Military Strength: 
Sudan vs 
South Sudan
Military Strength
| Sudan | South Sudan | |
|---|---|---|
| Global Military Index | 28.4 (#73) | 17.6 (#112) |
| Military personnel | 144,000 | 53,000 |
| – Reserve troops | 0 | 0 |
| – Paramilitary forces | 60,000 | 0 |
| Military aircraft | 184 | 20 |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 91 | 0 |
| – incl. bombers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. helicopters | 70 | 15 |
| Military ships | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 0 | 0 |
| – incl. submarines | 0 | 0 |
| Main battle tanks | 224 | 30 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 0 |
Military Forces Chart
Overview
Sudan (ranked #73 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than South Sudan (#112) on the Global Military Index. Sudan fields 144,000 active troops — 2.7:1 South Sudan's 53,000, backed by 60,000 paramilitary. Sudan allocates $0.4B to defense compared to $0.2B for South Sudan.
In the air, Sudan operates 184 aircraft including 91 combat jets, while South Sudan fields 20 with 0 fighters.
On the ground, Sudan deploys 224 main battle tanks vs 30 for South Sudan.
Neither Sudan nor South Sudan possesses nuclear weapons.
Global Military Index
Full ranking →
🇸🇩 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 | $375M, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×0.84 | Budget per soldier |
🇸🇸 South Sudan
World #112
17.5/ 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% | 71.6 | 185000 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 35.3 | 30 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 0.0 | Carrier tiers, nuclear vs conventional submarines |
| Air power | 25% | 17.4 | Weighted by aircraft type & fleet age |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 10% | 23.0 | $240M, PPP-adjusted |
| Readiness | modifier | ×0.80 | Budget per soldier |
Country Profile
Economy & Geography
| Sudan | South Sudan | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 50.4 million | 11.9 million |
| GDP | $49.7 billion | $12.0 billion |
| GDP per capita | $985 | $1,005 |
| Military budget | $375M | $240M |
| – share of GDP | 0.9% | 2.0% |
| – share of govt spending | 9.5% | 0.0% |
| – per capita spending | $8 | $20 |
| Land area | 1,731,671 km² | 644,329 km² |
| Coastline | 853 km | 0 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, Sudan or South Sudan?
Sudan has approximately 144,000 active military personnel compared to South Sudan's 53,000, giving Sudan a 2.7:1 numerical advantage.
Which country has more combat aircraft, Sudan or South Sudan?
Sudan operates 91 combat aircraft compared to South Sudan's 0. This includes fighters, strike aircraft, and multirole combat jets.
Which country spends more on defense, Sudan or South Sudan?
Sudan has a larger defense budget at $375 million (1.6:1 more) compared to South Sudan's $240 million annually.
Do Sudan and South Sudan have nuclear weapons?
Neither Sudan nor South Sudan currently possesses nuclear weapons.
How do the tank forces of Sudan and South Sudan compare?
Sudan operates 224 main battle tanks compared to South Sudan's 30. Tank numbers reflect both active inventory and reserves.