2014 Edition

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 on September 27, 2012 relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries. The final disposition of the contested Abyei region has also to be decided. Since South Sudan's independence, conflict has broken out between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, which has resulted in 1.2 million internally displaced persons or severely affected persons in need of humanitarian assistance. A separate conflict, which broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, has displaced nearly two million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths. Violence in Darfur in 2013 resulted in an additional estimated 6,000 civilians killed and 500,000 displaced. The UN and the African Union have jointly commanded a Darfur peacekeeping operation known as the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) since 2007. Peacekeeping troops have struggled to stabilize the situation and have increasingly become targets for attacks by armed groups. In 2013, 16 peacekeepers were killed, UNAMID's deadliest year so far. 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 government denial of access have impeded the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.

Area

1,861,484 sq km NA NA

total

1,861,484 sq km

water

NA

Area - comparative

slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US

Climate

hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)

Coastline

853 km

Elevation extremes

Red Sea 0 m Jabal Marrah 3,071 m

highest point

Jabal Marrah 3,071 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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

27.59 cu km/yr (4%/1%/95%) 683.4 cu m/yr (2005)

per capita

683.4 cu m/yr (2005)

total

27.59 cu km/yr (4%/1%/95%)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 30 00 E

Geography - note

dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

Irrigated land

18,900 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

6,751 km Central African Republic 175 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,275 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 769 km, Libya 383 km, South Sudan 2,184 km 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

border countries

Central African Republic 175 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,275 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 769 km, Libya 383 km, South Sudan 2,184 km

total

6,751 km

Land use

6.76% 0.07% 93.17% (2011)

arable land

6.76%

other

93.17% (2011)

permanent crops

0.07%

Location

north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 18 nm 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

contiguous zone

18 nm

continental shelf

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

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

Terrain

generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north

Total renewable water resources

64.5 cu km (2011)

Age structure

40.8% (male 7,356,059/female 7,131,497) 20.2% (male 3,704,700/female 3,476,847) 31.8% (male 5,465,816/female 5,800,619) 3.9% (male 737,831/female 652,428) 3.3% (male 633,083/female 523,353) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

40.8% (male 7,356,059/female 7,131,497)

15-24 years

20.2% (male 3,704,700/female 3,476,847)

25-54 years

31.8% (male 5,465,816/female 5,800,619)

55-64 years

3.9% (male 737,831/female 652,428)

65 years and over

3.3% (male 633,083/female 523,353) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

30.01 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

31.7% (2006)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

9% (2010)

Death rate

7.87 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

79 % 73.1 % 5.9 % 17.1 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

5.9 %

potential support ratio

17.1 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

79 %

youth dependency ratio

73.1 %

Drinking water source

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.)

rural

49.8% of population

total

44.5% of population (2012 est.)

urban

34% of population

Ethnic groups

Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Fallata

Health expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

12,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

260,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

52.86 deaths/1,000 live births 58.29 deaths/1,000 live births 47.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

47.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

52.86 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur program of "Arabization" in process

Life expectancy at birth

63.32 years 61.27 years 65.46 years (2014 est.)

female

65.46 years (2014 est.)

total population

63.32 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 71.9% 80.7% 63.2% pre-secession of South Sudan (2011 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

63.2%

male

80.7%

total population

71.9%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis rabies highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)

animal contact disease

rabies

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

KHARTOUM (capital) 4.632 million (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

730 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

19.1 years 18.9 years 19.4 years (2014 est.)

female

19.4 years (2014 est.)

male

18.9 years

total

19.1 years

Nationality

Sudanese (singular and plural) Sudanese

adjective

Sudanese

noun

Sudanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6% (2008)

Physicians density

0.28 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

35,482,233 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

1.78% (2014 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority

Sanitation facility access

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.)

rural

86.6% of population

total

76.4% of population (2012 est.)

urban

56.1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

4 years (2000)

total

4 years (2000)

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.24 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.07 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.94 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.24 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.92 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Urbanization

33.2% of total population (2011) 2.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

33.2% of total population (2011)

