2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile), Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes), Al Jazirah (El Gezira), Al Khartum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), Al Wahdah (Unity), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile), Ash Shamaliyah (Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Bahr al Jabal), Gharb al Istiwa'iyah (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal (Western Bahr al Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Gharb Kurdufan (Western Kordofan), Janub Darfur (Southern Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Junqali (Jonglei), Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil (Nile), Shamal Bahr al Ghazal (Northern Bahr al Ghazal), Shamal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shamal Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa'iyah (Eastern Equatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warab)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.2% (male 8,865,331/female 8,488,982) 15-64 years: 54.5% (male 10,952,566/female 10,930,218) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 513,679/female 436,710) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock

Airports

75 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

63 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Area

land

2.376 million sq km

total

2,505,810 sq km

water

129,810 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Background

Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from the UK 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 non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972, but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than 2 million deaths and over 4 million people displaced over a period of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords; a final Naivasha peace treaty of January 2005 granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years, after which a referendum for independence is scheduled to be held. A separate conflict that broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003 resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and over 1 million displaced, but by early 2005, peackeeping troops had stabilized the situation. Geography Sudan

Birth rate

35.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.965 billion, including capital expenditures of $304 million (2004 est.)

revenues

$3.057 billion

Capital

Khartoum

Climate

tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)

Coastline

853 km

Constitution

12 April 1973; suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998 partially suspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of the Sudan

conventional short form

Sudan

former

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

local long form

Jumhuriyat as-Sudan

local short form

As-Sudan

Currency (code)

Sudanese dinar (SDD)

Currency code

SDD

Current account balance

$-763.6 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

9.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$21 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Gerard M. GALLUCCI

embassy

Sharia Abdul Latif Avenue, Khartoum

FAX

[249] (11) 774137 note: US Consul in Cairo is providing backup service for Khartoum

mailing address

P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829

telephone

[249] (11) 774611 or 774700

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires, Ad Interim Khidir Haroun AHMED (since April 2001)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-2406

telephone

[1] (202) 338-8565

Disputes - international

the effects of Sudan's almost constant ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-twentieth century have penetrated all of its border states who provide shelter for fleeing refugees and cover to disparate domestic and foreign conflicting elements; since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military have driven about 200,000 Darfur region refugees into eastern Chad; large numbers of Sudanese refugees have also fled to Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; southern Sudan provides shelter to Ugandans seeking periodic protection from soldiers of the Lord's Resistance Army; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia have been delayed by civil and ethnic fighting in Sudan; Kenya's administrative boundary extends into the southern Sudan, creating the "Ilemi Triangle"; Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer triangular areas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egypt is economically developing the "Hala'ib Triangle" north of the Treaty Line; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations from the Central African Republic along the border

Economic aid - recipient

$172 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Sudan has turned around a struggling economy with sound economic policies and infrastructure investments, but it still faces formidable economic problems, starting from its low level of per capita output. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been implementing IMF macroeconomic reforms. In 1999, Sudan began exporting crude oil and in the last quarter of 1999 recorded its first trade surplus, which, along with monetary policy, has stabilized the exchange rate. Increased oil production, revived light industry, and expanded export processing zones helped sustain GDP growth at 6.4% in 2004. Agriculture production remains Sudan's most important sector, employing 80% of the work force, contributing 39% of GDP, and accounting for most of GDP growth, but most farms remain rain-fed and susceptible to drought. Chronic instability - including the long-standing civil war between the Muslim north and the Christian/pagan south, adverse weather, and weak world agricultural prices - ensure that much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years.

