Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin Bryce Prime minister: Julia Gillard
President: Omar Bashir
Population
22,015,576
34,206,710
Life Expectancy
81.900 years
62.570 years
Capital City
Canberra
Khartoum
Largest city
Sydney (population: 4,394,580)
Khartoum (population: 1,974,650)
Human Development Index
0.965
0.526
GDP per capita
$40,800 US
$2,800 US
Literacy Rate
99%
61.1%
Corruption Perception Index
8.7
1.6
Percentage of Women in Parliament
29.6%
16.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
Frank Lowy & family ($2.7bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
5.100%
18.700%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
federal parliamentary democracy
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
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
Religions
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
Languages
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages note: program of "Arabization" in process
Exports
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (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
3.000%
3.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
46
1
Location
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Area
7,741,220 km sq
1,861,484 km sq
Coastline
25,760 km
853 km
Climate
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
