Canon 500D has a
15.0MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Canon T8i has a
24.0MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DIGIC 8 processor.
Canon T8i's sensor provides 9MP more than Canon 500D's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely.
On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.
Below you can see the 500D and T8i sensor size comparison.
Canon 500D and Canon T8i have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Canon 500D has 59% larger pixel area compared to Canon T8i, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.