Electricity - consumption

2.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

2.581 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

52.1%

hydro

47.9%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Kinyeti 3,187 m

lowest point

Red Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

Exchange rates

Sudanese dinars per US dollar - 257.91 (2004), 260.98 (2003), 263.31 (2002), 258.7 (2001), 257.12 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet

chief of state

President Lt. Gen. Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Second Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Field Marshall Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%, Ja'afar Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received a combined vote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged; all popular opposition parties boycotted elections because of a lack of guarantees for a free and fair election note: al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote for the first time in March 1996

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 13-23 December 2000 (next to be held NA)

head of government

President Lt. Gen. Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Second Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$3.395 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar

Exports - partners

China 66.9%, Japan 10.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.4% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Sudan

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side Economy Sudan

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

38.7%

industry

20.3%

services

41% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.4% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$76.19 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 30 00 E

Geography - note

largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries People Sudan

Government type

authoritarian regime - ruling military junta took power in 1989; government is run by an alliance of the military and the National Congress Party (NCP), formerly the National Islamic Front (NIF), which espouses an Islamist platform

Heliports

2 (2004 est.) Military Sudan

Highways

paved

4,320 km

total

11,900 km

unpaved

7,580 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

23,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

400,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$3.496 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat

Imports - partners

China 13%, Saudi Arabia 11.5%, UAE 5.9%, Egypt 5.1%, India 4.8%, Germany 4.5%, Australia 4.1%, Japan 4% (2004)

Independence

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)

Industrial production growth rate

8.5% (1999 est.)

Industries

oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly

Infant mortality rate

female

61.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

63.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

62.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.sd

Internet hosts

NA

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2002)

Internet users

300,000 (2003) Transportation Sudan

Investment (gross fixed)

16% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

19,500 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts

Labor force

11 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 7%, government 13% (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km

total

7,687 km

Land use

arable land

6.83%

other

92.99% (2001)

permanent crops

0.18%

Languages

Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English note: program of "Arabization" in process

Legal system

based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (360 seats; 270 popularly elected, 90 elected by supra assembly of interest groups known as National Congress; members serve four-year terms)

election results

NCP 355, others 5

elections

last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held NA)

Life expectancy at birth

female

59.8 years (2005 est.)

male

57.33 years

total population

58.54 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

50.5% (2003 est.) Government Sudan

male

71.8%

total population

61.1%

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis (2004)

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 8,291,695 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 5,427,474 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

442,915 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

18 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

18.29 years (2005 est.)

male

17.86 years

total

18.07 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1, livestock carrier 1

registered in other countries

2 (2005)

total

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,466 GRT/26,973 DWT

Military branches

Sudanese People's Armed Forces (SPAF): Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$587 million (2001 est.) (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3% (1999) (2004) Transnational Issues Sudan

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 3 years (August 2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Nationality

adjective

Sudanese

noun

Sudanese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - proved reserves

99.11 billion cu m (2004)

Natural hazards

dust storms and periodic persistent droughts

Natural resources

petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower

Net migration rate

-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

70,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

275,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production

345,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.6 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 156 km; oil 2,365 km; refined products 810 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

the government allows political "associations" under a 1998 law revised in 2000; to obtain government approval parties must accept the constitution and refrain from advocating or using violence against the regime; approved parties include the National Congress Party or NCP [Ibrahim Ahmed UMAR], Popular National Congress or PNC [Hassan al-TURABI], and over 20 minor, pro-government parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI]; National Democratic Alliance [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI, chairman]; Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army [Dr. John GARANG]; Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]

Population

40,187,486 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

40% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

2.6% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Port Sudan

Public debt

79.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

7.55 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

4,595 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km .600-m gauge for cotton plantations (2004)

total

5,995 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

4.367 million (internal conflict since 1980s; ongoing genocide) (2004) This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

refugees (country of origin)

108,251 (Eritrea) 5,023 (Chad) 7,983 (Uganda)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.652 billion (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.18 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory

Telephone system

domestic

consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations

general assessment

large, well-equipped system by regional standards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have expanded substantially

international

country code - 249; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2000)

Telephones - main lines in use

900,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

650,000 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

3 (1997)

Televisions

2.38 million (1997)

Terrain

generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast and west; desert dominates the north

Total fertility rate

4.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

18.7% (2002 est.)

Waterways

4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers) (2004)