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
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Independence date
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages note: program of "Arabization" in process
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
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%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Area
1,861,484 km sq
1,246,700 km sq
Coastline
853 km
1,600 km
Climate
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
