What is now northern Sudan was in ancient times the Kingdom of Nubia, which ruled Egypt in the early years. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest. It is the third largest country in Africa. The River Nile divides the country into eastern and western halves.
Languages: Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages
Ethnic Groups: Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Fallata
Belief Systems: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
Demographics:
Population: 47.9 million people (World Rank: 29th) (2014 estimate)
Population Density: 69.4 people/mi^2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 190th) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: 2.41 %/yr (World Rank: 38th) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 62.1 years (World Rank: 192nd) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 18.7 years (World Rank: 166th) (2010 estimate)
Sites for More Information:
Map of Sudan
Worldatlas.com
Sudan
World Factbook
Current News About Sudan
AllAfrica.com
Sudan - Facts and Information
Encyclopedia.com
Traveling to Sudan
Africaguide.com
Sudanese Embassy
in Washington D.C.
Sudan Government Web Sites
by Gunnar Anzinger
