Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Ralph Gonsalves
Population
34,206,710
103,537
Life Expectancy
62.570 years
74.390 years
Capital City
Khartoum
Largest city
Khartoum (population: 1,974,650)
Kingstown (population: 24,518)
Human Development Index
0.526
0.766
GDP per capita
$2,800 US
Literacy Rate
61.1%
96%
Corruption Perception Index
1.6
6.5
Percentage of Women in Parliament
16.8%
18.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
18.700%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
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
parliamentary democracy
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%
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
Languages
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages note: program of "Arabization" in process
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
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
1,861,484 km sq
389 km sq
Coastline
853 km
84 km
Climate
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
