ARCHIVE // SD // 2017

Sudan

2017 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
the Sudanese Government directly controls TV and radio, requiring that both media reflect government policies; TV has a permanent military censor; a private radio station is in operation (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.sd
Internet users [time series]
total: 10,284,260 | percent of population: 28.0% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: well-equipped system by regional standards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have expanded substantially with wide coverage of most major cities | domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; teledensity exceeeds 75 telephones per 100 persons | international: country code - 249; linked to the EASSy and FLAG fiber-optic submarine cable systems; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2016)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 136,472 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 27,807,293 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum Arabic, sugarcane, cassava (manioc, tapioca), mangoes, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds; animal feed, sheep and other livestock
Budget [time series]
revenues: $8.198 billion | expenditures: $13.4 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-4.4% of GDP (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154
Current account balance [time series]
-$2.317 billion (2017 est.) | -$5.126 billion (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170
Debt - external [time series]
$53.35 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $51.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict, civil war, and, in July 2011, the loss of three-quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan. The oil sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since 1999. For nearly a decade, the economy boomed on the back of rising oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Since the economic shock of South Sudan's secession, Sudan has struggled to stabilize its economy and make up for the loss of foreign exchange earnings. The interruption of oil production in South Sudan in 2012 for over a year and the consequent loss of oil transit fees further exacerbated the fragile state of Sudan’s economy. Ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and the Blue Nile states, lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture, keep close to half of the population at or below the poverty line. | Sudan was subject to comprehensive US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining and agriculture, while carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures. The world’s largest exporter of gum Arabic, Sudan produces 75-80% of the world’s total output. Agriculture continues to employ 80% of the work force. | Sudan introduced a new currency, still called the Sudanese pound, following South Sudan's secession, but the value of the currency has fallen since its introduction. Khartoum formally devalued the currency in June 2012, when it passed austerity measures that included gradually repealing fuel subsidies. Sudan also faces high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but fell to about 35% per year in 2017.
Exchange rates [time series]
Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - | 6.72 (2017 est.) | 6.14 (2016 est.) | 6.14 (2015 est.) | 6.03 (2014 est.) | 5.74 (2013 est.)
Exports [time series]
$3.808 billion (2017 est.) | $3.094 billion (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Exports - commodities [time series]
gold; oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, peanuts, gum Arabic, sugar
Exports - partners [time series]
UAE 42.9%, Saudi Arabia 19.5%, Egypt 15.9% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$119 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$186.8 billion (2017 est.) | $180.1 billion (2016 est.) | $174.7 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars | country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 77.3% | government consumption: 6.1% | investment in fixed capital: 18.5% | investment in inventories: 0.9% | exports of goods and services: 8.9% | imports of goods and services: -11.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 39.6% | industry: 2.6% | services: 57.8% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$4,600 (2017 est.) | $4,500 (2016 est.) | $4,500 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars | country comparison to the world: 173
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3.7% (2017 est.) | 3.1% (2016 est.) | 4.9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92
Gross national saving [time series]
12.1% of GDP (2017 est.) | 11.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 9.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.7% | highest 10%: 26.7% (2009 est.)
Imports [time series]
$8.649 billion (2017 est.) | $7.325 billion (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment, medicines, chemicals, textiles, wheat
Imports - partners [time series]
UAE 15.4%, India 11.2%, Egypt 10.4%, Saudi Arabia 9.2%, Turkey 8.9%, Japan 5% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.5% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42
Industries [time series]
oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
26.9% (2017 est.) | 17.8% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 217
Labor force [time series]
11.92 million (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 80% | industry: 7% | services: 13% (1998 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
46.5% (2009 est.)
