Country Profile · No. 48

Sudan

Capital / Admin Capital

KhartoumPopulation: ~49.0MIndependence: 1956 (January 1 from joint British- Egyptian administration)

First Prime Minister

Ismail al-Azhari (1956–1958)Current Leader: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council)

Geography & Borders

Egypt, Red Sea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, Libya. North-East African nation crossed extensively by the Nile River and bounded by the Red Sea.

Demographics & Language

Islam (Sunni, ~97%+). Official: Arabic language, English language. Major groups: Sudanese Arabs, Fur, Beja, Nubians, Nuba.

Economy & GDP

Agriculture (world leader in sesame and gum arabic production), gold mining, petroleum.

Global Diaspora

1. Egypt (~2M–4M), 2. Saudi Arabia (~500k), 3. United States (~50k–100k).U.S. Hubs (States / Cities): Virginia (Northern Virginia), Texas (Houston), Ohio (Columbus)..

Major Conflicts

First and Second Sudanese Civil Wars (spanning 1955–2005), War in Darfur (2003–2020), Sudanese civil war (2023–present).

3 Must-See Sites

1. Meroë Pyramids (Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroë) (Stunning UNESCO-listed ancient Nubian pyramids rising dramatically out of desert sands, outnumbering those in Egypt), 2. Jebel Barkal (Sacred red sandstone isolated mountain and ancient Pharaonic/Nubian temple complex), 3. Sanganeb Marine National Park (Pristine coral atoll reef in the Red Sea teeming with marine life).

Quick Facts

Contains more ancient pyramids than Egypt, built by the ancient Kingdom of Kush (Nubia); historically served as a vital cultural corridor linking sub-Saharan Africa with the Mediterranean and Middle East.