Military Strength: 
Ethiopia vs 
Sudan
Military Strength
| Ethiopia | Sudan | |
|---|---|---|
| Global Military Index | 28.3 (#74) | 28.4 (#73) |
| Military personnel | 138,000 | 144,000 |
| – Reserve troops | 0 | 0 |
| – Paramilitary forces | 0 | 60,000 |
| Military aircraft | 99 | 184 |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 34 | 91 |
| – incl. bombers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. helicopters | 31 | 70 |
| Military ships | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. submarines | 0 | 0 |
| Main battle tanks | 338 | 224 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 0 |
Military Forces Chart
Overview
Sudan (ranked #73 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than Ethiopia (#74) on the Global Military Index. Ethiopia fields 138,000 active troops vs 144,000 for Sudan, backed by 60,000 paramilitary. Ethiopia's $1B defense budget is 2.8x that of Sudan ($0.4B).
In the air, Ethiopia operates 99 aircraft including 34 combat jets, while Sudan fields 184 with 91 fighters.
On the ground, Ethiopia deploys 338 main battle tanks vs 224 for Sudan.
Neither Ethiopia nor Sudan possesses nuclear weapons.
Global Military Index
Full ranking →
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
World #74
28.3/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 15% | 81.3 | 503000 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 67.1 | 338 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 0.0 | Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines |
| Air power | 25% | 37.4 | Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 10% | 42.0 | $1.0B, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×0.80 | Budget per soldier |
🇸🇩 Sudan
World #73
28.3/ 100
Six-pillar composite: manpower, ground forces, naval power, air power, nuclear deterrent and defense budget, with a readiness modifier from budget per soldier. Full methodology.
| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 15% | 67.8 | 122300 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 68.6 | 224 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 0.0 | Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines |
| Air power | 25% | 46.1 | Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 10% | 26.1 | $0.4B, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×0.84 | Budget per soldier |
Country Profile
Economy & Geography
| Ethiopia | Sudan | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 132.1 million | 50.4 million |
| GDP | $149.7 billion | $49.7 billion |
| GDP per capita | $1,134 | $985 |
| Military budget | $1.0 billion | $375.2 million |
| – share of GDP | 0.7% | 0.9% |
| – share of govt spending | 0.0% | 9.5% |
| – per capita spending | $8 | $8 |
| Land area | 1,096,630 km² | 1,731,671 km² |
| Coastline | 0 km | 853 km |
Military Budget Evolution
Military Personnel Evolution
Economic Metrics Chart
Wargame Simulation
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This analysis is a speculative scenario generated by artificial intelligence for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute a military assessment and should not be interpreted as a prediction of any real-world outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has more military personnel, Ethiopia or Sudan?
Sudan has approximately 144,000 active military personnel compared to Ethiopia's 138,000.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Ethiopia or Sudan?
Sudan operates 91 combat aircraft compared to Ethiopia's 34. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Which country spends more on defense, Ethiopia or Sudan?
Ethiopia has a larger defense budget at $1.0 billion (3:1 more) compared to Sudan's $375 million annually.
Do Ethiopia and Sudan have nuclear weapons?
Neither Ethiopia nor Sudan currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Ethiopia and Sudan compare?
Ethiopia operates 338 main battle tanks compared to Sudan's 224. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.