Long referred to as Nubia, modern-day Sudan was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until it was absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., the Kingdom of Kush gained independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the 4th century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia, with the latter two enduring until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, Arab nomads settled much of Sudan, leading to extensive Islamization between the 16th and 19th centuries. Following Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century, an agreement in 1899 set up a joint British-Egyptian government in Sudan, but it was effectively a British colony.
Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. During most of the second half of the 20th century, Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars rooted in northern domination of the largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern portion of the country. The first civil war ended in 1972, but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04, and the final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years, followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. South Sudan became independent in 2011, but Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements to normalize relations between the two countries. Sudan has also faced conflict in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile starting in 2003.
In 2019, after months of nationwide protests, the 30-year reign of President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR ended when the military forced him out. Economist and former international civil servant Abdalla HAMDOUK al-Kinani was selected to serve as the prime minister of a transitional government as the country prepared for elections in 2022. In late 2021, however, the Sudanese military ousted HAMDOUK and his government and replaced civilian members of the Sovereign Council (Sudan’s collective Head of State) with individuals selected by the military. HAMDOUK was briefly reinstated but resigned in January 2022. General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman, the Chair of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, currently serves as de facto head of state and government. He presides over a Sovereign Council consisting of military leaders, former armed opposition group representatives, and military-appointed civilians. A cabinet of acting ministers handles day-to-day administration. TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 1,861,484 sq km
land: 1,731,671 sq km
water: 129,813 sq km
comparison ranking: total 17
Area – comparative
slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 6,819 km
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
Coastline
853 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Terrain
generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north
Elevation
highest point: Jabal Marrah 3,042 m
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 568 m
Natural resources
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 60.3% (2022 est.)
arable land: 11.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 49% (2022 est.)
forest: 9.6% (2022 est.)
other: 30% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
15,504 sq km (2019)
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] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers
Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Population distribution
with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan is sparsely populated; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and throughout South Darfur, as shown on this population distribution map
Natural hazards
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Geography – note
the Nile is Sudan’s primary water source; its major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at Khartoum to form the River Nile, which flows northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea
People and Society
Population
total: 50,467,278 (2024 est.)
male: 25,335,092
female: 25,132,186
comparison rankings: total 29; female 31; male 29
Nationality
noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sudanese
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
major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
Arabic audio sample:
Religions
Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority
Age structure
0-14 years: 40.1% (male 10,278,453/female 9,949,343)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 14,211,514/female 14,390,486)
65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 845,125/female 792,357)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 76.4 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 70.7 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 17.5 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 19.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 19 years
female: 19.6 years
comparison ranking: total 212
Population growth rate
2.55% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 16
Birth rate
33.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 18
Death rate
6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 148
Net migration rate
-1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 159
Population distribution
with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan is sparsely populated; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and throughout South Darfur, as shown on this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 36.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
6.344 million KHARTOUM (capital), 1.057 million Nyala (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
270 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 31
Infant mortality rate
total: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.8 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 28
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 65.5 years
female: 70.2 years
comparison ranking: total population 194
Total fertility rate
4.47 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 15
Gross reproduction rate
2.18 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
12.2% (2014)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 80.7% of population
total: 87.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 19.3% of population
total: 12.9% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
2.8% of GDP (2021)
6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.25 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 72.1% of population
rural: 30.6% of population
total: 45.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 27.9% of population
rural: 69.4% of population
total: 54.7% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
6.6% (2014)
comparison ranking: 165
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 1.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 131
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
33% (2014)
comparison ranking: 2
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
61.4% (2023 est.)
Literacy
total population: 60.7%
male: 65.4%
female: 56.1% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2015)
Environment
Environment – current issues
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and drought; overhunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity
Environment – international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Land use
agricultural land: 60.3% (2022 est.)
arable land: 11.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 49% (2022 est.)
forest: 9.6% (2022 est.)
other: 30% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 36.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 21.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 20 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 75.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,831,291 tons (2015 est.)
