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
- 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
- 43.89% of Sudan's population is aged 0-14 years in 2024
- 53.76% of Sudan's population is aged 15-64 years in 2024
- 2.35% of Sudan's population is aged 65 and over in 2024
- Sudan's total fertility rate is 4.37 children per woman in 2024
- The urban population of Sudan constitutes 35.3% of the total population as of 2024
- Sudan's net migration rate is -3.78 migrant(s) per 1,000 population in 2024
- Arabic is the official language spoken by 70% of Sudanese as a first language
- Sudan has over 597 ethnic groups with Arabized or Africanized Arabs, Fur, Beja, Nuba, and Fallata being major ones
- Sunni Muslim represents 97% of Sudan's religious adherents in 2024
- Life expectancy at birth for males in Sudan is 64.85 years in 2024
- Life expectancy at birth for females in Sudan is 68.59 years in 2024
- Infant mortality rate in Sudan is 43.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024
- Maternal mortality ratio in Sudan is 295 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2020
- Sudan's population density is 27 people per square kilometer as of 2024
- Khartoum, the capital, has a population of 6,000,000 in its metropolitan area as of 2023
- Omdurman, largest city, has 3,000,000 residents as of 2023 estimates
- Port Sudan has a population of 580,000 as of 2023
- Literacy rate among population aged 15 and above in Sudan is 58.6% as of 2021
- Youth literacy rate (aged 15-24) in Sudan is 71.4% as of 2021
- Female literacy rate in Sudan is 51.7% compared to 65.2% for males as of 2021
- Sudan's sex ratio at birth is 1.03 males per female
- Dependency ratio in Sudan is 86.2% with 75.7% youth dependency
- Major ethnic groups include Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur (6%)
- Beja ethnic group constitutes 6% of population mainly in Red Sea State
- Nuba people make up 5.3% concentrated in South Kordofan
- Fallata (Fulani) represent 1.7% of Sudan's population
- Over 100 smaller ethnic groups account for remaining population diversity
Demographics 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
- 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
- Gross national saving in Sudan is 15.6% of GDP as of 2022
- Sudan's GDP composition by sector: agriculture 27.5%, industry 18.4%, services 54.1% in 2023
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) in Sudan is 71.4% for 2023 estimate
- Central bank discount rate is 25% as of December 2022
- Commercial bank prime lending rate is 15.5% as of 2022
- Stock of narrow money is $9.117 billion as of 2022 estimate
- Stock of broad money is $12.62 billion as of 2022 estimate
- Sudan budget revenues are $1.99 billion, expenditures $3.915 billion in 2017 est.
- Public debt is 263.5% of GDP as of 2023 estimate
- Current account balance is -$1.822 billion as of 2022 estimate
- Exports of goods and services are 6.6% of GDP as of 2022
- Imports of goods and services are 17.5% of GDP as of 2022
- External debt is $62.61 billion as of 2022 estimate
- Gold reserves are 2 million ounces as of 2023 estimate
- Remittances received are 0.1% of GDP as of 2022
- Unemployment rate in Sudan is 12.5% officially, but higher youth unemployment at 20-30% in 2023
- Labor force is 12.52 million as of 2022 estimate
- Agriculture employs 80% of the labor force in Sudan
- Oil exports account for 70% of export earnings historically
- Gold is the main export now, producing 42.5 tonnes in 2022
- Sesame seeds are a major agricultural export, Sudan second largest producer globally
- Cotton production is 140,000 metric tons annually pre-conflict
- Gum arabic production leads world with 80% global share from Sudan
- Livestock numbers: 29.7 million cattle, 32 million sheep, 27 million goats in 2022
- Total land area under cultivation is 20.5 million hectares in Sudan
Economy 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
- 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
- Maritime claims: territorial sea 12 nm, contiguous zone 18 nm, continental shelf 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
- Climate is tropical in south, arid desert in north, rainy season June-October
- Terrain mostly flat plains, mountains in east and west
- Elevation extremes: lowest point Red Sea 0 m, highest point Kinyeti 3,187 m
- Natural resources include petroleum, small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
- Land use: arable land 15.7%, permanent crops 0.4%, permanent pasture 46.8%, forest 11.7%, other 25.4% in 2018 est.
