Picture a nation of 48 million souls, where nearly half are children and the future is being written by its youth, yet the story these numbers tell is one of both immense potential and profound challenge in modern Sudan.
Key Takeaways
- Sudan's total population as of July 2024 is estimated at 48,109,006 people
- The median age in Sudan is 19.1 years as of 2024
- Sudan's population growth rate is 2.49% annually as of 2024
- Sudan's GDP (purchasing power parity) is $189.07 billion as of 2023 estimate
- Sudan's real GDP growth rate is -12.5% for 2023 estimate
- GDP per capita (PPP) in Sudan is $4,100 as of 2023
- Sudan's total area is 1,861,484 square kilometers
- Land boundaries total 6,798 km with neighbors Egypt 1,276 km, Libya 383 km, Chad 1,406 km, Central African Republic 1,165 km, South Sudan 2,340 km, Ethiopia 853 km, Eritrea 744 km
- Coastline length is 853 km along Red Sea
- Sudan's under-5 mortality rate is 52.7 deaths per 1,000 live births as of 2022
- HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among adults 15-49 is less than 0.1% in 2021 est.
- Physicians density is 0.19 physicians per 1,000 people as of 2020
- Government type in Sudan is presidential republic in transition since 2021 coup
- Capital city is Khartoum with coordinates 15 36 N, 32 32 E
- Administrative divisions: 18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah)
Sudan is a very young nation with a large, fast-growing population.
Demographics
1Sudan's total population as of July 2024 is estimated at 48,109,006 people
Verified2The median age in Sudan is 19.1 years as of 2024
Verified3Sudan's population growth rate is 2.49% annually as of 2024
Verified443.89% of Sudan's population is aged 0-14 years in 2024
Directional553.76% of Sudan's population is aged 15-64 years in 2024
Single source62.35% of Sudan's population is aged 65 and over in 2024
Verified7Sudan's total fertility rate is 4.37 children per woman in 2024
Verified8The urban population of Sudan constitutes 35.3% of the total population as of 2024
Verified9Sudan's net migration rate is -3.78 migrant(s) per 1,000 population in 2024
Directional10Arabic is the official language spoken by 70% of Sudanese as a first language
Single source11Sudan has over 597 ethnic groups with Arabized or Africanized Arabs, Fur, Beja, Nuba, and Fallata being major ones
Verified12Sunni Muslim represents 97% of Sudan's religious adherents in 2024
Verified13Life expectancy at birth for males in Sudan is 64.85 years in 2024
Verified14Life expectancy at birth for females in Sudan is 68.59 years in 2024
Directional15Infant mortality rate in Sudan is 43.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024
Single source16Maternal mortality ratio in Sudan is 295 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2020
Verified17Sudan's population density is 27 people per square kilometer as of 2024
Verified18Khartoum, the capital, has a population of 6,000,000 in its metropolitan area as of 2023
Verified19Omdurman, largest city, has 3,000,000 residents as of 2023 estimates
Directional20Port Sudan has a population of 580,000 as of 2023
Single source21Literacy rate among population aged 15 and above in Sudan is 58.6% as of 2021
Verified22Youth literacy rate (aged 15-24) in Sudan is 71.4% as of 2021
Verified23Female literacy rate in Sudan is 51.7% compared to 65.2% for males as of 2021
Verified24Sudan's sex ratio at birth is 1.03 males per female
Directional25Dependency ratio in Sudan is 86.2% with 75.7% youth dependency
Single source26Major ethnic groups include Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur (6%)
Verified27Beja ethnic group constitutes 6% of population mainly in Red Sea State
Verified28Nuba people make up 5.3% concentrated in South Kordofan
Verified29Fallata (Fulani) represent 1.7% of Sudan's population
Directional30Over 100 smaller ethnic groups account for remaining population diversity
Single sourceDemographics Interpretation
Despite its youthful vigor, Sudan's future faces the dual challenge of nurturing its burgeoning young population while overcoming significant hurdles in health, education, and opportunity.