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] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers
Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 950 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 25.91 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
37.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Sudan
etymology: the name derives from the Arabic balad-as-sudan, meaning “Land of the Black [peoples]”
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Khartoum
geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name derives from the Arabic words ras (head or end) and al-khurtum (elephant’s trunk), referring to the narrow strip of land between the Blue and White Niles where the city is located
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
note: the peace agreement signed in 2020 included a provision to establish a system of governance to restructure the country’s current 18 states into regions
Legal system
mixed system of Islamic law and English common law
Constitution
history: previous 1973, 1998, 2005 (interim constitution, which was suspended in April 2019); latest initial draft completed by Transitional Military Council in May 2019; revised draft known as the “Draft Constitutional Charter for the 2019 Transitional Period,” or “2019 Constitutional Declaration” was signed by the Council and opposition coalition on 4 August 2019
note: amended 2020 to incorporate the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan; the military suspended several provisions of the Constitutional Declaration in October 2021
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008
Citizenship
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
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fattah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (since 11 November 2021)
head of government: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fattah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (since 11 November 2021)
cabinet: the military forced most members of the Council of Ministers out of office in 2021; a handful of ministers appointed by former armed opposition groups were allowed to retain their posts; at present, most of the members of the Council are appointed senior civil servants serving in an acting-minister capacity
election/appointment process: military members of the Sovereign Council are selected by the leadership of the security forces; representatives of former armed groups to the Sovereign Council are selected by the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement
election results: NA
expected date of next election: supposed to be held in 2022 or 2023, but the methodology for elections has still not been defined
note 1: 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 2: Sovereign Council currently consists of 5 generals
Legislative branch
note: the Parliament of Sudan was dissolved after a coup in April 2019; the August 2019 Constitutional Declaration established Sudan’s transitional government; a Transitional Legislative Council (TLC) was to have served as the national legislature during the transitional period until elections could be held, but the TLC has not been created
Judicial branch
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); a Constitutional Court was required in the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, but it has yet to be implemented
judge selection and term of office: National Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts
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
note: in November 2019, the transitional government banned the National Congress Party
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Abdalla IDRIS (since 16 September 2022)
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.sudanembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Colleen Crenwelge (since May 2024)
embassy: P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum
mailing address: 2200 Khartoum Place, Washington DC 20521-2200
telephone: [249] 187-0-22000
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://sd.usembassy.gov/
note: the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum suspended operations (to include visa, passport, and other routine consular services) on 22 April 2023
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)
Independence
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
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; red stands for the struggle for freedom, white for peace, light, and love, black for the people, and green for Islam, agriculture, and prosperity
National symbol(s)
secretary bird
National color(s)
red, white, black, green
National anthem
name: “Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan” (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land)
lyrics/music: Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN
note: adopted 1956; originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (c); Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe (c); Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (n)
Economy
Economic overview
low-income Sahel economy devastated by ongoing civil war; major impacts on rural income, basic commodity prices, industrial production, agricultural supply chain, communications and commerce; hyperinflation and currency depreciation worsening food access and humanitarian conditions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$123.565 billion (2023 est.)
$154.672 billion (2022 est.)
$156.168 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 92
Real GDP growth rate
-20.11% (2023 est.)
-0.96% (2022 est.)
-1.87% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 220
Real GDP per capita
$2,500 (2023 est.)
$3,100 (2022 est.)
$3,200 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 204
GDP (official exchange rate)
$109.266 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
138.8% (2022 est.)
359.1% (2021 est.)
163.3% (2020 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 214
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 5.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 5.1% (2023 est.)
services: 7.5% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 216; industry 213; agriculture 114
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 80.7% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 17.4% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 2.2% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 1.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -1.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, sorghum, milk, onions, groundnuts, sesame seeds, goat milk, bananas, mangoes/guavas, millet (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling
Industrial production growth rate
-19.71% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 216
Labor force
10.949 million (2022 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 53
Unemployment rate
11.45% (2023 est.)
7.5% (2022 est.)
11% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 168
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 12% (2022 est.)
male: 11.8% (2022 est.)
female: 13.1% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 111
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
34.2 (2014 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 87
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.2% (2014 est.)
highest 10%: 27.8% (2014 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.92% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.27% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $9.045 billion (2015 est.)
expenditures: $9.103 billion (2015 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
121.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 12
Taxes and other revenues
7.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 191
Current account balance
-$4.443 billion (2022 est.)
-$2.62 billion (2021 est.)
-$5.841 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 177
Exports
$5.908 billion (2022 est.)
$6.664 billion (2021 est.)
$5.065 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 134
Exports – partners
UAE 21%, China 17%, Saudi Arabia 16%, Malaysia 9%, Egypt 8% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
crude petroleum, gold, oil seeds, sheep and goats, ground nuts (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$11.575 billion (2022 est.)
$10.271 billion (2021 est.)
$10.52 billion (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 115
Imports – partners
China 21%, India 19%, Egypt 16%, UAE 14%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
raw sugar, wheat flours, refined petroleum, garments, packaged medicine (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$177.934 million (2017 est.)
$168.284 million (2016 est.)
