Military Strength: 
Sudan vs 
South Sudan
Sudan (ranked #75 globally) holds a stronger overall military position than South Sudan (#113) on the ARMS 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.
ARMS (Aggregate Rating of Military Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Sudan
South Sudan
Pillar scores 0–100 (weight under each label) over a headline figure from that domain · readiness modifier ×0.84 vs ×0.80 · Methodology
Key figures
| Sudan | South Sudan | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defense budget | $375M | $240M | 🇸🇩 1.6× |
| – share of GDP | 0.9% | 2.0% | 🇸🇸 2.2× |
| Active personnel | 144,000 | 53,000 | 🇸🇩 2.7× |
| Combat aircraft | 91 | 0 | 🇸🇩 |
| Warships | 0 | 0 | — |
| – submarines | 0 | 0 | — |
| Main battle tanks | 224 | 30 | 🇸🇩 7.5× |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 0 | — |
Show full breakdown · 11 more rowsHide the 11 extra rows
| Reserve troops | 0 | 0 | — |
| Paramilitary forces | 60,000 | 0 | 🇸🇩 |
| Military aircraft (all types) | 184 | 20 | 🇸🇩 9.2× |
| – helicopters | 70 | 15 | 🇸🇩 4.7× |
| Budget share of govt spending | 9.5% | — | 🇸🇩 |
| Budget per capita | $8 | $20 | 🇸🇸 2.5× |
| Population | 50.4M | 11.9M | 🇸🇩 4.2× |
| GDP | $50B | $12B | 🇸🇩 4.1× |
| GDP per capita | $985 | $1,005 | 🇸🇸 ≈ |
| Land area | 1,731,671 km² | 644,329 km² | 🇸🇩 2.7× |
| Coastline | 853 km | 0 km | 🇸🇩 |
Backbone systems most numerous in service
Defense budget history Sudan ×0.2 · South Sudan ×0.4 since 2006
Military personnel history
Analyst Assessment
Run the wargame simulation →Verdict
Edge: Sudan
Sudan holds absolute conventional dominance over South Sudan due to its air superiority, mechanized depth, and domestic arms production, though its actual force projection is handicapped by the ongoing RSF insurgency. South Sudan’s military remains a fractured, embargo-crippled light infantry force incapable of sustained external conflict.
Domain by domain
Air Power
Edge: Sudan
🇸🇸 South SudanRotary-wing only (Mi-24); lacks fixed-wing combat aircraft and modern air defense.
Ground Forces
Edge: Sudan
🇸🇩 SudanHeavy armor advantage (224 MBTs), integrating FPV drones for precision strikes.
🇸🇸 South SudanHigh raw manpower (185,000) but poor cohesion, minimal armor (30 MBTs), and ethnic divisions.
Naval
Edge: Sudan
🇸🇩 SudanCoastal fleet on the Red Sea securing deep-water ports and maritime trade.
🇸🇸 South SudanSmall riverine force limited to patrolling the White Nile.
Logistics
Edge: Sudan
🇸🇩 SudanSupported by a domestic military industry (MIC), despite recent war damage.
🇸🇸 South SudanNon-existent domestic production; wholly reliant on illicit networks due to UN embargo.
Wildcards
- Internal Civil Wars Both states are distracted by internal existential threats (SAF vs. RSF in Sudan; SSPDF vs. NAS in South Sudan). A two-front war would rapidly collapse either military's logistical capacity.
- Economic Chokepoints South Sudan’s economy relies almost entirely on oil exported through pipelines running across Sudan. Khartoum can instantly shut off Juba's revenue stream, collapsing its ability to fund its military patronage networks.
- Regional Intervention Ugandan military intervention to stabilize the Juba government, or accelerated Egyptian and Iranian logistical support for Khartoum, could rapidly alter the localized balance of power.
Outlook
| Scenario | Short war | Protracted war |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 🇸🇩 Sudan dominates | 🇸🇩 Sudan breaks SSPDF logistics |
| Hybrid/Asymmetric | Even Border skirmishes stall | 🇸🇸 South Sudan fractures internally |
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Editorial assessment produced from the figures on this page and public sources; it is an informed reading, not a military assessment or a prediction.
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.