Public debt [time series]
54.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 65.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$504.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $168.3 million (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161
Stock of broad money [time series]
$20.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $19.53 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$25.47 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $25.47 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$21.63 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $21.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$13.64 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $12.51 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
6.9% of GDP (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 216
Unemployment rate [time series]
19.6% (2017 est.) | 20.6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
14 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93
Crude oil - exports [time series]
152,100 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192
Crude oil - production [time series]
104,900 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
5 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - consumption [time series]
10.26 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
34.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
60.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
5.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
3.736 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - production [time series]
12.69 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 24,700,000 | electrification - total population: 35% | electrification - urban areas: 63% | electrification - rural areas: 21% (2013)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 57
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
110,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
7,396 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
23,920 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
89,300 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 1,861,484 sq km | land: NA | water: NA | country comparison to the world: 17
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US
Climate [time series]
hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Coastline [time series]
853 km
Elevation [time series]
mean elevation: 568 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Red Sea 0 m | highest point: Jabal Marrah 3,042 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates [time series]
15 00 N, 30 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
the Nile is Sudan's primary water source; its major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at Khartoum to form the River Nile which flows northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea
Irrigated land [time series]
18,900 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 6,819 km | border countries (7): Central African Republic 174 km, Chad 1,403 km, Egypt 1,276 km, Eritrea 682 km, Ethiopia 744 km, Libya 382 km, South Sudan 2,158 km | note: Sudan-South Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei region pending negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 100% | arable land 15.7%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 84.2% | forest: 0% | other: 0% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 18 nm | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Natural hazards [time series]
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Natural resources [time series]
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan, which extends into the dry Sahara, is sparsely populated; more abundant vegetation and broader access to water increases population distribution in the south extending habitable range along nearly the entire border with South Sudan; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and throughout South Darfur
Terrain [time series]
generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan, White Nile
Capital [time series]
name: Khartoum | geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E | time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sudan | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Constitution [time series]
history: previous 1998; latest adopted 6 July 2005, effective 9 July 2005 (interim constitution) | amendments: proposed by the National Legislature or by the president of the republic; passage requires submission of the proposal to the Legislature at least two months prior to consideration, approval by at least three-quarters majority vote in both houses of the Legislature, and assent by the president; amended 2015 (2017)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan | conventional short form: Sudan | local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan | local short form: As-Sudan | former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan | etymology: the name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic "bilad-as-sudan" meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]"
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven KOUTSIS (since July 2016) | embassy: Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Street, Khartoum | mailing address: P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum; APO AE 09829 | telephone: [249] (187)-0-(22000) | FAX: [249] (183) 774-137
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MAOWIA Osman Khalid Mohammed (since 31 January 2014) | chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 | FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President BAKRI Hassan Salih (since 3 December 2013) and prime minister (since 2 March 2017); Second Vice President Hasabu Mohamed ABDEL RAHMIN (since 3 December 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President BAKRI Hassan Salih (since 3 December 2013) and prime minister (since 2 March 2017); Second Vice President Hasabu Mohamed ABDEL RAHMIN (since 3 December 2013) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the NCP dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed; last held on 13-16 April 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister appointed by the president; note - the position of prime minister was reinstated in December 2016 as a result of the 2015-16 national dialogue process, and President al-BASHIR appointed BAKRI Hassan Salih to the position on 2 March 2017 | election results: Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (NCP) 94.1%, other (15 candidates) 5.9%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
presidential republic
Independence [time series]
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008
International organization participation [time series]
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): National Supreme Court (consists of 70 judges organized into panels of 3 judges and includes 4 circuits that operate outside the capital); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 justices including the court president); note - the Constitutional Court resides outside the national judiciary | judge selection and term of office: National Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Service Commission, an independent body chaired by the chief justice of the republic and members including other judges and judicial and legal officials; Supreme Court judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 7 years | subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: bicameral National Legislature consists of the Council of States or Majlis al-Wilayat (50 seats; members indirectly elected - 2 each by the 25 state legislatures to serve 6-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis Watani (426 seats; 213 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 128 for women only directly elected by proportional representation vote, and 85 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms) | elections: last held on 13-15 April 2015 (next to be held in 2021) | election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NCP 323, DUP 25, Democratic Unionist Party 15, other 44, independent 19
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land) | lyrics/music: Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN | note: adopted 1956; originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
National symbol(s) [time series]
secretary bird; national colors: red, white, black, green
