2016 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 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. Since South Sudan's independence, conflict has broken out between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, which has resulted in 1.2 million internally displaced persons or severely affected persons needing humanitarian assistance. A separate conflict, which broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, 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. 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

land

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

568 m lowest point: Red Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal Marrah 3,071 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Red Sea 0 m

highest point

Jabal Marrah 3,071 m

mean elevation

568 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

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 30 00 E

Geography - note

dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

Irrigated land

18,900 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

6,819 km 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 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 (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

total

6,819 km

Land use

100% arable land 15.7%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 84.2% 0% 0% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

100%

forest

0%

other

0% (2011 est.)

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north

Age structure

39.43% (male 7,351,759/female 7,130,224) 20.77% (male 3,926,374/female 3,703,826) 32.42% (male 5,779,482/female 6,129,213) 4.12% (male 793,848/female 721,075) 3.25% (male 645,876/female 547,824) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

39.43% (male 7,351,759/female 7,130,224)

15-24 years

20.77% (male 3,926,374/female 3,703,826)

25-54 years

32.42% (male 5,779,482/female 6,129,213)

55-64 years

4.12% (male 793,848/female 721,075)

65 years and over

3.25% (male 645,876/female 547,824) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

28.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

33% (2014)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

9% (2010)

Death rate

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

78% 72.1% 5.9% 16.9% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

5.9%

potential support ratio

16.9% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

78%

youth dependency ratio

72.1%

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

Education expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.25% (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,000 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

55,900 (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

50.2 deaths/1,000 live births 55.4 deaths/1,000 live births 44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

55.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

50.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

note

program of "Arabization" in process

Life expectancy at birth

64.1 years 62 years 66.3 years (2016 est.)

female

66.3 years (2016 est.)

male

62 years

total population

64.1 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 75.9% 83.3% 68.6% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

68.6% (2015 est.)

male

83.3%

total population

75.9%

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 (2016)

animal contact disease

rabies (2016)

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) 5.129 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

311 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

19.6 years 19.4 years 19.9 years (2016 est.)

female

19.9 years (2016 est.)

male

19.4 years

total

19.6 years

Nationality

Sudanese (singular and plural) Sudanese

adjective

Sudanese

noun

Sudanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.6% (2014)

Physicians density

0.28 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

36,729,501 (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

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

1.69% (2016 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)

7 years 7 years 7 years (2013)

female

7 years (2013)

male

7 years

total

7 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 1.19 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.68 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

20% 16% 32% (2009 est.)

female

32% (2009 est.)

male

16%

total

20%

Urbanization

33.8% of total population (2015) 2.54% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.54% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

33.8% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Al Gazira, Al Gedaref, Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, Western Kordofan, White Nile

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)

Citizenship

no the father must be a citizen of Sudan no 10 years

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

previous 1998; latest adopted 6 July 2005, effective 9 July 2005 (interim constitution); amended 2015; note - in 2011, the Government of Sudan initiated a process for drafting a new constitution (2016)

Country name

Republic of the Sudan Sudan Jumhuriyat as-Sudan As-Sudan Anglo-Egyptian Sudan the name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic "bilad-as-sudan" meaning "Land of the black [peoples]"

conventional long form

Republic of the Sudan

conventional short form

Sudan

etymology

the name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic "bilad-as-sudan" meaning "Land of the black [peoples]"

former

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

local long form

Jumhuriyat as-Sudan

local short form

As-Sudan

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven KOUTSIS (since 2016) 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); Charge d'Affaires Steven KOUTSIS (since 2016)

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 Maowia Osman KHALID (since 31 January 2014) 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 Maowia Osman KHALID (since 31 January 2014)

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 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) Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (NCP) 94.1%, other (15 candidates) 5.9%

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 reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (NCP) 94.1%, other (15 candidates) 5.9%

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)

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

Government type

presidential republic

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 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 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 Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts

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

mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law

Legislative branch

bicameral National Legislature consists of the Council of States or Majlis Weleyat (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) last held on 13-15 April 2015 (next to be held in 2021) National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NCP 323, DUP 25, Democratic Unionist Party 15, other 44, independent 19 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

description

bicameral National Legislature consists of the Council of States or Majlis Weleyat (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)