Economy
1Sudan's GDP (purchasing power parity) is $189.07 billion as of 2023 estimate
Verified2Sudan's real GDP growth rate is -12.5% for 2023 estimate
Verified3GDP per capita (PPP) in Sudan is $4,100 as of 2023
Verified4Gross national saving in Sudan is 15.6% of GDP as of 2022
Directional5Sudan's GDP composition by sector: agriculture 27.5%, industry 18.4%, services 54.1% in 2023
Single source6Inflation rate (consumer prices) in Sudan is 71.4% for 2023 estimate
Verified7Central bank discount rate is 25% as of December 2022
Verified8Commercial bank prime lending rate is 15.5% as of 2022
Verified9Stock of narrow money is $9.117 billion as of 2022 estimate
Directional10Stock of broad money is $12.62 billion as of 2022 estimate
Single source11Sudan budget revenues are $1.99 billion, expenditures $3.915 billion in 2017 est.
Verified12Public debt is 263.5% of GDP as of 2023 estimate
Verified13Current account balance is -$1.822 billion as of 2022 estimate
Verified14Exports of goods and services are 6.6% of GDP as of 2022
Directional15Imports of goods and services are 17.5% of GDP as of 2022
Single source16External debt is $62.61 billion as of 2022 estimate
Verified17Gold reserves are 2 million ounces as of 2023 estimate
Verified18Remittances received are 0.1% of GDP as of 2022
Verified19Unemployment rate in Sudan is 12.5% officially, but higher youth unemployment at 20-30% in 2023
Directional20Labor force is 12.52 million as of 2022 estimate
Single source21Agriculture employs 80% of the labor force in Sudan
Verified22Oil exports account for 70% of export earnings historically
Verified23Gold is the main export now, producing 42.5 tonnes in 2022
Verified24Sesame seeds are a major agricultural export, Sudan second largest producer globally
Directional25Cotton production is 140,000 metric tons annually pre-conflict
Single source26Gum arabic production leads world with 80% global share from Sudan
Verified27Livestock numbers: 29.7 million cattle, 32 million sheep, 27 million goats in 2022
Verified28Total land area under cultivation is 20.5 million hectares in Sudan
VerifiedEconomy Interpretation
Sudan’s economy is a heartbreaking paradox: its land is rich enough to feed the world's sticky notes and yet its people are being choked by a staggering debt, runaway inflation, and the cruel math of paying out far more than it brings in.
Geography
1Sudan's total area is 1,861,484 square kilometers
Verified2Land boundaries total 6,798 km with neighbors Egypt 1,276 km, Libya 383 km, Chad 1,406 km, Central African Republic 1,165 km, South Sudan 2,340 km, Ethiopia 853 km, Eritrea 744 km
Verified3Coastline length is 853 km along Red Sea
Verified4Maritime claims: territorial sea 12 nm, contiguous zone 18 nm, continental shelf 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
Directional5Climate is tropical in south, arid desert in north, rainy season June-October
Single source6Terrain mostly flat plains, mountains in east and west
Verified7Elevation extremes: lowest point Red Sea 0 m, highest point Kinyeti 3,187 m
Verified8Natural resources include petroleum, small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Verified9Land use: arable land 15.7%, permanent crops 0.4%, permanent pasture 46.8%, forest 11.7%, other 25.4% in 2018 est.
Directional10Irrigated land covers 2,023,000 hectares in 2020
Single source11Renewable water resources total 30.9 cubic km in 2020
Verified12Freshwater withdrawal: 96.4% agriculture, 1.9% domestic, 1.7% industrial in 2017
Verified13Major rivers include the White Nile, Blue Nile, Atbarah
Verified14White Nile flows 3,700 km through Sudan forming Gezira plain
Directional15Blue Nile originates from Lake Tana in Ethiopia, joins White Nile at Khartoum
Single source16Desert covers 40% of Sudan, mainly Nubian Desert in northeast
Verified17Darfur region covers 493,180 sq km in west Sudan
Verified18Red Sea Hills run parallel to coast for 887 km
Verified19Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, highest peak 1,325 m
Directional20Jebel Marra massif in Darfur peaks at 3,042 m
Single source21Sudan's lowest temperature recorded -9°C at Atbara
Verified22Annual rainfall in Khartoum averages 153 mm
Verified23Port Sudan average annual rainfall is 90 mm
VerifiedGeography Interpretation
Sudan is a land of stark and thirsty contrasts, where generous rivers are besieged by vast deserts, and where the struggle between fertile potential and harsh reality is etched into every kilometer of its borders and every drop of its rainfall.