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Democratic Unionist Party or DUP [Jalal al-DIGAIR] | Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] | Federal Umma Party [Dr. Ahmed Babikir NAHAR] | Muslim Brotherhood or MB | National Congress Party or NCP [Umar Hassan al-BASHIR] | National Umma Party or NUP [Saddiq al-MAHDI] | Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI] | Reform Movement Now [Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin al-ATABANI] | Sudan National Front [Ali Mahmud HASANAYN] | Sudanese Communist Party or SCP [Mohammed Moktar Al-KHATEEB] | Sudanese Congress Party or SCoP [Ibrahim Al-SHEIKH] | Umma Party for Reform and Development | Unionist Movement Party or UMP
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Darfur rebel groups including the Justice and Equality Movement or JEM [Gibril Fidail IBRAHIM], Sudan Liberation Movement or SLM-AW [Abdel Wahid al-NUR, various factional leaders], Sudan Liberation Movement or SLM-MM [Minni Arkou MINAWI] | National Consensus Front or NCF [Farouq ABU ISSA] | Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North or SPLM-N [Yasir ARMAN]
Suffrage [time series]
17 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military and Security
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Land Forces, Navy (includes Marines), Sudanese Air Force (Sikakh al-Jawwiya as-Sudaniya), Rapid Support Forces, Popular Defense Forces (2016)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-33 years of age for male and female compulsory or voluntary military service; 1-2 year service obligation; a requirement that completion of national service was mandatory before entering public or private sector employment has been cancelled (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 38.68% (male 7,335,613/female 7,111,552) | 15-24 years: 21.04% (male 4,033,787/female 3,823,098) | 25-54 years: 32.77% (male 5,943,906/female 6,293,921) | 55-64 years: 4.24% (male 824,577/female 760,014) | 65 years and over: 3.27% (male 655,795/female 563,672) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
27.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
33% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 21
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
12.2% (2014)
Death rate [time series]
7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 81.6 | youth dependency ratio: 75.4 | elderly dependency ratio: 6.3 | potential support ratio: 15.9 (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 66% of population | rural: 50.2% of population | total: 55.5% of population | urban: 34% of population | rural: 49.8% of population | total: 44.5% of population (2012 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
2.2% of GDP (2009)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Fallata
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
3,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
56,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
8.4% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 48
Hospital bed density [time series]
0.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 48.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 54 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 43.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33
Languages [time series]
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 64.4 years | male: 62.3 years | female: 66.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 75.9% | male: 83.3% | female: 68.6% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
KHARTOUM (capital) 5.129 million (2015)
Maternal mortality ratio [time series]
311 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41
Median age [time series]
total: 19.9 years | male: 19.7 years | female: 20.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197
Nationality [time series]
noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) | adjective: Sudanese
Net migration rate [time series]
-4.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
6.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 165
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Population [time series]
37,345,935 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37
Population distribution [time series]
with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan, which extends into the dry Sahara, is sparsely populated; more abundant vegetation and broader access to water increases population distribution in the south extending habitable range along nearly the entire border with South Sudan; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and througout South Darfur
Population growth rate [time series]
1.64% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65
Religions [time series]
Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 43.9% of population | rural: 13.4% of population | total: 23.6% of population | urban: 56.1% of population | rural: 86.6% of population | total: 76.4% of population (2012 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 7 years | male: 7 years | female: 7 years (2013)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female | total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.57 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 20% | male: 16% | female: 32% (2009 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 34.2% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.02% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
the effects of Sudan's ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; as of April 2017, more than 610,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan; Sudan, in turn, is hosting about 507,000 refugees, including more than 375,000 from South Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 103,176 (Eritrea); 8,502 (Chad); 6,997 (Syria) (2016); 772,715 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2017) | IDPs: 3.3 million (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2016)
Trafficking in persons [time series]
current situation: Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Sudanese women and girls, particularly those from rural areas or who are internally displaced, or refugees are vulnerable to domestic servitude in country, as well as domestic servitude and sex trafficking abroad; migrants from East and West Africa, South Sudan, Syria, and Nigeria smuggled into or through Sudan are vulnerable to exploitation; Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Filipina women are subjected to domestic servitude in Sudanese homes, and East African and possibly Thai women are forced into prostitution in Sudan; Sudanese children continue to be recruited and used as combatants by government forces and armed groups | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government increased its efforts to publically address and prevent trafficking, established a national anti-trafficking council, and began drafting a national action plan against trafficking; the government acknowledges cross-border trafficking but still denies the existence of forced labor, sex trafficking, and the recruitment of child soldiers domestically; law enforcement and judicial officials struggled to apply the national anti-trafficking law, often relying on other statutes with lesser penalties; authorities did not use systematic procedure to identify victims or refer them to care and relied on international organizations and domestic groups to provide protective services; some foreign victims were penalized for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked, such as immigration or prostitution violations (2015)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
74 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 71
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 16 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | under 914 m: 2 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 58 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 | 914 to 1,523 m: 28 | under 914 m: 12 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
ST (2016)
Heliports [time series]
6 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 17 | by type: general cargo 1, other 16 (2017) | country comparison to the world: 137
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 6 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 25 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 496,178 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 13,161,592 mt-km (2015)
Pipelines [time series]
gas 156 km; oil 4,070 km; refined products 1,613 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Port Sudan
Railways [time series]
total: 7,251 km | narrow gauge: 5,851 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations (20014) | country comparison to the world: 31
Roadways [time series]
total: 11,900 km | paved: 4,320 km | unpaved: 7,580 km (2000) | country comparison to the world: 129
Waterways [time series]
4,068 km (1,723 km open year-round on White and Blue Nile Rivers) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 24