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

elections

last held on 13-15 April 2015 (next to be held in 2021)

note

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

National anthem

"Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land) Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN adopted 1956; 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)

note

adopted 1956; originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

National symbol(s)

secretary bird; national colors: red, white, black, green

secretary bird; national colors

red, white, black, green

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Unionist Party or DUP [Jalal al-DIGAIR] Democratic Unionist Party [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 al-DEEN] Sudanese Communist Party or SCP [Mohammed Moktar Al-KHATEEB] Sudanese Congress Party [Ibrahim Al-SHEIKH] Unionist Movement Party or UMP [Nagla AL-AZHARI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Darfur rebel groups including the Justice and Equality Movement or JEM [Gibril Fidail IBRAHIM], Sudan Liberation Movement or SLM-AW [Abdel Wahid 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 [Malik AGAR] Sudan Revolutionary Front or SRF [Malik AGAR]

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; animal feed, sheep and other livestock

Budget

$6.663 billion $9.943 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$9.943 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$6.663 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

Current account balance

-$6.457 billion (2015 est.) -$4.999 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$49.42 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $47.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Economy - overview

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 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 high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but subsided to 18% in 2015.

Exchange rates

Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 6.03 (2015 est.) 5.74 (2014 est.) 5.74 (2013 est.) 3.57 (2012 est.) 2.68 (2011 est.)

Exports

$3.169 billion (2015 est.) $4.454 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold; oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, peanuts, gum Arabic, sugar

Exports - partners

UAE 32%, China 16.2%, Saudi Arabia 15.5%, Australia 4.7%, India 4.2% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

79% 7% 13.7% 5.4% 6.9% -12.1% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

6.9%

government consumption

7%

household consumption

79%

imports of goods and services

-12.1% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

13.7%

investment in inventories

5.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

28.6% 20.5% 50.9% (2015 est.)

agriculture

28.6%

industry

20.5%

services

50.9% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,300 (2015 est.) $4,300 (2014 est.) $4,300 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2015 est.) 3.3% (2014 est.) 3.9% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$83.61 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$167 billion (2015 est.) $161.3 billion (2014 est.) $156.2 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

14.9% of GDP (2015 est.) 14.9% of GDP (2014 est.) 4.3% of GDP (2013 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

$8.368 billion (2015 est.) $8.106 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 26.4%, UAE 10.1%, India 9.1%, Egypt 5.6%, Turkey 4.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.4% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

6.1% (2015 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

17.3% (2015 est.) 36.9% (2014 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

68.9% of GDP (2015 est.) 72.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$173.5 million (31 December 2015 est.) $181.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$13.47 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$24.41 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $22.68 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$17.34 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $14.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$9.511 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $8.034 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

13.6% (2014 est.) 14.8% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

14 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

2,060 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

64,770 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

5 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

9.9 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

30.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

66.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.7 million kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

12 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

24,700,000 35% 63% 21% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

21% (2013)

electrification - total population

35%

electrification - urban areas

63%

population without electricity

24,700,000

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

21.24 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

108,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

5,984 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

24,800 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

88,180 bbl/day (2013 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 users

9.61 million 26.6% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

26.6% (July 2015 est.)

total

9.61 million

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 - fixed lines

118,954 less than 1 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

118,954

Telephones - mobile cellular

27.939 million 77 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

77 (July 2015 est.)

total

27.939 million

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

under 914 m

12 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

ST (2016)

Heliports

6 (2013)

Merchant marine

cargo 2 (2010)

by type

cargo 2 (2010)

total

2

National air transport system

496,178 13,161,592 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

13,161,592 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

496,178

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

25

number of registered air carriers

6

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

7,251 km 5,851 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations (20014)

narrow gauge

5,851 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations (20014)

total

7,251 km

Roadways

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

paved

4,320 km

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)

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

98,676 (Eritrea); 8,894 (Chad) (2015); 247,317 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2016) 3,218,234 (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2015)

IDPs

3,218,234 (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

98,676 (Eritrea); 8,894 (Chad) (2015); 247,317 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2016)

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, 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 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)

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)