- Irrigated land covers 2,023,000 hectares in 2020
- Renewable water resources total 30.9 cubic km in 2020
- Freshwater withdrawal: 96.4% agriculture, 1.9% domestic, 1.7% industrial in 2017
- Major rivers include the White Nile, Blue Nile, Atbarah
- White Nile flows 3,700 km through Sudan forming Gezira plain
- Blue Nile originates from Lake Tana in Ethiopia, joins White Nile at Khartoum
- Desert covers 40% of Sudan, mainly Nubian Desert in northeast
- Darfur region covers 493,180 sq km in west Sudan
- Red Sea Hills run parallel to coast for 887 km
- Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, highest peak 1,325 m
- Jebel Marra massif in Darfur peaks at 3,042 m
- Sudan's lowest temperature recorded -9°C at Atbara
- Annual rainfall in Khartoum averages 153 mm
- Port Sudan average annual rainfall is 90 mm
Geography 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
- 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)
- Independence achieved 1 January 1956 from Egypt and UK joint rule
- National holiday is Independence Day, 1 January 1956
- Constitution adopted 12 April 2019 with transitional provisions
- Suffrage age is 18 years, universal
- Executive branch: Transitional Sovereignty Council chaired by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-BURHAN since 25 October 2021
- Legislative branch: Transitional Legislative Council not yet established as of 2024
- Judicial branch: Supreme Court with 6 judges including chief justice
- Political parties and leaders: numerous but suspended post-2021 coup
- International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, G-77, IMO, IOM, IPU, LAS, OFC, OPCW, UN, UNHCR
- Diplomatic representation: Ambassador in US vacant since 2015
- IDPs total about 3.8 million due to conflict as of 2024
- Refugees hosted: 1,048,000 mostly South Sudanese as of 2023
- Human rights issues include arbitrary killings, conflict-related abuses in Darfur
- Corruption rank 172 out of 180 countries in 2023 Transparency International
- Press Freedom Index rank 148 out of 180 in 2023
- Women in parliament 30.7% as of 2021 pre-coup
- Military branches: Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
- Military expenditures 2.46% of GDP as of 2022
- Manpower fit for military service: 10,464,321 males age 18-49 in 2024
- Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write Arabic or English
- Gender inequality index value 0.582 (high) as of 2022
- Gini index coefficient 35.3 (medium inequality) as of 2014
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 41.3 per 100 people as of 2022
- Internet users 26.6% of population as of 2023
- Fixed broadband subscriptions 0.1 per 100 people as of 2022
- Electricity access 71.2% of population as of 2022
Government 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
- 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
- Hospital bed density is 0.9 beds per 1,000 people in 2012
- Drinking water access: improved 76.3%, unimproved 23.7% as of 2020
- Sanitation facility access: improved 22.2%, unimproved 77.8% as of 2020
- Obesity rate among adults is 6.9% as of 2022
- Children under 5 stunted (chronic malnutrition) rate is 32.9% as of 2018
- Wasting (acute malnutrition) in children under 5 is 13.1% as of 2018
- Overweight children under 5 is 6.5% as of 2018
- Immunization measles 11-month-olds is 93% as of 2022
- Diphtheria tetanus toxoid pertussis immunization 1-year-olds is 94% as of 2022
- Tuberculosis death rate among HIV-negative is 12 per 100,000 in 2022
- Malaria incidence is 19.3 cases per 1,000 at risk population in 2022
- Hepatitis B prevalence HBsAg among children under 5 is 0.9% as of 2019
- Non-communicable diseases account for 27% of deaths in Sudan
- Diabetes prevalence among adults 20-79 is 7.0% as of 2021
- Adolescent birth rate (10-14 years) is 1.2 per 1,000 women as of 2022
- Antenatal care coverage at least 4 visits is 68.2% as of 2018
- Births attended by skilled health personnel is 77.8% as of 2018
- Contraceptive prevalence among married women 15-49 is 21.8% as of 2018
- Female genital mutilation prevalence among girls 0-14 is 35.6% as of 2018
- School enrollment primary net rate is 62.4% as of 2021
- School enrollment secondary net rate is 35.3% as of 2021
Health 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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