Government
1Government type in Sudan is presidential republic in transition since 2021 coup
Verified2Capital city is Khartoum with coordinates 15 36 N, 32 32 E
Verified3Administrative divisions: 18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah)
Verified4Independence achieved 1 January 1956 from Egypt and UK joint rule
Directional5National holiday is Independence Day, 1 January 1956
Single source6Constitution adopted 12 April 2019 with transitional provisions
Verified7Suffrage age is 18 years, universal
Verified8Executive branch: Transitional Sovereignty Council chaired by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-BURHAN since 25 October 2021
Verified9Legislative branch: Transitional Legislative Council not yet established as of 2024
Directional10Judicial branch: Supreme Court with 6 judges including chief justice
Single source11Political parties and leaders: numerous but suspended post-2021 coup
Verified12International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, G-77, IMO, IOM, IPU, LAS, OFC, OPCW, UN, UNHCR
Verified13Diplomatic representation: Ambassador in US vacant since 2015
Verified14IDPs total about 3.8 million due to conflict as of 2024
Directional15Refugees hosted: 1,048,000 mostly South Sudanese as of 2023
Single source16Human rights issues include arbitrary killings, conflict-related abuses in Darfur
Verified17Corruption rank 172 out of 180 countries in 2023 Transparency International
Verified18Press Freedom Index rank 148 out of 180 in 2023
Verified19Women in parliament 30.7% as of 2021 pre-coup
Directional20Military branches: Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
Single source21Military expenditures 2.46% of GDP as of 2022
Verified22Manpower fit for military service: 10,464,321 males age 18-49 in 2024
Verified23Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write Arabic or English
Verified24Gender inequality index value 0.582 (high) as of 2022
Directional25Gini index coefficient 35.3 (medium inequality) as of 2014
Single source26Mobile cellular subscriptions 41.3 per 100 people as of 2022
Verified27Internet users 26.6% of population as of 2023
Verified28Fixed broadband subscriptions 0.1 per 100 people as of 2022
Verified29Electricity access 71.2% of population as of 2022
DirectionalGovernment Interpretation
For a nation that declared independence 68 years ago, Sudan presents a paradox of robust international engagement abroad and profound internal dislocation at home, where its suspended democracy, rampant corruption, and ongoing conflict starkly contrast with the enduring hope symbolized by its nearly one-third female parliamentary representation prior to the coup.
Health
1Sudan's under-5 mortality rate is 52.7 deaths per 1,000 live births as of 2022
Verified2HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among adults 15-49 is less than 0.1% in 2021 est.
Verified3Physicians density is 0.19 physicians per 1,000 people as of 2020
Verified4Hospital bed density is 0.9 beds per 1,000 people in 2012
Directional5Drinking water access: improved 76.3%, unimproved 23.7% as of 2020
Single source6Sanitation facility access: improved 22.2%, unimproved 77.8% as of 2020
Verified7Obesity rate among adults is 6.9% as of 2022
Verified8Children under 5 stunted (chronic malnutrition) rate is 32.9% as of 2018
Verified9Wasting (acute malnutrition) in children under 5 is 13.1% as of 2018
Directional10Overweight children under 5 is 6.5% as of 2018
Single source11Immunization measles 11-month-olds is 93% as of 2022
Verified12Diphtheria tetanus toxoid pertussis immunization 1-year-olds is 94% as of 2022
Verified13Tuberculosis death rate among HIV-negative is 12 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified14Malaria incidence is 19.3 cases per 1,000 at risk population in 2022
Directional15Hepatitis B prevalence HBsAg among children under 5 is 0.9% as of 2019
Single source16Non-communicable diseases account for 27% of deaths in Sudan
Verified17Diabetes prevalence among adults 20-79 is 7.0% as of 2021
Verified18Adolescent birth rate (10-14 years) is 1.2 per 1,000 women as of 2022
Verified19Antenatal care coverage at least 4 visits is 68.2% as of 2018
Directional20Births attended by skilled health personnel is 77.8% as of 2018
Single source21Contraceptive prevalence among married women 15-49 is 21.8% as of 2018
Verified22Female genital mutilation prevalence among girls 0-14 is 35.6% as of 2018
Verified23School enrollment primary net rate is 62.4% as of 2021
Verified24School enrollment secondary net rate is 35.3% as of 2021
DirectionalHealth Interpretation
While Sudan remarkably manages to inoculate its children against many diseases, its systemic failures in basic sanitation, healthcare staffing, and nutrition are heartbreakingly immunizing them against their own futures.
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