Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national elections in 2009
Independence date
5 July 1962 (from France)
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
Languages
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages note: program of "Arabization" in process
Exports
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 2.1 (2008 est.), 2.06 (2007), 2.172 (2006), 2.4361 (2005), 2.5791 (2004) note: in October 2007 Sudan redenominated its currency by transforming 100 units of Sudanese dinar into one unit of Sudanese pound
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.300%
3.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
1
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Area
2,381,741 km sq
1,861,484 km sq
Coastline
998 km
853 km
Climate
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
