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Sudan's economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Sudan ranked 93/197 by economy size with a GDP of $49.9B and 178/197 by GDP per capita at $989. Sudan has $136B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 252%.

In 2025, Sudan made up 0.04% of the world's economy, compared to 0.08% in 1960.

The chart below shows GDP in nominal terms, GDP adjusted for inflation (in constant dollars), and a bar chart of year-over-year inflation-adjusted growth.

GDP, current $
GDP, constant 2015 $
GDP growth
Year GDP GDP growth
Current $ Constant $
1960 $1,126,364,162 $9,621,210,053 -
1961 $1,222,860,429 $9,623,364,370 8.57%
1962 $1,328,259,625 $10,288,901,061 8.62%
1963 $1,351,234,926 $9,995,978,960 1.73%
1964 $1,388,282,600 $9,883,979,102 2.74%
1965 $1,446,869,619 $10,553,823,688 4.22%
1966 $1,484,491,676 $10,176,508,924 2.6%
1967 $1,607,409,539 $10,321,430,685 8.28%
1968 $1,677,771,401 $10,524,063,161 4.38%
1969 $1,847,501,441 $10,670,279,284 10.1%
1970 $2,100,229,759 $11,302,501,304 13.7%
1971 $2,288,340,041 $11,556,504,009 8.96%
1972 $2,483,055,722 $10,970,475,252 8.51%
1973 $3,077,254,460 $11,039,830,076 23.9%
1974 $3,958,931,660 $12,303,370,550 28.7%
1975 $4,823,090,192 $14,236,656,554 21.8%
1976 $6,013,210,816 $16,609,226,651 24.7%
1977 $7,499,005,639 $17,642,960,632 24.7%
1978 $8,128,719,315 $16,596,558,979 8.4%
1979 $8,418,407,787 $15,763,644,181 3.56%
1980 $8,951,800,000 $16,003,931,009 6.34%
1981 $10,753,888,154 $17,194,233,567 20.1%
1982 $8,732,542,274 $18,218,780,591 -18.8%
1983 $8,230,153,846 $18,594,543,248 -5.75%
1984 $10,447,615,385 $17,663,159,912 26.9%
1985 $8,075,259,600 $16,553,729,141 -22.7%
1986 $10,092,200,000 $17,449,916,752 25%
1987 $12,093,333,333 $19,931,449,275 19.8%
1988 $14,372,555,556 $19,865,457,877 18.8%
1989 $21,408,111,111 $21,639,720,128 49%
1990 $33,641,222,222 $20,456,015,801 57.1%
1991 $44,171,194,366 $21,992,448,810 31.3%
1992 $7,031,933,492 $23,439,081,608 -84.1%
1993 $8,881,005,436 $24,509,954,459 26.3%
1994 $12,793,794,737 $24,756,580,789 44.1%
1995 $13,830,363,900 $26,241,255,779 8.1%
1996 $9,018,300,725 $27,794,508,186 -34.8%
1997 $11,681,175,864 $32,884,421,186 29.5%
1998 $11,250,221,537 $34,301,247,873 -3.69%
1999 $10,682,028,340 $35,365,991,404 -5.05%
2000 $12,257,299,147 $37,610,270,337 14.7%
2001 $15,716,361,792 $40,055,073,507 28.2%
2002 $18,137,128,388 $42,460,970,096 15.4%
2003 $21,355,298,460 $45,131,259,049 17.7%
2004 $26,646,007,251 $47,451,406,763 24.8%
2005 $35,182,711,988 $50,129,334,265 32%
2006 $45,263,831,634 $53,403,487,492 28.7%
2007 $59,440,139,775 $56,466,323,951 31.3%
2008 $64,833,083,257 $58,638,439,293 9.07%
2009 $51,621,044,077 $57,015,500,648 -20.4%
2010 $58,962,978,034 $59,215,296,614 14.2%
2011 $55,018,567,211 $57,312,394,053 -6.69%
2012 $37,632,919,967 $47,566,600,027 -31.6%
2013 $43,024,018,082 $48,496,595,855 14.3%
2014 $49,516,748,618 $50,757,206,253 15.1%
2015 $51,726,758,677 $51,726,758,677 4.46%
2016 $42,630,376,000 $53,520,457,581 -17.6%
2017 $41,283,617,976 $53,900,054,790 -3.16%
2018 $32,333,780,383 $52,455,031,755 -21.7%
2019 $32,338,079,165 $51,312,429,477 0.01%
2020 $27,034,593,750 $49,449,890,489 -16.4%
2021 $34,229,513,775 $48,525,909,157 26.6%
2022 $51,666,875,363 $48,061,119,948 50.9%
2023 $39,898,289,821 $33,915,159,868 -22.8%
2024 $49,909,807,030 $29,338,888,295 25.1%

