Sudan facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Republic of the Sudan
جمهورية السودان
Jumhūrīyat as-Sūdān
Flag Emblem
Motto: النصر لنا
"Victory is ours"
Anthem: نحن جند الله جند الوطن
"Nahnu Jund Allah Jund Al-watan"
Location of  Sudan  (dark blue)– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)– in the African Union  (light blue)
Location of  Sudan  (dark blue)

– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union  (light blue)
Capital
and largest city		 Khartoum
Official languages Arabic
English
Demonym Sudanese
Government Federal presidential republic
 -  President Omar al-Bashir (NCP)
 -  Vice President Ali Osman Taha (NCP)
Adam Yousef (NCP)
Legislature National Legislature
 -  Upper house Council of States
 -  Lower house National Assembly
Establishment
 -  Nubian kingdoms 3500 BC 
 -  Sennar dynasty 1504 
 -  Unified with Egypt 1821 
 -  Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 1899 
 -  Independence 1 January 1956 
 -  Current constitution 9 January 2005 
Area
 -  Total 1,886,068 km2 (16th)
728,215 sq mi
Population
 -  2008 census 30,894,000 (disputed) (40th)
 -  Density 16.4/km2
42.4/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2011 estimate
 -  Total $123.636 billion (69th)
 -  Per capita $2,852 (135th)
GDP (nominal) 2011 estimate
 -  Total $94.044 billion (64th)
 -  Per capita $2,170 (129th)
HDI (2011) Increase 0.408
low · 169th
Currency Sudanese pound (SDG)
Time zone East Africa Time (UTC+3)
 -  Summer (DST) Not observed (UTC+3)
Date format dd/mm/yyyy
Drives on the right
Calling code 249
Internet TLD .sd
Su-map
A map of Sudan

Sudan is a country in Africa. The official name of Sudan is The Republic of Sudan. Its capital is Khartoum.

Geography

Sudan borders by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, 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.

Sudan used to have the largest area of all the countries in Africa. However, on July 9, 2011, the southern part of the country left and became a new country, South Sudan. Sudan now has an area of 1,861,484 km2, and is the third largest country in Africa by area. The Nile flows through Sudan, providing water to crops. There are many different tribal and ethnic groups of people, though the country is mainly divided between the north, which has more Arabic people, and the south, which has more people of African descent.

Culture

People from Sudan are called Sudanese. About 45 million people live in Sudan. About 4 million of these live in Khartoum or in towns that are joined to it.

Arabic is the official language of Sudan, but people also speak Nubian, Nilotic and English. Many other languages are spoken in different parts of the country as well.

Most Sudanese people have Islam as their religion. A small number are Christian. Some people have other religions that are called tribal (local) beliefs.

The currency of Sudan is called the Sudanese Pound (Jinneh).

The leader of Sudan right now is President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

War

For several years, the Darfur conflict has been going on in Sudan. Over 400,000 people have died in it.

Related pages

Images for kids

  • Western Deffufa - Kerma

    The large mud brick temple, known as the shrek or Western Deffufa, in the ancient city of Kerma

  • Sudan Meroe Pyramids 2001

    Nubian pyramids in Meroë.

  • Church of the Granite Columns 2007-10-03 02

    The ruins of Old Dongola.

  • Sudan Farras fresco of cathedral 22dez2005

    Fresco of Faras Cathedral, 10th–11th century

  • Ismail Pacha

    Ismail Pasha, the Ottoman Khedive of Egypt and Sudan from 1863 to 1879.

  • Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi

    Muhammad Ahmad ruler of Sudan, 1881–1885.

  • Battle of Omdurman-1

    The Flight of the Khalifa after his Defeat at the Battle of Omdurman.

  • The war in the Soudan

    The Mahdist War was fought between a group of Muslim dervishes, called Mahdists, who had over-run much of Sudan, and the British forces.

  • Anglo-Egyptian Sudan camel soldier of the British army

    A camel soldier of the native forces of the British army, early 20th century.

  • Sudan independence

    Sudan's flag raised at independence ceremony on 1 January 1956 by the Prime Minister Ismail al-Azhari and in presence of opposition leader Mohamed Ahmed Almahjoub

  • Government Militia in Darfur

    Government Militia in Darfur

  • Southern Sudan Referendum1

    South Sudanese independence referendum, 2011

  • Map of Sudan (New)

    A map of Sudan. The Hala'ib Triangle has been under Egyptian administration since 2000.

  • Darfur JEM

    JEM rebels in Darfur. Both the government and the rebels have been accused of atrocities.

  • Sudanese Air Force Hongdu JL-8

    Sudanese Air Force Hongdu JL-8

  • Darfur refugee camp in Chad

    Darfur refugee camp in Chad, 2005

  • Sudan Map Oelgas

    Oil and gas concessions in Sudan – 2004

  • Strato en Ĥartumo (Sudano) 003

    Development in Khartoum.

  • Bazaro en Omdurman 001

    Market in Omdurman

  • Sudan - smiling lady

    Student from Khartoum

  • Eisa shikawi

    Sudanese Arab of Al-Manasir

  • Rashaida family

    The Arabic-speaking Rashaida came to Sudan from Arabia about 170 years ago.

  • Minaret S

    Minaret in Port Sudan

  • Drummer at Hamed el-Nil Mosque (8625532075)

    A Sufi dervish drums up the Friday afternoon crowd in Omdurman.

  • Sudan Khartoum Gordon College 1936

    Khartoum University established in 1902

  • Leila Aboulela (2010)

    Sudanese author Leila Aboulela

  • Piramidoj en Meroe (Sudano) 006

    Sudanese tourists by the Meroë pyramids in various types of clothing.

  • COSV - Darfur 2008 - Market

    Sudanese women in Darfur

  • Camel Market (8626639754)

    Herders at the camel market on the far west side of Omdurman


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Sudan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.