Hurt … Home … Hope
Fast Facts—
Facts—Sudan
Sudan is the largest country in
Africa with a terrible history of war.
Two rounds of north-south civil war
cost the lives of 1.5 million people,
and a continuing conflict in the
western region of Darfur has driven
two million people from their homes
and killed more than 200,000.
Today, Sudan is ranked 154 out of
169 countries on the
Human Development Index.
Sudan’s high level of poverty is a
direct result of over thirty years of
civil wars, corruption, poor access
to education, unemployment and
continued political instability.
Religions: Sunni Muslim 60% (in
north), Christian 15%, indigenous
beliefs 25%
Languages: Arabic (official), English
(official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse
dialects of Sudanese languages
Literacy: definition—age 15 and over
can read and write—total population:
61.1%, male: 71.8%, female: 50.5%
Land-lines: 356,100 (ranked 110 in world)
Mobile Phones: 11.17million (ranked 55
in world)
Internet Users: 4.2 million (ranked 48 in Continuing War in Darfur:
The conflict in Sudan’s western region
Airports: 140 (only 19 with paved
of Darfur broke out in 2003. It has
runways)
displaced nearly two million people
Natural Resources: petroleum, iron
and caused an estimated 400,000
ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc,
deaths. Armed conflict, poor transport
silver, gold
infrastructure, and lack of government
Country Name: Sudan
GDP: Per capita in $USD—$1,199
support have chronically obstructed
Government Type: Republic
(Australia $USD40,000)
Capital City: Khartoum
the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Agriculture: products: cotton,
groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet,
Egypt and the UK)
wheat, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), Poverty:
Geography: Sudan is located in
mangoes, paw paw, sweet potatoes,
Over 40% of the population live below
Northern Africa
sesame, livestock.
Border Countries: Central African
the poverty line (higher in southern
Sudan), and much is being done to
Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic
empower the people to help themof the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, It is estimated that over 90% of
southern Sudanese live below the
selves towards long-term
Kenya, Libya, Uganda
poverty line.
sustainability.
Area: 2,505,813 km2 (slightly larger
than Western Australia)
Military regimes favouring IslamicRefugees and internally displaced
Natural Disasters: dust storms,
oriented governments have dominated persons:
periodic persistent droughts
national politics since independence.
Not only are Sudanese refugees still
Currency: Sudanese pound
Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged returning to Sudan, there are huge
People: black Africans 52%, Arab
civil wars during most of the second
influxes of refugees from neighbouring
39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%,
half of the 20th century. The first civil
countries in Sudan that the country is
other 1%
war ended in 1972 but broke out again trying to support.
Population: 41,980,900
Life Expectancy At Birth: 57.9 years in 1983. The second war and faminerelated effects resulted in more than
Disputes:
Average Births per Woman: 4.37
four million people displaced and,
The continuation of wars over many
HIV & AIDS Prevalence (adults):
according to rebel estimates, more
decades has meant that Sudan has
1.4%
than two million deaths over a period
ongoing disputes with many of its
of two decades. The final North/South neighbouring countries.
Comprehensive Peace Agreement
(CPA) was signed in January 2005.
Trafficking:
world)
Challenges for Sudan:
Unrest in southern Sudan:
There is great unrest in southern
Sudan at present. Peace hangs by a
thread, as all sides of the political
spectrum prepare for war. Many aid
agencies have contingency plans in
place in the event that war does break
out again.
For further information
contact
Email: [email protected]
Ph: 1300 763 407
Sudan is a source country for men,
women, and children trafficked
internally for the purposes of forced
labour and sexual exploitation.
ALWS is supporting efforts to
reduce the impact of these
challenges on the people of Sudan.
Sources: UN Human Development Reports 2010, CIA
World Fact Book 2010
Australian Lutheran World Service
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