Administrative divisions

17 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Jazira (Gezira), Al Khartoum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile), Ash Shimaliyya (Northern), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Janub Darfur (Southern Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Kassala, Nahr an Nil (River Nile), Sharq Darfur (Eastern Darfur), Shimal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shimal Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sinnar, Wasat Darfur (Central Darfur)

Capital

Khartoum 15 36 N, 32 32 E UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

15 36 N, 32 32 E

name

Khartoum

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1998; latest (interim) adopted 6 July 2005, effective 9 July 2005; note - in 2011, the Government of Sudan initiated a process for drafting a new constitution (2013)

Country name

Republic of the Sudan Sudan Jumhuriyat as-Sudan As-Sudan Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Christopher ROWAN (since December 2012) Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Street, Khartoum P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum; APO AE 09829 [249] (187)-0-(22000) [249] (183) 774-137

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Christopher ROWAN (since December 2012)

embassy

Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Street, Khartoum

FAX

[249] (183) 774-137

mailing address

P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum; APO AE 09829

telephone

[249] (187)-0-(22000)

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Elhafiz Eisa Abdulla ADAM 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 338-8565 [1] (202) 667-2406

chancery

2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Elhafiz Eisa Abdulla ADAM

FAX

[1] (202) 667-2406

telephone

[1] (202) 338-8565

Executive branch

President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President BAKRI Hassan Salih, Second Vice President Hasabu Mohamed ABDEL RAHMIN (both since 3 December 2013) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President BAKRI Hassan Salih, Second Vice President Hasabu Mohamed ABDEL RAHMAN (both since 9 December 2013) Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet election on 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2015) Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR re-elected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 68.2%, Yasir ARMAN 21.7%, Abdullah Deng NHIAL 3.9%, others 6.2% 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

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President BAKRI Hassan Salih, Second Vice President Hasabu Mohamed ABDEL RAHMIN (both since 3 December 2013) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR re-elected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 68.2%, Yasir ARMAN 21.7%, Abdullah Deng NHIAL 3.9%, others 6.2%

elections

election on 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

head of government

President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President BAKRI Hassan Salih, Second Vice President Hasabu Mohamed ABDEL RAHMAN (both since 9 December 2013)

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 Sudan itself (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity

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 Sudan itself (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity

Government type

federal republic ruled by the National Congress Party (NCP), which seized power by military coup in 1989; the CPA-mandated Government of National Unity, which between 2005 and 2011 provided a percentage of leadership posts to the southern Sudan-based Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), was disbanded following the secession of South Sudan

Independence

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008

International organization participation

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

National Supreme Court (consists of 70 judges organized into panels of 3 judges; court 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 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 National Court of Appeals; other national courts (not specified in the 2005 Interim National Constitution as to national or local authority); township and rural (peoples') courts

highest court(s)

National Supreme Court (consists of 70 judges organized into panels of 3 judges; court 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

National Court of Appeals; other national courts (not specified in the 2005 Interim National Constitution as to national or local authority); township and rural (peoples') courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law

Legislative branch

bicameral National Legislature consists of a Council of States (50 seats; members indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve six-year terms) and a National Assembly (450 seats; 60% from geographic constituencies, 25% from a women's list, and 15% from party lists; members to serve six-year terms) last held on 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2015) National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NCP 323, SPLM 99, PCP 4, DUP 4, UFP 3, URDP 2, DUPO 2, SPLM-DC 2, other 7, vacant 4; composition of National Assembly following South Sudan's independence - seats by party - NCP 317, SPLM 8, PCP 4, DUP 4, UFP 3, URDP 2, DUPO 1, UP 1, UNP 1, UCLP 1, MB 1, independent 3, vacant 8 the mandate of the members from the south was terminated upon independence by the Republic of South Sudan effective 9 July 2011 and membership in Sudan's National Assembly was reduced to 354; it is unclear whether this total will be retained for the next election or whether the previous total of 450 will be reconstituted

election results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NCP 323, SPLM 99, PCP 4, DUP 4, UFP 3, URDP 2, DUPO 2, SPLM-DC 2, other 7, vacant 4; composition of National Assembly following South Sudan's independence - seats by party - NCP 317, SPLM 8, PCP 4, DUP 4, UFP 3, URDP 2, DUPO 1, UP 1, UNP 1, UCLP 1, MB 1, independent 3, vacant 8

