Sudan

Background

Historically known as Nubia, what is now Sudan was home to the Kingdom of Kerma (circa 2500-1500 B.C.) until it became part of the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., the Kingdom of Kush achieved autonomy from Egypt and persisted in various forms until the mid-4th century A.D. Following the decline of Kush, the Nubians established three Christian kingdoms: Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia, with the latter two surviving until approximately 1500. During the 14th and 15th centuries, Arab nomadic groups settled in much of Sudan, which resulted in widespread Islamization from the 16th to the 19th centuries. After early 19th-century Egyptian occupation, a 1899 agreement created a joint British-Egyptian administration in Sudan, which essentially functioned as a British colony.

Since gaining independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule in 1956, Sudan has predominantly been governed by military regimes that support Islamic-oriented administrations. Throughout much of the latter half of the 20th century, the nation experienced two extended civil wars, primarily driven by northern control over the predominantly non-Muslim, non-Arab southern region. The first civil conflict concluded in 1972, but a subsequent war erupted in 1983. Peace negotiations gained traction between 2002 and 2004, culminating in the 2005 North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which granted the southern insurgents autonomy for six years, leading to a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. South Sudan declared its independence in 2011; however, both Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully actualize security and economic agreements to normalize their relations. Additionally, Sudan has encountered conflicts in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile, which began in 2003.

In 2019, following extensive nationwide protests, President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR’s 30-year rule came to an end when the military deposed him. Economist and former international civil servant Abdalla HAMDOUK al-Kinani was appointed as the prime minister of a transitional government, with plans for elections in 2022. However, in late 2021, the Sudanese military removed HAMDOUK and his administration and substituted civilian members of the Sovereign Council (Sudan’s collective Head of State) with those chosen by the military. Although HAMDOUK was briefly reinstated, he resigned in January 2022. General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman, who serves as the Chair of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, currently acts as the de facto head of state and government. He oversees a Sovereign Council that includes military leaders, representatives from former armed opposition groups, and civilians appointed by the military. Day-to-day governance is managed by a cabinet of acting ministers.

Area

Climate

characterized by hot and arid conditions; predominantly desert; the rainy season varies by area, occurring from April to November

Terrain

generally consists of a level, featureless expanse; desert terrain is prevalent in the northern region

Land use

Location

located in northeastern Africa, adjacent to the Red Sea, situated between Egypt and Eritrea

Coastline

853 km

Elevation

Irrigated land

15,504 sq km (2019)

Major aquifers

Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)

Map references

Africa

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

Natural hazards

frequent dust storms and recurring severe droughts

Geography - note

The Nile serves as the main water source for Sudan; its principal tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, converge at Khartoum to create the River Nile, which continues northward into Egypt and reaches the Mediterranean Sea

Natural resources

oil; limited deposits of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, and gold; hydropower resources

Area - comparative

slightly under one-fifth the area of the United States

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 30 00 E

Population distribution

apart from a narrow strip of habitation along the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan has a low population density; significant population centers are located around Khartoum, in the southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and across South Darfur, as illustrated in this population distribution map

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Major rivers (by length in km)

An Nīl (Nile) (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km

note: [s] indicates river source following the country name; [m] indicates river mouth following the country name

Languages

Religions

Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority

Sex ratio

Birth rate

32.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median age

Population

Nationality

Urbanization

Age structure

Ethnic groups

Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Ingessana, Uduk, Fallata, Masalit, Dajo, Gimir, Tunjur, Berti; there are over 500 ethnic groups

Dependency ratios

Physician density

0.25 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Health expenditure

Net migration rate

-1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.41 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

Infant mortality rate

Population growth rate

2.54% (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.15 (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Northern Sudan is largely sparsely inhabited, apart from a strip of habitation along the banks of the Nile; significant population centers exist around Khartoum, in the southeastern region between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and across South Darfur, as illustrated in this population distribution map.

