Sudan’s economy has shown economic growth in the past few years after decades of civil wars had slowed down the economy. The economy is primarily dependent on agriculture. The country is also rich in production and export of natural resources like crude oil and petroleum. The GDP growth rate of Sudan showed an increase of over 10% per annum during the year 2006 and 2007.

(Source: economywatch)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The country’s GDP at current prices in 2010 is estimated at SDG 152.95 billion. For the year 2009, the preliminary GDP was SDG 148.14 billion.

(Source: Central Bank of Sudan page: 151, IMF) Preliminary – P

GDP growth

The country’s preliminary GDP growth rate in 2009 was 6.1% and decreased to 21.79% in 2008. The GDP growth rate was recorded the highest at 10.8% in the year 2001. However in 2010 the GDP growth rate was 4.5%.

 

(Source: Central Bank of Sudan page: 15, IMF) Preliminary – P

GNI per capita at PPP

The GNI per capita at PPP decreased from USD 1,084 in 1980 to USD 1,111 in 1995 and thereafter increased. In 2010, the country’s GNI per capita at PPP was recorded at USD 2,051.

(Source: UNDP page 4)

Income Tax Rate

In Sudan, the highest tax rate on individual income is 10%.

(Source: heritage.org)

Corporate tax

In Sudan, the top standard corporate tax is 35%. (Source: heritage.org)

Inflation Rate

The average inflation rate in Sudan has been on the higher side, at about 11% between 2007 and 2009. The inflation rate in 2009 was 10.5% as compared to 14% in 2008.

 

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa page: 355, heritage)

FDI Inflow

From 2005 to 2008, FDI inflow increased from USD 2,305 million to USD 2,601 million. The country’s FDI inflow was highest in the year 2006 at USD 3,541 million.

 

(Source: Central Bank of Sudan page: 161)

Portfolio Investment Inflow

 

(Source: Central Bank of Sudan page: 161)

Banking sector assets

The table below shows the assets of Bank of Sudan:

 

Total assets (SDG million)
End of Period	2009	2008
Bank Notes and Banks Balances	3,106.7	3,966.4
Foreign Securities	105.9	105.8
Other Foreign Assets	3.5	3.4
Loans and Advances to Banks	737.1	714.8
Temporary Advances to Government under Article (48–1)	2,876.9	1,432
Long Term Loans to the Government	1,326	1,916
Loans and Advances to the Public Enterprises	5.3	8.3
Contributions in Local Banks Capital	1,042	934.6
Other Contributions	236.8	234.7
Other Accounts	13,832.6	11,885.5
Total Assets	23,272.8	21,201.5

 

(Source: Central Bank of Sudan page: 44)

Consumer price index

The consumer price index of Sudan is growing steadily, in 2009 it was recorded at 226.1, as compared to 204.7 in 2008.

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Money Supply

(Source: Central Bank of Sudan)

Government expenditure

The total expenditure in 2009 amounted to SDG 27,952 million, as compared to SDG 28,169 million in 2008.

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Public debt

External public debt in 2009 amounted to USD 31,322 million, as compared to USD 28,619 million in 2008.

 

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Private debt

External private debt in 2009 amounted to USD 5,387 million, as compared to USD 5,041 million in 2008.

 

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Official exchange rate

SDG/USD official exchange rate was recorded at 2.31 in 2009.

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Government finances

Fiscal balance

Fiscal deficit for 2009 is SDG 4,740 million, as compared to a deficit of SDG 1,746 million in 2008.

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Total revenue

Total revenue in 2009 amounted to SDG 23,212 million, as compared to SDG 26,423 million in 2008.

 

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Tax revenue

Tax revenue for 2009 amounted to SDG 21,439 million, as compared to SDG 25,018 million in 2008.

 

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Total grants

The total grants in 2009 amounted to SDG 886 million, as compared to SDG 572 million in 2008.

 

(Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Current account balance

The current account deficit of Sudan in 2009 was USD 3,908.1 million, as compared to a deficit of USD 1,575.7 million in 2008.

 

(Source: Central Bank of Sudan)

Balance of payments

Balance of Payments (USD million)
	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005
Current Account	-3,908.1	-1,575.7	-3268.2	-4919.4	2830.3
Capital and Financial Account	4,663.3	1,218.6	2945.5	4611	2427.2
Current And Capital and Financial A/Cs Deicit (-) or Surplus (+)	755.2	-357.2	-322.7	-308.4	-403.1
Errors and Omissions	-1,257.2	378.3	40.7	99.8	933.6
Convertible Currencies Reserves/ Overall Balance	502.0	-21.1	282	208.6	530.53

 

(Source: Central Bank of Sudan)

Labour force

The labour force of Sudan in 2008 was 13.09 million.

