6177th/196 · 2024 | 48.7166th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.252017 | 0.19147th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.7132nd/145 · 2021 | 0.52010 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 39%193rd/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 26.2%136th/153 · 2022 | 23.1%137th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 43.5%2019 | 24.1%2007 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 7.4%2009 | 1.5%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.0%180th/217 · 2025 | 4.1%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.9%182nd/193 · 2023 | 4.2%150th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 53.5%2008 | 77.0%70th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 15.9%2015 | 4.6%2014 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.511176th/193 · 2023 | 0.582157th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 34.22014 | 38.275th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 10.1%2014 | 54.4%103rd/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 66.0%180th/215 · 2024 | 55.3%192nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 18.1%141st/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 20.4%126th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 18.6%2017 | 8.9%185th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 70180th/210 · 2022 | 83165th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.1199th/208 · 2022 | 0.2189th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 | 2.19139th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 2,74744th/82 · 2020 | 2592002 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 911,090100th/161 · 2023 | 21,650152nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.4339th/203 · 2024 | 0.1721st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 61.0%37th/212 · 2021 | 90.9%5th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 37.6174th/200 · 2023 | 31.2155th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 11.9%160th/214 · 2024 | 11.9%159th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 359136th/149 · 2024 | 503119th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 12.4202nd/205 · 2025 | 46.0133rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 16.3202nd/207 · 2025 | 25.8177th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 28.0203rd/207 · 2025 | 47.6147th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 29.3201st/207 · 2025 | 50.4173rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 25.5199th/205 · 2025 | 45.3143rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 21.2200th/205 · 2025 | 39.2152nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 5.12008 | 9.0114th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $369.4 m113th/156 · 2021 | $1.30 bn79th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.9%119th/156 · 2021 | 2.0%67th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 9.5%32nd/154 · 2021 | 9.0%35th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 144,00043rd/170 · 2020 | 46,00073rd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.34%47th/168 · 2020 | 0.24%151st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 57.0 m60th/163 · 2025 | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 11.0 m2013 | 4.0 m2016 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.23%2005 | 0.44%64th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 15366th/137 · 2020 | 2290th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 471104th/197 · 2023 | 1,42482nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Sudan or Uganda?
Sudan has the larger population: 51.7 m (2025) compared with 51.4 m for Uganda (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Sudan or Uganda?
Sudan is larger: 1,878,000 km² (2024) compared with 241,551 km² for Uganda (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Sudan or Uganda?
Uganda has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $179.21 bn intl. (2025) compared with $113.26 bn intl. for Sudan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Sudan or Uganda?
Uganda has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,488 intl. (2025) compared with $2,192 intl. for Sudan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Sudan or Uganda?
Uganda has the higher life expectancy at birth: 68.5 years (2024) compared with 66.5 years for Sudan (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Sudan or Uganda?
Uganda spends more on the military: $1.30 bn (2025) compared with $369.4 m for Sudan (2021). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Sudan or Uganda?
Uganda: 32.6 points (154th 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.
Cameroon
Mali
Senegal
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Côte d'Ivoire
DR CongoSources
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). Sudan vs Uganda — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/sudan-vs-uganda. Data as of 26 October 2026.