At a glance
Sudan vs South Korea: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator | Sudan | South Korea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 53,748,453 | 51,579,911 | Sudan 1× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +3 | -0.1 | +3.2 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 28.62026 | 513.52026 | -484.9 |
| Surface area km² | 1,878,0002023 | 100,4502023 | Sudan 19× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 332024 | 4.72024 | +28.3 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 6.32024 | 72024 | -0.7 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | +4.7 | +1.2 | +3.5 |
| Urban population % of population | 34.92025 | 81.22025 | -46.2 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 98.2 | 99.4 | -1.2 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 66.52024 | 83.62024 | -17.1 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 4.262024 | 0.752024 | +3.52 |
| Median age years | 18.8 | 46.2 | -27.4 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 36 | 1.9 | +34.1 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 40.22025 | 10.22025 | +30 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 3.42025 | 20.32025 | -16.9 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $60.16B2025 | $1.87T2025 | South Korea 31× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $1,1652025 | $36,2272025 | South Korea 31× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 7.52022 | 2.72025 | +4.8 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 138.82022 | 2.12025 | +136.7 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 21.872024 | 5882024 | South Korea 27× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 0.432024 | 11.362024 | -10.93 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 3722023 | 5,4392024 | South Korea 15× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 612021 | 3.62021 | +57.4 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 9.62023 | 64.12023 | -54.6 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 812022 | 1,2552022 | South Korea 15× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 673.42022 | 452022 | +628.4 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 18.62017 | 97.92024 | -79.3 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 70.22022 | 172.52024 | -102.3 |
▲ marks the higher value (for death rate, infant mortality, unemployment, inflation, CO₂ and water stress: the lower value). "Difference" is the ratio for absolute measures and Sudan minus South Korea for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
Sudan compared with South Korea
Sudan has a live population of about 53,748,453 (#29 in the world) and South Korea about 51,579,911 (#31), so Sudan has 1 times as many people as South Korea. Sudan is growing at 3% a year and South Korea at -0.1%.
By area Sudan is larger: 1,878,000 km² against 100,450 km², which gives population densities of 28.6 people per km² in Sudan and 513.5 in South Korea.
Sudan's economy is worth $60.16B (2025) and South Korea's $1.87T (2025); per person that is $1,165 in Sudan versus $36,227 in South Korea, so the average South Korea resident produces 31.1 times as much.
Life expectancy is 66.5 years in Sudan and 83.6 in South Korea; women have 4.3 children on average in Sudan compared with 0.7 in South Korea; the median age is 18.8 versus 46.2 years.
34.9% of Sudan's people live in cities against 81.2% in South Korea; 18.6% use the internet in Sudan and 97.9% in South Korea; CO₂ emissions per person are 0.4 t in Sudan and 11.4 t in South Korea.
Population over time
Life expectancy & fertility
Birth & death rates
Age structure
CO₂ emissions
Energy use & renewables
Forest area
Urban population
Water resources & stress
Economy
Unemployment & inflation
Internet & mobile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, Sudan or South Korea?
By population Sudan is bigger: 53,748,453 people versus 51,579,911 (live estimates, October 2026). By area Sudan is larger (1,878,000 km² vs 100,450 km²).
Which has the larger economy, Sudan or South Korea?
South Korea: GDP of $1,872,374,961,553 versus $60,162,634,574 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, Sudan or South Korea?
Life expectancy at birth is 66.5 years in Sudan and 83.6 years in South Korea, a difference of 17.1 years in favour of South Korea.
How are these comparisons calculated?
Live populations extrapolate the UN World Population Prospects baseline with each country's growth rate; every other figure is the latest value published by World Bank Open Data (or the UN for median age, infant mortality and migration). Each row shows the year of the figure, and the charts below overlay the full historical series of both countries.
Explore more
Sources & method: live populations are linear extrapolations of the UN World Population Prospects estimates; all other indicators are the latest values from World Bank Open Data (UN WPP for median age, infant mortality, sex ratio and net migration). Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.