Life expectancy at birth

Maternal mortality ratio

256 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

Major urban areas - population

6.344 million KHARTOUM (capital), 1.057 million Nyala (2023)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.6% (2014)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

33% (2014)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Climate

characterized by high temperatures and low precipitation; arid landscapes; the timing of the rainy season differs by area (April to November)

Land use

Urbanization

Methane emissions

Waste and recycling

Environmental issues

contamination of water sources; insufficient access to drinking water; shortages of water and drought conditions; overexploitation of wildlife; erosion of soil; desert expansion; loss of forest cover; decline in biodiversity

Total water withdrawal

Carbon dioxide emissions

Particulate matter emissions

24.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

37.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International environmental agreements

Flag

description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), white, and black, accompanied by a green isosceles triangle positioned on the left side

meaning: red symbolizes the fight for freedom; white represents peace, light, and love; black signifies the people; green stands for Islam, agriculture, and prosperity

history: the colors and layout are influenced by the Arab Revolt flag from World War I

Capital

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Constitution

Country name

Independence

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)

Legal system

a mixed legal system combining Islamic law and English common law

Government type

presidential republic

Judicial branch

Executive branch

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

National color(s)

red, white, black, green

National heritage

Political parties

Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party or DUP
Federal Umma Party
Muslim Brotherhood or MB
National Congress Party or NCP
National Umma Party or NUP
Popular Congress Party or PCP
Reform Movement Now
Sudan National Front
Sudanese Communist Party or SCP
Sudanese Congress Party or SCoP
Umma Party for Reform and Development
Unionist Movement Party or UMP

Legislative branch

National anthem(s)

National symbol(s)

secretary bird

Administrative divisions

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU (suspended), 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

International law organization participation

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

Budget

Exports

Imports

Industries

oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distillation, footwear, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, weapons, automobile/light truck assembly, milling

Labor force

10.949 million (2022 est.)

Public debt

Remittances

Exchange rates

Debt - external

Economic overview

economy in the low-income Sahel region severely affected by ongoing civil conflict; significant repercussions on rural income, basic commodity prices, industrial output, agricultural supply chains, as well as communications and trade; hyperinflation and currency devaluation exacerbating food security and humanitarian conditions

Unemployment rate

Exports - partners

UAE 21%, China 17%, Saudi Arabia 16%, Malaysia 9%, Egypt 8% (2023)

Imports - partners

China 21%, India 19%, Egypt 16%, UAE 14%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2023)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP growth rate

Agricultural products

sugarcane, sorghum, milk, onions, groundnuts, sesame seeds, goat milk, bananas, mangoes/guavas, millet (2023)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, gold, oil seeds, sheep and goats, ground nuts (2023)

Imports - commodities

raw sugar, wheat flour, refined petroleum, clothing, packaged medicines (2023)

Current account balance

Taxes and other revenues

7.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$49.91 billion (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Industrial production growth rate

-13.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural gas

Electricity access

Energy consumption per capita

Electricity generation sources

Internet users

Broadcast media

state-owned media outlets that engage in self-censorship yet maintain a degree of independence (2022)

Internet country code

.sd

Telephones - fixed lines

Telephones - mobile cellular

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Ports

Airports

45 (2025)

Railways

Heliports

8 (2025)

Merchant marine

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

ST

Military - note

The main duties of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) encompass border security, external defense, and internal stability. Traditionally, operations of the SAF have been bolstered by militia and paramilitary groups, notably the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In the spring of 2023, conflict erupted between the SAF and the RSF, particularly in the vicinity of the capital, Khartoum, and the western region of Darfur, amid disagreements regarding an internationally supported initiative for transitioning to civilian governance. The fighting subsequently escalated and persisted into 2025, with reports indicating atrocities, ethnic cleansing, severe food insecurity, high civilian casualties, and millions of internally displaced individuals. Both factions are backed by allied militias and are believed to have received foreign assistance.

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Components of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) include the Ground Force (Sudanese Army), Sudanese Navy, Sudanese Air Force, and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as Border Guards.

The Ministry of Interior oversees the Sudan Police Forces (SPF) and the Central Reserve Police (CRP) (2025).

Military service age and obligation

Individuals aged 18 to 33 are subject to compulsory or voluntary military service, which lasts between 12 to 24 months (2025).

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The inventory of the SAF includes a variety of weapon systems, primarily of Chinese and Russian/Soviet origin, along with some domestically produced arms. Sudan possesses a state-run defense industry that primarily manufactures replicas of foreign-supplied weaponry, such as armored vehicles, under license (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

Before the onset of clashes between the SAF and the RSF in 2023, estimates of the size of Sudan's armed forces varied significantly: up to 200,000 for the SAF; up to 100,000 for the RSF; and up to 80,000 for the Central Reserve Police (2023).

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; Harakat Sawa’d Misr

Trafficking in persons

Refugees and internally displaced persons