Sudan is a country which is well off the tourist trail due to civil war and political problems, with travellers rarely venturing south of Lake Nasser in Egypt. Those that do will find a people famous for their friendliness and hospitality and some fascinating historical sites. The pyramids and temple complexes at various locations along the Nile Valley display many similarities to their more famous Egyptian counterparts but travellers will have them all to theirselves, far from the tourist crowds further north. The capital Khartoum is a fascinating and authentic city with one of the most interesting markets in Africa. Explore in depth highlights of Sudan.
| Tours | Unesco WHS | Guidebooks |
|---|---|---|
| groups tours with set departures |
World Heritage Sites | country, regions and cities |
| Time zone: | GMT +3 (Eastern Africa time) | Daylight savings: None |
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| Main languages: | Arabic |
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| Other languages: | English, Nilo-Hamitic, Nilotic, Nubian, Ta Bedawie |
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| Currency: |
Sudanese pounds (SDG) €1 = SDG6.85, $1 = SDG6.14, £1 = SDG8.17 (rates as of Sep 2016) |
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| Internet Domain: | .sd | International Dialling Code: 249 |
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For help planning your trip to Sudan including visas, vaccinations, currency exchange, flights, accomodation and insurance, see our Sudan trip planning page.
Further information on Sudan
Discover more about Sudan - the country's geogrpahy and natural features, an assessment of its status on freedom and rights and data on the country's population and economy.
Geography & Natural Features
Total area: 1,861,484 sq km (129,810 sq km under water)
Coastline: 853 km (Red Sea)
Neighbours (border lengths): Central African Republic (175km), Chad (1,360km), Egypt (1,273km), Eritrea (605km), Ethiopia (769km), Libya (383km), South Sudan (1,946km)
Climate: Arid, desert climate in north and west with temperatures reaching 40C. Tropical savannah and forest in south with rainy season between April and November, varying by region.
Highest mountain: Kirsin Tonga (2,799m)
Freedom & Rights
Summary status and rankings for Sudan from classifications of different organisations measuring political and economic freedom, democracy and civil rights. See more details of these rankings.
| Index | Status | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Freedom in the World | Not Free | - |
 | Democracy Index | Authoritarian regime | 153/167 |
 | Economic Freedom | No Data | - |
 | Press Freedom | Very serious situation | 172/179 |
 | ILGA LGBT rights | Extreme discrimination | - |
 | Corruption Perceptions | High corruption | 173/174 |
| Overall Ranking: | 194/195 | ||
Other Data & Links
Full name: Republic of the Sudan Status: Independent Country
Population: 35,482,233 (rank: 36/196) Density: 19 people/sq km (rank: 161/196)
Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
GDP (PPP): $89.97 billion GDP per capita: $2,600 (rank: 151/195)
Information derived from the CIA World Factbook. Other country profiles: BBC News.