| Republic of the Sudan Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
Origin of Name
"Sudan" was derived from the Arabic phrase bilad
as-sudan, meaning "land of the blacks,"
which was used by Arab traders to describe what is now
Sub-Saharan Africa
Location northern
Africa
Bordered By Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zaire, Central
African Republic, Chad, Libya, Egypt
Area 967,500 sq mi
(2,505,813 sq km)
Greatest Distance E-W 1,075 mi (1,730
km)
Greatest Distance N-S 1,400 mi (2,253
km)
Coastline 400 mi (644 km)
Highest Point Kinyeti; 10.456 ft (3,187
m)
Lowest Point Red Sea; 0 ft (0 m)
Natural Resources petroleum, iron ore,
copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold,
hydropower
Nationality Sudanese
Population (July 2014 est) 35,482,233
Largest Cities Khartoum
Ethnic Groups black, Arab, Beja
Religions Sunni Muslim, indigineous
beliefs, Christian
Languages Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta
Bedawie, indigineous Sudanese languages, English
Capital Khartoum
Form of Government federal republic
Present Constitution Adopted July 5,
2005
Chief of State and Head of Government President
Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir (since October 16, 1993)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed
by the President
Legislature bicameral National
Legislature
Judiciary Constitutional Court; National Supreme
Court; National Courts of Appeal
Administrative Divisions 17 states (wilayat)
Currency Sudanese Dinar
Per Capita Income $2,500
Industries oil, cotton ginning,
textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling,
shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments,
automobile/light truck assembly
Agricultural Products cotton, peanuts,
sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava,
mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame; sheep,
livestock
Export Commodities oil and petroleum
products, cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts
(peanuts), gum arabic, sugar
Import Commodities foodstuffs,
manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment,
medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat
Independence from Egypt and Great Britain
Achieved January 1, 1956
National Holiday Independence Day,
January 1
Flag colors and design based on the Arab
Revolt flag of World War I;
red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the
color of peace, light, and love, black represents Sudan
itself (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the
color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity
SEE ALSO
Ethiopia
Kenya
Uganda
Zaire
Central African Republic
Chad
Libya
Egypt
Great Britain
World War I
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