Official Title

Republic of the Sudan

Capital

Khartoum (population between 4 and 5 million)

Head of State

Lt. Gen. Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir

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.