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Sudan vs Zambia
Side-by-side comparison of Sudan and Zambia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Zambia scores 31.3 in the NationsTree Index (160th in the world) and Sudan scores 16.2 (194th), a gap of 15.1 points. Their trees are 5.2 m and 5.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sudan has 2.4 times the population of Zambia. Sudan is 2.5 times larger than Zambia by land area. The economy of Sudan is 18% larger than that of Zambia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Sudan 51.7 million and Zambia 21.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $4,379 in Zambia and $2,192 in Sudan (2025, international dollars). Life expectancy is almost the same: 66.5 and 66.5 years.
Of 25 indicators reported by both countries, Sudan ranks higher in the world on 3 and Zambia on 22. Sudan is clearly stronger in military, tourism and science & innovation. Zambia is clearly stronger in trade, institutions & safety and environment & energy.
As a nation, Sudan is the older of the two (statehood since 1956, 70 years), compared with Zambia (since 1964). Over the last five years Zambia improved faster (direction score 71 vs 2 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Sudan and Zambia.
Sudan
81
173rd of 183
Zambiabetter
3,980
70th of 183
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Sudan
39%
193rd of 193
Zambiabetter
91%
93rd of 193
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
Sudan
21.2
200th of 205
Zambiabetter
52.1
120th of 205
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Sudan
29.3
201st of 207
Zambiabetter
64.6
121st of 207
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Sudan
37.6
174th of 200
Zambiabetter
20.2
120th of 200
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Zambia overtook Sudan in life expectancy in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia overtook Sudan in GDP per person (PPP) in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia overtook Sudan in the NationsTree Index in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Sudan has been ahead of Zambia in GDP (PPP) 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
SudanZambia 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 | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,878,00015th/216 · 2024 | 752,61238th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,868,00015th/216 · 2024 | 743,39037th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 51.7 m30th/217 · 2025 | 21.9 m61st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.38%30th/217 · 2025 | 2.77%19th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 27.0176th/216 · 2024 | 28.7175th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 34.9%183rd/217 · 2025 | 45.9%159th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 40.2%24th/217 · 2025 | 41.0%18th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.4%182nd/217 · 2025 | 2.0%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $60.16 bn91st/210 · 2025 | $28.88 bn116th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $113.26 bn98th/199 · 2025 | $95.97 bn103rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $96.78 bn99th/199 · 2025 | $82.01 bn104th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,165191st/210 · 2025 | $1,318187th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $2,192190th/199 · 2025 | $4,379173rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $900189th/201 · 2025 | $1,200180th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.1%112th/210 · 2025 | 3.8%86th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 138.8%179th/180 · 2022 | 13.9%165th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 7.5%130th/187 · 2022 | 5.9%108th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 865.9%1999 | 71.4%39th/55 · 2021 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 204.4%188th/189 · 2025 | 100.6%170th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.1%110th/192 · 2025 | -3.8%125th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 29.4%15th/197 · 2025 | 4.1%113th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 33.6%39th/200 · 2025 | 35.3%31st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 5.1%2009 | 8.7%114th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 37.0%189th/200 · 2025 | 57.0%106th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $663.6 m163rd/182 · 2025 | $8.85 bn115th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $769.4 m170th/182 · 2025 | $6.97 bn128th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 1.1%183rd/183 · 2025 | 35.0%97th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 1.3%183rd/183 · 2025 | 27.6%145th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 2.4%183rd/183 · 2025 | 62.5%122nd/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 14.3%2018 | 2.7%90th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 1.1%2018 | 14.1%121st/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 50.6%2018 | 8.7%122nd/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.7%2018 | 73.0%2nd/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.2%2018 | 1.5%143rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -8.6%167th/191 · 2025 | -5.5%144th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.0%179th/196 · 2025 | 4.5%46th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 12.8%39th/209 · 2021 | 35.3%5th/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 | 0.23%23rd/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 6.63%18th/209 · 2021 | 28.25%2nd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.81%26th/209 · 2021 | 6.78%11th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.2%94th/206 · 2024 | 5.1%138th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 81173rd/183 · 2022 | 3,98070th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 836,000106th/194 · 2018 | 502,000122nd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.04 bn71st/175 · 2018 | — |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 20.9%32nd/168 · 2018 | — |
| Outbound trips departures | 195,0001995 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 66.5182nd/217 · 2024 | 66.5181st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 61.6177th/196 · 2024 | 48.4165th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.252017 | 0.32132nd/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.7132nd/145 · 2021 | 2.02010 |
| 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 | 44.1%118th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 43.5%2019 | 56.8%149th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 7.4%2009 | 2.3%2015 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.0%180th/217 · 2025 | 3.5%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.9%182nd/193 · 2023 | 6.0%105th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 53.5%2008 | 71.8%77th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 15.9%2015 | 4.0%2012 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.511176th/193 · 2023 | 0.595154th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 34.22014 | 51.5106th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 10.1%2014 | 71.7%107th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 66.0%180th/215 · 2024 | 53.6%197th/215 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 18.6%2017 | 17.1%180th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 70180th/210 · 2022 | 109122nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.1199th/208 · 2022 | 0.8173rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 | 2.30117th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 2,74744th/82 · 2020 | 1,24862nd/82 · 2019 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 911,090100th/161 · 2023 | 321,739124th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.4339th/203 · 2024 | 0.5445th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 61.0%37th/212 · 2021 | 83.0%10th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 37.6174th/200 · 2023 | 20.2120th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 11.9%160th/214 · 2024 | 60.5%31st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 359136th/149 · 2024 | 812103rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 12.4202nd/205 · 2025 | 44.4136th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 16.3202nd/207 · 2025 | 38.9129th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 28.0203rd/207 · 2025 | 50.5135th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 29.3201st/207 · 2025 | 64.6121st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 25.5199th/205 · 2025 | 47.7132nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 21.2200th/205 · 2025 | 52.1120th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 5.12008 | 5.22015 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $369.4 m113th/156 · 2021 | $405.9 m111th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.9%119th/156 · 2021 | 1.3%102nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 9.5%32nd/154 · 2021 | 4.5%92nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 144,00043rd/170 · 2020 | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.34%47th/168 · 2020 | 0.24%150th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 57.0 m60th/163 · 2025 | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2024 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 11.0 m2013 | 2.0 m1990 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.23%2005 | 0.28%2008 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 15366th/137 · 2020 | 1892nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 471104th/197 · 2023 | 367112th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Sudan or Zambia?
Sudan has the larger population: 51.7 m (2025) compared with 21.9 m for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Sudan or Zambia?
Sudan is larger: 1,878,000 km² (2024) compared with 752,612 km² for Zambia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Sudan or Zambia?
Sudan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $113.26 bn intl. (2025) compared with $95.97 bn intl. for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Sudan or Zambia?
Zambia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $4,379 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 Zambia?
Zambia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 66.5 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 Zambia?
Zambia spends more on the military: $405.9 m (2025) compared with $369.4 m for Sudan (2021). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Sudan or Zambia?
Zambia: 31.3 points (160th 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
Uganda
ZimbabweSources
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 Zambia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/sudan-vs-zambia. Data as of 26 October 2026.