elections

last held on 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

National anthem

"Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land) Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN adopted 1956; the song originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military

lyrics/music

Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN

name

"Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

National symbol(s)

secretary bird

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Unionist Party or DUP [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] Muslim Brotherhood or MB National Congress Party or NCP [Umar Hassan al-BASHIR] National Umma Party or UP [Siddiq al-MAHDI] Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI] Reform Now Party or RNP [Dr. Ghazi Salah ADDEEN] Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) [Mohammed Moktar Al-KHATEEB] Sudanese Congress Party [Ibrahim Al Shiek ABDULRAHMAN] Unionist Movement Party or UMP [Nagla AL-AZHARI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) [Malik AGAR] Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) [Malik AGAR] National Consensus Front (NCF) [Farouq ABU ISSA] Darfur rebel groups including the Justice and Equality Movement or JEM [Gibril Fidail IBRAHIM], the Sudan Liberation Movement or SLM-AW [Abdel Wahid NUR] [various factional leaders], Sudan Liberation or SLM-MM /[Minni Arkou MINAWI]

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava (manioc, tapioca), mangoes, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds; sheep and other livestock

Budget

$4.513 billion $6.842 billion (2013 est.)

expenditures

$6.842 billion (2013 est.)

revenues

$4.513 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.98 billion (2013 est.) -$5.282 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$40.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $39.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Economy - overview

Sudan is an extremely poor country that 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. Sudan is also subject to comprehensive US sanctions. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining, 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 rising inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012, but subsided to 25% in 2013. 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.

Exchange rates

Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 5.83 (2013 est.) 3.57 (2012 est.) 2.31 (2010 est.) 2.3 (2009) 2.1 (2008)

Exports

$4.145 billion (2013 est.) $3.368 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UAE 63.2%, Saudi Arabia 9.2%, Ethiopia 5.3% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

64.1% 11.3% 23.2% 3.4% 17.9% -19.9% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

17.9%

government consumption

11.3%

household consumption

64.1%

imports of goods and services

-19.9%

investment in fixed capital

23.2%

investment in inventories

3.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

27.4% 33.6% 39% (2013 est.)

agriculture

27.4%

industry

33.6%

services

39% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,600 (2013 est.) $2,600 (2012 est.) $2,700 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (2013 est.) -3.3% (2012 est.) -1.8% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$52.5 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$89.97 billion (2013 est.) $86.59 billion (2012 est.) $89.51 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving

26.6% of GDP (2013 est.) 18.1% of GDP (2012 est.) 26.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.7% 26.7% (2009 est.)

highest 10%

26.7% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

2.7%

Imports

$5.941 billion (2013 est.) $8.123 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Macau 18.1%, India 8.8%, Saudi Arabia 7.9%, Egypt 6.7%, UAE 5.2% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

11% (2013 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

25% (2013 est.) 37.4% (2012 est.)

Labor force

11.92 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

80% 7% 13% (1998 est.)

agriculture

80%

industry

7%

services

13% (1998 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.5% (2009 est.)

Public debt

111% of GDP (2013 est.) 101.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$202.2 million (31 December 2013 est.) $192.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$12.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $13.23 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$9.785 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $11.64 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$8.035 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $7.927 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

8.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (2012 est.) 18.7% (2002 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

16.45 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

97,270 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

28,830 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.25 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

5.665 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

30.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

66.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.083 million kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

7.193 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

21.24 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

95,450 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

14,950 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,349 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

124,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

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

.sd

Internet hosts

99 (2012)

Internet users

4.2 million (2008)

Telephone system

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 consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations country code - 249; linked to the EASSy and FLAG fiber-optic submarine cable systems; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2010)

domestic

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

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

international

country code - 249; linked to the EASSy and FLAG fiber-optic submarine cable systems; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

425,000 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

27.659 million (2012)

Airports

74 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

10

over 3,047 m

2

total

16

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

12 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

17

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

28

total

58

Heliports

6 (2013)

Merchant marine

cargo 2 (2010)

total

2

Pipelines

gas 156 km; oil 4,070 km; refined products 1,613 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Port Sudan

major seaport(s)

