Introduction
Background
Between the 14th and 15th centuries, Arab nomads settled much of Sudan, leading to extensive Islamization in the 16th-19th centuries. Since independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956, military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 after a referendum.
Geography
Area
total: 1,861,484 sq km
land: 1,731,671 sq km
water: 129,813 sq km
Climate
hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Natural resources
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower
People and Society
Population
total: 50,467,278
male: 25,335,092
female: 25,132,186 (2024 est.)
Ethnic groups
Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Ingessana, Uduk, Fallata, Masalit, Dajo, Gimir, Tunjur, Berti; there are over 500 ethnic groups
Languages
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
Religions
Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority
Population growth rate
2.55% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Khartoum
Executive branch
chief of state: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman; note – the 2019 Constitutional Declaration established a collective chief of state of the "Sovereign Council," which was chaired by al-BURHAN; on 25 October 2021, al-BURHAN dissolved the Sovereign Council but reinstated it on 11 November 2021, replacing its civilian members (previously selected by the umbrella civilian coalition the Forces for Freedom and Change) with civilians of the military’s choosing but then relieved the newly appointed civilian members of their duties on 6 July 2022; note - Sovereign Council currently consists of only the 5 generals
head of government: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman; Acting Prime Minister Osman HUSSEIN (since 19 January 2022); note - former Prime Minister Abdallah HAMDOUK resigned on 2 January 2022; HAMDOUK served as prime minister from August 2019 to October 2019 before he was kidnapped; he was later freed and reinstated as prime minister on 21 November 2021
Legislative branch
description: according to the August 2019 Constitutional Declaration, which established Sudan's transitional government, the Transitional Legislative Council (TLC) was to have served as the national legislature during the transitional period until elections could be held; as of June 2023, the TLC had not been established
Economy
Economic overview
low-income Sahel economy; one of the world’s major agricultural exporters; shared oil pipeline exports with South Sudan; transitional government increasing human capital investment; food prices hit hard by COVID-19; ongoing Gezira Scheme irrigation project
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$167.369 billion (2022 est.)
$168.98 billion (2021 est.)
$172.198 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$3,600 (2022 est.)
$3,700 (2021 est.)
$3,900 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
sorghum, sugarcane, milk, groundnuts, millet, onions, sesame seeds, goat milk, bananas, mangoes/guavas (2022)
Industries
oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling
Exports
$5.908 billion (2022 est.)
$6.664 billion (2021 est.)
$5.065 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 43%, China 16%, Italy 8%, Egypt 8%, Turkey 4% (2022)
Exports - commodities
gold, crude petroleum, oil seeds, ground nuts, cotton (2022)
Imports
$11.575 billion (2022 est.)
$10.271 billion (2021 est.)
$10.52 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
China 22%, UAE 20%, India 18%, Egypt 9%, Turkey 5% (2022)
Imports - commodities
raw sugar, wheat, refined petroleum, garments, jewelry (2022)
Exchange rates
Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
546.759 (2022 est.)
370.791 (2021 est.)
53.996 (2020 est.)
45.767 (2019 est.)
24.329 (2018 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
