Sudan
Country Guide

Explore Sudan

Sudan with its capital Khartoum is located in Africa (north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea). It covers some 1,861,481 square kilometers (slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US) with a population of 37,345,900. Arabic and English are the languages spoken by people in Sudan. Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan are bordering countries.

Travel in Sudan outside Khartoum, Omdurman and the Northern State is considered dangerous. Two borderline civil wars continue to see violence, in Southern Sudan and particularly in Darfur, while extremist groups target foreign visitors for attacks and kidnapping, particularly in the Upper Nile regions and near the Ethiopian border.

Popular Destinations in Sudan

Administrative regions of Sudan

• Al Jazirah
• Al Qadarif
• Blue Nile
• Central Darfur
• Eastern Darfur
• Kassala
• Khartoum State
• North Kordofan
• Northern
• Northern Darfur
• Red Sea
• River Nile
• Sinnar
• Southern Darfur
• Southern Kordofan
• West Kordofan State
• Western Darfur
• White Nile

About the country

The topography is generally flat, featureless plain with desert dominates the north. The average density of population is about 20 per km². The climate in Sudan can be described as hot and dryarid desert, rainy season varying by region (April to November). Potential natural disasters are dust storms and periodic persistent droughts.

To reach someone Sudan dial +249 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".sd". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, D). The sign for the locally used currency Dinar is SDD.

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; colors and design based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black represents the people of Sudan (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity.

Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. The referendum was held in January 2011 and indicated overwhelming support for independence. South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011. Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements signed in September 2012 relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries. The final disposition of the contested Abyei region has also to be decided. Following South Sudan's independence, conflict broke out between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states (together known as the Two Areas), and has resulted in 1.1 million internally displaced persons or severely affected persons needing humanitarian assistance. A separate conflict broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, displacing nearly 2 million people and causing thousands of deaths. Fighting in both the Two Areas and Darfur between government forces and opposition has largely subsided, however the civilian populations are affected by low-level violence including inter-tribal conflict and banditry, largely a result of weak rule of law. The UN and the African Union have jointly commanded a Darfur peacekeeping operation (UNAMID) since 2007. Peacekeeping troops have struggled to address insecurity in Darfur and have increasingly become targets for attacks by armed groups. Sudan also has faced refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and denial of access by both the government and armed opposition have impeded the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 17)	1,861,480	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 3)	84.20	%
Comparative	slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US
Coastline
853
Landborder
6819
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 64)	3,042	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 1)	100.00	%
Arable (World Rank: 76)	15.70	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 173)	0.20	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 3)	84.20	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 30)	18,900	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- desertification - inadequate supplies of potable water - periodic drought - soil erosion - wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Wetlands
Hazzards	dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Location
north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Climate
hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Terrain
generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north

---

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 37)	37,345,900
Deathrate (World Rank: 119)	0.73	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 43)	2.79	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 64)	1.64	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 149)	-0.41	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 41)	3.57	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 187)	19.70
Female (World Rank: 191)	20.10
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 25)	7,335,610
0 14 female (World Rank: 25)	7,111,550
15 24 male (World Rank: 28)	4,033,790
15 24 female (World Rank: 28)	3,823,100
25 54 male (World Rank: 43)	5,943,910
25 54 female (World Rank: 42)	6,293,920
55 64 male (World Rank: 49)	824,577
55 64 female (World Rank: 51)	760,014
65 x male (World Rank: 57)	655,795
65 x female (World Rank: 68)	563,672
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 33)	4.88	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 182)	64	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 182)	67	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 186)	62	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 39)	3.06
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 157)	0.80
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 187)	23.60	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 166)	6.60	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 195)	55.50	%

---

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 90)	12,690,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 92)	10,260,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 179)	34.40	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 28)	60.20	%
Source renew (World Rank: 91)	5.40	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 42)	104,900	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 34)	152,100	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 23)	5,000,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 69)	89,300	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 77)	110,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 86)	7,396	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 108)	23,920	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 118)	33	m³
Carbon footprint
14000000

---

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 160)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 50)	8	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 147)	-5	% of GDP
National symbol
secretary bird
National colours
white
Adjective
Sudanese
Noun
Sudanese (singular and plural)
Background
Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. The referendum was held in January 2011 and indicated overwhelming support for independence. South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011. Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements signed in September 2012 relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries. The final disposition of the contested Abyei region has also to be decided. Following South Sudan's independence, conflict broke out between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states (together known as the Two Areas), and has resulted in 1.1 million internally displaced persons or severely affected persons needing humanitarian assistance. A separate conflict broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, displacing nearly 2 million people and causing thousands of deaths. Fighting in both the Two Areas and Darfur between government forces and opposition has largely subsided, however the civilian populations are affected by low-level violence including inter-tribal conflict and banditry, largely a result of weak rule of law. The UN and the African Union have jointly commanded a Darfur peacekeeping operation (UNAMID) since 2007. Peacekeeping troops have struggled to address insecurity in Darfur and have increasingly become targets for attacks by armed groups. Sudan also has faced refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and denial of access by both the government and armed opposition have impeded the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; colors and design based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black represents the people of Sudan (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity

---

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 68)	177,000,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 93)	3.10	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 170)	4,500	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 11)	39.50	%
Source industry (World Rank: 218)	2.60	%
Source service (World Rank: 138)	57.90	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 49)	11,920,000
In poverty (World Rank: 27)	46.50	%
Products
Industries	- armaments - automobile/light truck assembly - cement - cotton ginning - edible oils - milling - oil - petroleum refining - pharmaceuticals - shoes - soap distilling - sugar - textiles
Agriculture	- animal feed - bananas - cassava - cotton - groundnuts - gum Arabic - livestock - mangoes - manioc - millet - papaya - peanuts - sesame seeds - sheep - sorghum - sugarcane - sweet potatoes - tapioca - wheat
Exports	- cotton - gold - gum Arabic - livestock - oil - peanuts - petroleum products - sesame - sugar
Imports	- chemicals - foodstuffs - manufactured goods - medicines - refinery - textiles - transport equipment - wheat

---

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 134)	136,472
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 216)	1.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 170)	76.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 46)	10,284,300
Population (World Rank: 162)	28.00	%

---

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 93)	16.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 55)	58.00
Heliports (World Rank: 33)	6.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 31)	7,251
Road
Total length (World Rank: 130)	11,900
Paved length (World Rank: 105)	4,320
Unpaved length (World Rank: 96)	7,580
Water
Total length (World Rank: 25)	4,068

---