| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 2.56 | 6.01 | 6.23 | 0.55 | -1.15 | -20.8 | -23.4 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 8.1 |
| CPI % | 37.43 | 70.93 | 10.64 | 12.15 | 47.18 | 77.2 | 185.7 | 100.2 | 75.1 | 44.6 |
| Unemployment rate | 19.59 | 14.52 | 16.27 | 14.3 | 19.2 | 47.6 | 60.8 | 60.6 | 61.3 | 59.3 |
| Debt/GDP % | - | 253.18 | 88.9 | 72.8 | 144.37 | 261.2 | 262.6 | 187.6 | 169.1 | 153.0 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | -24.09 | -26.8 | -6.15 | -5.8 | -10.37 | -3.8 | -3.3 | -8.1 | -4.5 | -10.3 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
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.
Area: 1,861,484 sq km km2
Climate: hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower
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
Religions: Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority
Capital: Khartoum
Government type: presidential republic
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)
Description: -
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
oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 22.1% (2024 est.), Industry: 23% (2024 est.), Services: 54.9% (2024 est.)
Export partners: UAE 21%, China 17%, Saudi Arabia 16%, Malaysia 9%, Egypt 8% (2023)
Export commodities: crude petroleum, gold, oil seeds, sheep and goats, ground nuts (2023)
Import partners: China 21%, India 19%, Egypt 16%, UAE 14%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2023)
Import commodities: raw sugar, wheat flours, refined petroleum, garments, packaged medicine (2023)
north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Military expenditure: 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.