$173.516 million (2015 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 185
Debt – external
$21.65 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 33
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.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 63.2% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 84%
electrification – rural areas: 49.4%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 3.815 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 13.983 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 882 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.646 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 151; imports 79; consumption 91; installed generating capacity 102
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 68.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
exports: 15 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 200 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 68,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 129,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 1.25 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
proven reserves: 84.951 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
18.242 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 300 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 18.242 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 94
Energy consumption per capita
6.145 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 166
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 156,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 125
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 34.7 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 45
Broadcast media
state-owned broadcasters that self-censor but are somewhat independent (2022)
Internet country code
.sd
Internet users
percent of population: 26% (2020 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 30,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 161
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ST
Airports
45 (2025)
comparison ranking: 94
Heliports
8 (2025)
comparison ranking: 83
Railways
total: 7,251 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 5,851 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations
Merchant marine
total: 14 (2023)
by type: other 14
comparison ranking: total 153
Ports
total ports: 4 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 2
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 3
key ports: Al Khair Oil Terminal, Beshayer Oil Terminal, Port Sudan, Sawakin Harbor
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Ground Force (Sudanese Army), Sudanese Navy, Sudanese Air Force; Rapid Support Forces (RSF); Border Guards
Ministry of Interior: Sudan Police Forces (SPF), Central Reserve Police (CRP) (2025)
note 1: the RSF is a semi-autonomous paramilitary force formed in 2013 to fight armed rebel groups in Sudan, with Mohammed Hamdan DAGALO (aka Hemeti) as its commander; it was initially placed under the National Intelligence and Security Service, then came under the direct command of former president Omar al-BASHIR, who boosted the RSF as his own personal security force; as a result, the RSF was better funded and equipped than the regular armed forces; the RSF has since recruited from all parts of Sudan beyond its original Darfuri Arab groups but remains under the personal patronage and control of DAGALO; the RSF has participated in military operations in Yemen, Darfur, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile State; it has also been used to respond to anti-regime demonstrations; the RSF has been accused of committing human rights abuses against civilians and is reportedly involved in business enterprises, such as gold mining
note 2: the Central Reserve Police (aka Abu Tira) is a combat-trained paramilitary force that has been used against demonstrators and sanctioned by the US for human rights abuses
note 3: there are also numerous armed militias operating in Sudan
Military expenditures
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
2% of GDP (2018 est.)
3.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: many defense expenditures are probably off-budget
Military and security service personnel strengths
prior to the outbreak of fighting between the SAF and the RSF in 2023, size estimates for Sudan’s armed forces varied widely: up to 200,000 SAF; up to 100,000 RSF; up to 80,000 Central Reserve Police (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the SAF’s inventory includes a mix of mostly Chinese, Russian, Soviet-era, and domestically produced weapons systems; Sudan has one of the largest defense industries in Africa, which includes state-owned companies with military involvement; it has mostly manufactured weapons systems under license from China, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine (2024)
note 1: Sudan has been under a UN Security Council approved arms embargo since 2005 as a result of violence in Darfur; in September 2024, the embargo was extended for another year
note 2: the RSF traditionally has been a lightly armed paramilitary force but over the years is reported to have acquired some heavier weapons and equipment such as armored vehicles, artillery, and anti-aircraft guns; it has captured some SAF arms and equipment during the ongoing conflict; since the start of the conflict, both the RSF and the SAF are reported to have received additional weaponry from various foreign suppliers
Military service age and obligation
18-33 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service for men and women; 12-24 month service obligation (2023)
note: implementation of conscription is reportedly uneven
Military – note
the primary responsibilities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are internal security, border control, and countering potential external threats from its neighbors; SAF operations have traditionally been supported by militia and paramilitary forces, particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF); in the Spring of 2023, heavy fighting broke out between the SAF and the paramilitary RSF, particularly around the capital Khartoum and in the western region of Darfur, amid disputes over an internationally-backed plan for a transition towards civilian rule; fighting has since spread and continued into 2025 with reports of atrocities, ethnic cleansing, food insecurity, heavy civilian casualties, and millions of internally displaced persons
the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the military has a large role in the country’s economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exportsthe UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA’s mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; as of 2024, UNISFA had approximately 3,200 personnel assigned
the October 2020 peace agreement provided for the establishment of a Joint Security Keeping Forces (JSKF) comprised of 12,000 personnel tasked with securing the Darfur region in the place of the UN African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force that operated in the war-torn region between 2007 and the end of its mandate in December 2020; in June 2021, Sudan’s transitional government announced it would increase the size of this force to 20,000 and expand its mission scope to include the capital and other parts of the country suffering from violence; the force would include the SAF, RSF, police, intelligence, and representatives from armed groups involved in peace negotiations; in September 2022, the first 2,000 members of the JSKF completed training; the status of the JSKF since the start of the civil war is not available (2025)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; Harakat Sawa’d Misr
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 696,246 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 137,402 (Eritrea) (refugees and asylum seekers), 93,477 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 72,334 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 18,279 (Central African Republic) (2023)
IDPs: 6.5 million (armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan since 15 April 2023) (2024); note – includes some non-Sudanese nationals
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 3 — Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Sudan was downgraded to Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/sudan/