Economic Statistics of Sudan

Sudan Rank
Gross domestic product
$49.9B
2024
93/197
GDP growth
25.1%
2023-2024
7/196
GDP per capita
$989
2024
178/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,127
2024
185/197
Government debt
$136B
2024
51/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
252%
2025
2/185
Government debt per person
$2,691
2024
107/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,875
2025
170/197
Income share by richest 10%
27.8%
2014
83/169
Income share by poorest 10%
3.2%
2014
48/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
6.17%
2025
194/195
Consumer prices inflation
138.8%
2021-2022
2/195
Unemployment rate
7.53%
2022
57/196
Population
52963918
30/197

Sudan's GDP per capita

Sudan has a GDP per capita of $989, ranking 178/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $2,127, ranking 185/197, and a median annual after tax income of $1,875, ranking 170/197.

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $134.7 -
1961 $141.6 -
1962 $148.9 -
1963 $146.6 -
1964 $145.7 -
1965 $146.8 -
1966 $145.6 -
1967 $152.4 -
1968 $153.7 -
1969 $163.5 -
1970 $179.6 -
1971 $189 -
1972 $198.2 -
1973 $235.8 -
1974 $291.5 -
1975 $343 -
1976 $413 -
1977 $497 -
1978 $518 -
1979 $515 -
1980 $525 -
1981 $605 -
1982 $472 -
1983 $431 -
1984 $534 -
1985 $406 -
1986 $497 -
1987 $584 -
1988 $680 -
1989 $992 -
1990 $1,528 $1,468
1991 $1,966 $1,599
1992 $307 $1,710
1993 $379 $1,794
1994 $532 $1,805
1995 $561 $1,902
1996 $357 $2,006
1997 $453 $2,358
1998 $425 $2,428
1999 $394 $2,475
2000 $441 $2,616
2001 $551 $2,769
2002 $621 $2,898
2003 $714 $3,058
2004 $872 $3,215
2005 $1,125 $3,407
2006 $1,415 $3,637
2007 $1,814 $3,836
2008 $1,928 $3,938
2009 $1,493 $3,732
2010 $1,665 $3,806
2011 $1,522 $4,112
2012 $1,019 $3,710
2013 $1,139 $3,725
2014 $1,275 $4,261
2015 $1,292 $4,217
2016 $1,033 $4,470
2017 $967 $4,252
2018 $731 $4,199
2019 $710 $3,914
2020 $578 $3,349
2021 $712 $3,249
2022 $1,046 $3,355
2023 $797 $2,421
2024 $989 $2,127

Sudan's government spending, deficit, and chart

This chart shows Sudan's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Sudan recorded a fiscal deficit in 32 years — average annual deficit equal to -4.63% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $3.27B (6.17% of GDP), with a deficit of -2.68%.

The national debt reached $136B, ranking 51st out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 252%, ranking 2nd.

