Name
The name derives from the Arabic "balad-as-sudan", meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]."
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Country
Sudan
16.33° N, 29.26° E
The population grows 2.54% a year, at 32.95 per 1,000 births per 1,000 people.
population growth +2.54% · 17th/230 · birth rate 32.95 per 1,000 · 18th/226
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
- Population
- 42,813,238
- Natural Earth population estimate.
- Area
- 1,861,484 km²
- Official total area (land + water) from the CIA World Factbook. Computed from the Natural Earth boundary: ≈ 1,856,671 km².
- Population density
- ≈ 23 / km²
- Population divided by the computed boundary area.
- ISO codes
- SD · SDN
- GDP (nominal)
- $49.91 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $1,900
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Sudan 1,861,484 km²Mongolia 1,564,116 km²
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Where Sudan sits in the world
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
- Median age19.5 years202nd of 224 · median 32.6 years
- Life expectancy67.8 years190th of 224 · median 76.2 years
- Fertility rate4.41 children per woman18th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
- Population42,813,23835th of 235 · median 5,454,073
- Total area1,861,484 km²17th of 228 · median 83,736 km²
- Coastline853 km88th of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
Geography
Sudan borders the Red Sea in north-eastern Africa, between Egypt and Eritrea. A generally flat, featureless plain characterizes Sudan, with desert dominating the north. The Red Sea is Sudan's lowest point. Jabal Marrah is Sudan's highest point.
The Nile is Sudan's primary water source, and its major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at Khartoum to form the River Nile. The River Nile flows northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. Petroleum and hydropower are natural resources, alongside small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, and gold.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Climate
Hot, dry conditions and arid desert characterize the climate, while the rainy season varies by region. Dust storms and periodic persistent droughts are climate hazards.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
People and society
A ribbon of settlement follows the banks of the Nile, while northern Sudan is sparsely populated beyond it. Sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and throughout South Darfur.
Sudanese Arab, Fur, Beja, Nuba, Ingessana, Uduk, Fallata, Masalit, Dajo, Gimir, Tunjur, and Berti are among its ethnic groups. Arabic and English are official languages, alongside Nubian, Ta Bedawie, and Fur. Sunni Muslim and a small Christian minority are present.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Flag and symbols
Three equal horizontal bands—red at the top, followed by white and black—form the flag, with a green isosceles triangle based on the left side. Red stands for the struggle for freedom; white for peace, light, and love; black for the people; and green for Islam, agriculture, and prosperity. The colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I. The secretary bird is the national symbol.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
- GDP (nominal)
- $49.91 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP (PPP)
- $94.42 billion
- Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $1,900
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP growth
- -13.5%
- Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Inflation (consumer prices)
- 138.8%
- Field “Economy → Inflation rate (consumer prices) → Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Unemployment
- 11.4%
- Field “Economy → Unemployment rate → Unemployment rate 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Exports
- $5.91 billion
- Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2022” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Imports
- $11.58 billion
- Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2022” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
- Life expectancy
- 67.8 years
- Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Median age
- 19.5 years
- Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Birth rate
- 32.95 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Death rate
- 6 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Fertility rate
- 4.41 children per woman
- Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Population growth
- +2.54% a year
- Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Urban population
- 36.3%
- Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Languages
- Arabicofficial
- Englishofficial
- Nubian
- Ta Bedawie
- Fur
- Field “People and Society → Languages → Languages” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Religions
- Sunni Muslim
- small Christian minority
- Field “People and Society → Religions” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
- Total area
- 1,861,484 km²Land 1,731,671 km² · Water 129,813 km²
- Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Coastline
- 853 km
- Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Land borders
- 6,819 km
- Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Mean elevation
- 568 m
- Field “Geography → Elevation → mean elevation” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Highest point
- 3,042 m Jabal Marrah
- Field “Geography → Elevation → highest point” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.
Connections
Natural geography 7
Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID
Seas 1
Mountain ranges 2
Plateaus 1
Deserts 3
Largest cities 22
Population · Natural Earth