Overview of Sudan
Overview of Sudan Last updated on Saturday 24th April 2010
Official Title
- Republic of the Sudan
Capital
- Khartoum (population between 4 and 5 million)
Main port
- Port Sudan on the Red Sea (population 206,727)
Additional urban centres
- Omdurman (pop. 526,000)
- El-Obeid (pop. 200,000)
- Wad Medani (pop. 145,000)
- Kassala (pop. 150,000)
Land area
- 2,505,813 sq. km (967,500 sq. miles)
Language
- Officially Arabic, with English widely spoken and understood. Many other African languages also spoken.
Religion
- 73% Sunni Muslims, mostly in the north. Islamic culture is very strong in the northern two-thirds of the country.
- In the south, 17% follow tribal religions; the remainder are Christian, mostly Roman Catholic.
Independence day
- 01/01/1956
Population
- 35.000.000 (estimation of 2000).
Population density
- 12 /km² (1999).
Young people under 15 Years old
- 45% (estimate 2000).
Population growth
- 3% (estimate 2000).
Ethnic background
- Arabs 40%, Fur 10%, Dinka 10%, Beja 5, Nuba 4%, Nuer 3%, Nubian 2.5%, Zande 1.5%.
Urban Population
- 31% (1990-1999).
Population profile
- Mostly Arab in the northern areas and black Africans in the south. Many additional tribal groups, including the Beja, Jamala and Nubian people in the north, and the Azande, Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk people in the south.
Birth Rate
- 39 births/1,000 population (estimation of 2000).
Death Rate
- 10.3 deaths/1,000 population (estimation of 2000).
Infant Mortality Rate
- 70.2 deaths/1,000 live births (estimation of 2000).
Currency
Two currencies operate side by side:
- Sudanese pound, divided into 1,000 milliemes and 100 piastres.
- Sudanese dinar, smaller and newer-looking notes than the Sudanese pound and intended to replace it in due course.
Market Exchange Rate
- 1 US $ = 256.410 SDD (November 2000).
Inflation Rate at Consumer Prices
- 20% (1999).
Labour Force by Economic Sector of Activity
- Agriculture 63%, Industry and Services 37% (1999).
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- US $ 12 Billion (1999).
Real Gross Domestic Product - Growth Rate
- 3% (1999).
Gross Domestic Product- per capita
- US $ 350 (1998).
Industries
- Cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining.
Agricultural products
- Cotton, H.P.S. groundnuts, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sesame, sheep.
Industrial production growth rate
- 4% (1998).
Total External Debt
- US $ 24 billion (1999).
Major Trading Partners
- Imports: France, China, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Japan and Canada.
- Exports: Italy, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany, China, Japan and France.
Major Export Products
- Cotton, livestock, sesame, oil, groundnuts and arabic gum.
Major Import Products
- Foodstuffs, manufactured goods, petroleum products, transport and machinery.
Time zone
- GMT +2 hours
Electricity
- 215 to 240 volts AC; 50 Hz. Power is often erratic, especially in smaller urban centres.
Weights & measures
- Mostly metric, although petrol is sold by the gallon.