Government spending
Government debt
Deficit/surplus
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
1990 31% - -16.2%
1991 45.7% - -26.5%
1992 50.4% 495% -24.5%
1993 23.7% 285.9% -8.04%
1994 19.6% 386% -3.03%
1995 12.9% 239% -3.48%
1996 9.31% 220.9% -2.61%
1997 7.38% 167.7% -0.59%
1998 7.79% 179.7% -0.56%
1999 8.4% 160.5% -0.8%
2000 10.4% 143.2% -0.7%
2001 9.87% 125.6% -0.77%
2002 10.5% 121.7% -0.69%
2003 12.5% 117.4% 0.77%
2004 16.5% 97.8% 0.16%
2005 19.7% 75.5% -1.88%
2006 18.8% 63.7% -1.32%
2007 19.6% 53.7% -2.84%
2008 19.7% 55.8% 0.49%
2009 18.8% 71% -3.8%
2010 17.4% 74.6% 0.11%
2011 18.2% 78.1% -2.33%
2012 16.5% 117.7% -7.37%
2013 15.3% 105.8% -5.76%
2014 13.5% 84.4% -4.72%
2015 12.4% 93.2% -3.87%
2016 9.98% 109.9% -3.92%
2017 12.8% 149.5% -6.07%
2018 16.8% 209.8% -7.92%
2019 18.7% 216.5% -10.8%
2020 10.9% 278.3% -6.03%
2021 9.84% 189.6% -0.29%
2022 17.9% 186.8% -2.15%
2023 8.28% 259.6% -3.56%
2024 6.55% 272% -2.5%
2025 6.17% 252% -2.68%

Inflation rate by year

Over the past 20 years, Sudan has had an average annual inflation rate of 52.7%. In 2022, inflation was 138.8%. The bar chart below shows consumer price inflation by year.

Year Inflation
1960 0.09%
1961 8.76%
1962 1.66%
1963 4.69%
1964 3.95%
1965 -2.45%
1966 1.71%
1967 11%
1968 -10%
1969 12.6%
1970 4.03%
1971 1.3%
1972 13.6%
1973 15.3%
1974 26.2%
1975 24%
1976 1.67%
1977 17.1%
1978 19.2%
1979 31.1%
1980 25.4%
1981 24.6%
1982 25.7%
1983 30.6%
1984 34.1%
1985 45.4%
1986 24.5%
1987 20.6%
1988 64.7%
1989 66.7%
1990 65.2%
1991 123.6%
1992 117.6%
1993 101.4%
1994 115.4%
1995 68.4%
1996 132.8%
1997 47.2%
1998 24.6%
1999 17.2%
2000 7.12%
2001 1.94%
2002 22.2%
2003 6.49%
2004 9.66%
2005 8.51%
2006 7.2%
2007 14.8%
2008 14.3%
2009 11.3%
2010 13%
2011 18.1%
2012 35.6%
2013 36.5%
2014 36.9%
2015 16.9%
2016 17.8%
2017 32.4%
2018 63.3%
2019 51%
2020 163.3%
2021 359%
2022 138.8%

Balance of trade

Sudan Rank
Current account balance
-$4.44B
2022
163/189
Current account balance, % of GDP
-8.6%
2022
156/189
Goods imports
$9.99B
2022
107/188
Goods exports
$4.36B
2022
123/188
Service imports
$1.59B
2022
129/188
Service exports
$1.55B
2022
112/188
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
1.27%
2024
180/180
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
1.19%
2024
193/193

Sudan's top 10 trading partners

Sudan's biggest trading partner accounting for 18.3%% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of -$1.09B — Sudan exports $736M worth of goods and services to China and imports $1.82B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Sudan.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 China $2.56B 18.3% $736M $1.82B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 UAE $1.78B 12.7% $994M $787M Precious metals & jewellery Raw materials & minerals
3 Saudi Arabia $1.66B 11.8% $588M $1.07B Animal & marine products Raw materials & minerals
4 Russia $1.58B 11.3% $830K $1.58B Machinery & equipment Raw agricultural goods
5 Egypt $1.04B 7.42% $580M $460M Animal & marine products Chemicals & pharma
6 India $971M 6.93% $97.3M $874M Raw agricultural goods Processed food, beverages & tobacco
7 Japan $550M 3.93% $2.2M $548M Raw agricultural goods Machinery & equipment
8 Turkey $454M 3.24% $72M $382M Raw agricultural goods Machinery & equipment
9 Germany $297M 2.12% $13.3M $283M Raw agricultural goods Machinery & equipment
10 South Korea $281M 2% $3.8M $277M Metals Machinery & equipment