Port Sudan

Railways

5,978 km 4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations (2008)

total

5,978 km

Roadways

11,900 km 4,320 km 7,580 km (2000)

total

11,900 km

unpaved

7,580 km (2000)

Waterways

4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

10,433,973 10,411,443 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

10,411,443 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

10,433,973

Manpower fit for military service

6,475,530 6,840,885 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

6,840,885 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,475,530

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

532,030 512,476 (2010 est.)

female

512,476 (2010 est.)

male

532,030

Military branches

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Land Forces, Navy (includes Marines), Sudanese Air Force (Sikakh al-Jawwiya as-Sudaniya), Popular Defense Forces (2011)

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)

Land Forces, Navy (includes Marines), Sudanese Air Force (Sikakh al-Jawwiya as-Sudaniya), Popular Defense Forces (2011)

Military service age and obligation

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)

Disputes - international

the effects of Sudan's almost constant 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 mid-2013, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan provided shelter for more than 600,000 Sudanese refugees; during the same period, Sudan, in turn, hosted about 115,000 Eritreans, 32,000 Chadians, and smaller numbers of Ethiopians and Central Africans; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia proceed slowly due to civil and ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan; 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

109,640 (Eritrea); 41,666 (Chad) (2013); 85,705 (South Sudan) (2014) 2.818 million (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2014)

IDPs

2.818 million (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2014)

refugees (country of origin)

109,640 (Eritrea); 41,666 (Chad) (2013); 85,705 (South Sudan) (2014)

Trafficking in persons

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, are vulnerable to forced labor as domestic workers in homes throughout the country; some of these women and girls are subsequently sexually abused by male occupants of the household or forced to engage in commercial sex acts; Sudanese women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude in Middle Eastern countries and to forced sex trafficking in European countries; some Sudanese men who voluntarily migrate to the Middle East as low-skilled laborers face conditions indicative of forced labor; Sudanese children in Saudi Arabia are used in forced begging and street vending; Sudan is a transit and destination country for Ethiopian and Eritrean women subjected to domestic servitude in Sudan and Middle Eastern countries; Sudan is a destination for Ethiopian, Somali, and possibly Thai women subjected to forced prostitution; Sudanese children in Darfur are forcibly conscripted, at times through abduction, and used by armed groups and government security forces Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; while the government has taken some initial steps to draft anti-trafficking legislation, prosecute suspected traffickers, demobilize and reintegrate child soldiers, and has convened its first workshop to discuss human trafficking, its efforts to combat human trafficking through law enforcement, protection, or prevention measures are undertaken in an ad hoc fashion, rather than as the result of strategic planning; the government has not employed a system for proactively identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations or a referral process for transferring victims to organizations providing care; its proxy militias reportedly unlawfully recruited and used child soldiers during the reporting period; the government has not taken action to conclude a proposed action plan with the UN to address the problem (2013)

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, are vulnerable to forced labor as domestic workers in homes throughout the country; some of these women and girls are subsequently sexually abused by male occupants of the household or forced to engage in commercial sex acts; Sudanese women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude in Middle Eastern countries and to forced sex trafficking in European countries; some Sudanese men who voluntarily migrate to the Middle East as low-skilled laborers face conditions indicative of forced labor; Sudanese children in Saudi Arabia are used in forced begging and street vending; Sudan is a transit and destination country for Ethiopian and Eritrean women subjected to domestic servitude in Sudan and Middle Eastern countries; Sudan is a destination for Ethiopian, Somali, and possibly Thai women subjected to forced prostitution; Sudanese children in Darfur are forcibly conscripted, at times through abduction, and used by armed groups and government security forces

tier rating

Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; while the government has taken some initial steps to draft anti-trafficking legislation, prosecute suspected traffickers, demobilize and reintegrate child soldiers, and has convened its first workshop to discuss human trafficking, its efforts to combat human trafficking through law enforcement, protection, or prevention measures are undertaken in an ad hoc fashion, rather than as the result of strategic planning; the government has not employed a system for proactively identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations or a referral process for transferring victims to organizations providing care; its proxy militias reportedly unlawfully recruited and used child soldiers during the reporting period; the government has not taken action to conclude a proposed action plan with the UN to address the problem (2013)