Capital: Khartoum
Independence: January 1, 1956
Official Languages | Arabic, English
~47 M
Population (est. 2026)
1,886,068 km² | Red Sea coastline
Total area
USD 863.89 (2026 est.)
GDP capita nominal
Islam
Religion
Sudanese Pound (SDG) Currency
SUDAN
Membership to Regional Organisations
IGAD, AU, COMESA
Regional Significance
Sudan is a strategic country in the Horn of Africa linking the Sahel, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the wider Middle East. Its location along the Red Sea shapes key regional transport corridors and broader connectivity across these regions. The ongoing war in the country has further elevated Sudan’s geopolitical significance due to its destabilising effects on regional security, trade, and the humanitarian crisis, resulting in large-scale refugee flows and spillover pressures across neighbouring states.
Key Challenges
- Active civil war — SAF vs. RSF; widespread atrocities and ethnic cleansing reported
- World's largest active displacement crisis — over 12 million people displaced
- Total economic collapse — external debt at ~213% of GDP
- Famine conditions across multiple regions including Darfur and Khartoum state
- Foreign interference — Gulf states backing opposing factions
- No credible peace process as of mid-2026; violence spreading to new regions
Interesting Facts
There are more than 200 pyramids in Sudan, nearly double those in Egypt (118). The ancient Nubian civilisation, formerly the Kingdom of Kush, built them along the Nile as tombs for kings, queens, and wealthy citizens.