Sudan's top 10 exports

Sudan Rank
Transport & tourism services $1.5B 104/188
Raw agricultural goods $1.03B 68/193
Precious metals & jewellery $911M 69/190
Animal & marine products $856M 60/192
Raw materials & minerals $511M 121/193
Textiles & consumer goods $159M 113/193
Machinery & equipment $56.6M 137/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $52M 142/192
Government & miscellaneous services $29.1M 118/180
Business & finance services $23.8M 154/188

Sudan's top 10 imports

Sudan Rank
Machinery & equipment $3B 108/193
Raw agricultural goods $2.06B 56/193
Raw materials & minerals $1.76B 123/193
Transport & tourism services $1.15B 118/188
Chemicals & pharma $1.06B 110/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1B 99/193
Textiles & consumer goods $750M 109/193
Metals $419M 129/193
Wood & paper products $256M 111/193
Government & miscellaneous services $204M 49/180

Economic freedom indices

Sudan Rank
Economic freedom 35.3 190/197
Property rights 12 172/182
Government integrity 15.6 172/182
Judicial effectiveness 4 172/182
Tax burden 84.7 60/181
Government spending 95.7 3/180
Fiscal health 73.5 87/181
Business freedom 28.5 178/182
Labor freedom 39.2 173/182
Monetary freedom 16.3 176/180
Trade freedom 29.6 180/181
Investment freedom 5 177/181
Financial freedom 20 170/181

Sudan's economic freedom by year

Sudan is ranked 175/180 for economic freedom with a score of 35.3, compared to 131/159 and a score of 47.2 in 2000.

Economic freedom
Judicial effectiveness
Tax burden
Government spending
Fiscal health
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
1995 39.4 - 33.3 74.6 -
1996 39.2 - 32.9 74.6 -
1997 39.9 - 32.8 86.5 -
1998 38.3 - 32.9 82.7 -
1999 39.6 - 33 78.8 -
2000 47.2 - 74.7 90.1 -
2001 - - - - -
2002 - - - - -
2003 - - - - -
2004 - - - - -
2005 - - - - -
2006 - - - - -
2007 - - - - -
2008 - - - - -
2009 - - - - -
2010 - - - - -
2011 - - - - -
2012 - - - - -
2013 - - - 89.9 -
2014 - - 85.1 90.3 -
2015 - - 86.4 94.5 -
2016 - - 86.4 94.8 -
2017 48.8 19.8 86.5 95.1 85.5
2018 49.4 21.4 85.9 95.3 87.2
2019 47.7 22.2 86.3 96.6 76.1
2020 45 20.8 86.1 94.5 12.4
2021 39.1 19.7 84.9 91.9 0
2022 32 13.2 84.9 92.9 0
2023 32.8 15.7 85.2 94.9 28.5
2024 33.9 4.8 85 95.1 66.5
2025 35.3 4 84.7 95.7 73.5

More economic indicators

Sudan Rank
Services, % of GDP
54.9%
2024
109/191
Industry, % of GDP
23%
2024
109/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
22.1%
2024
29/193
GNI, Atlas method
$36.2B
2024
102/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$2,070
2024
180/191
Total reserves including gold
$178M
2017
171/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$574M
2022
103/188
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$548M
2023
114/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$54.2M
2021
99/187
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.53%
2023
113/119
Poverty at national poverty lines
46.5%
2020
29/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
2.87%
2024
174/176

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GDP per capita map

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The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.