(Source: World Bank)

The total labour force participation rate in 2008 was 52%, and has remained constant since 2005. The labour force participation rate for males and females was recorded at 74% and 31% respectively.

(Source: World Bank)

Unemployment rate

In 2010, the unemployment rate of the labour force in Sudan was 13.73%.

(Source: economywatch)

Minimum wages

The minimum wage of Sudan in 2011 was SDG 124 per month.

(Source: minimum-wage

Level of unionisation

As per the 1992 Trade Union Act, a single trade union federation is allowed, the Sudan Workers Trade Union Federation (SWTUF), which is controlled by the government. Independent trade unions are not allowed to function. Most of the trade unions’ activities are controlled by the government including the elections and funds.

(Source: ITUC)

Government stability

Sudan is a presidential democracy, where the president is the head of the state and the head of government. The country’s president is directly elected from all citizens.

The powers are divided into three branches, namely, the executive, the judiciary and the legislature. The executive powers in the country are vested with the president, his vice presidents and the ministers.

The country’s parliament, known as the national legislature, is bicameral and includes the Majlis Watani (the National Assembly) and the Majlis Welayat (the Council of States). The National Assembly is comprised of 450 members, of which 25% of seats (112 seats) are reserved for women. All the 450 members are directly elected for a five year term. The Council of States is comprised of 52 members, of which 50 members are directly elected from the state legislatures. Also, two observers from the Abyei Area Council are appointed.

The country’s current President is Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR, First Vice President and Vice President are Salva KIIR Mayardit and Ali Osman TAHA respectively.

(Source: sudan.net, sudan.gov, IPU)

Regulatory environment

Sudan’s is not ranked in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. The last time the country was included in the Index was in 2000, when its economic freedom score was 47.2

(Source: heritage.org)

Corruption perception

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a survey to measure the perceived level of corruption across countries worldwide. Sudan is ranked 172^nd on the index, indicating high levels of corruption in public departments.

(Source: transparency.org)

Freedom of information

Sudan is ranked 172^nd in the World Press Freedom Index 2010 with a score of 85.33, indicating that media in the country is restricted.

The newspapers publish only the official views as regulated by military censorship. The government also filters online content.

Major newspapers in Sudan include:

• Al-Ra'y al-Amm
  • Al-Ayam
  • Khartoum Monitor
  • Al-Khartoum
  • Alwan
  • Al-Sahafah
  • Al-Anba
  • The Juba Post

(Source: BBC, rsf.)

Judicial system

The judicary is an independent body in Sudan. The legal system is based on Islamic law and English common law. The judiciary in Sudan includes a High Court, civil courts and special religious courts. The constitution also recognises a tribal court in the country.

(Source: sudan.gov)

The total population of Sudan at midyear 2009 was 42.3 million. The country’s population grew by 18.5% from 2001 to 2009.

(Source: UNECA)

Of the total population, 49.6% were females. In 2009, the gender ratio was recorded at 101.4 males per 100 females.

(Source: UN, UNECA)

In 2009, individuals aged below 14 accounted for 39.1% of the total population. The majority of the population, 57.3%, were between 15 and 64 years of age and people aged 65 year and above constituted 3.6% of the population.

In 2009, 44.4% of the population lived in urban areas. The urban population growth rate between 2005 and 2010 was 4.3% and the growth of the rural population in the same period was 0.7%.

(Source: UN,UNECA)

The median age of the population in 2010 was 20.3 years. The average life expectancy in Sudan is 58.9 years.  The life expectancy in 2010 for females and males was recorded at 59.5 years and 56.5 years respectively.

(Source: UNDP,UN)

In 2010, the infant mortality rate in Sudan was registered at 69.1 (per ‘000).

(Source: UN)

The crude birth rate and crude death rate of Sudan in 2009 was 30.7 (per ‘000) and 10.1 (per ‘000) respectively.

(Source: UNECA)

The major ethnic groups in Sudan include Arabs and Africans.  The majority of the population follows Christianity or Islam.

(Source: state.gov)

The country ranks 154^th out of 169 countries on the Human Development Index 2010 conducted by the United Nations. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education).

(Source: UNDP)

Education

The adult literacy rate in the country for 2010 was estimated at 60.9%. The primary-secondary gross enrolment ratio in the period between 2005 and 2008 for females was 55.2% and for males it was 61.7%. The expenditure on education in Sudan is estimated at 8.5% of the country’s GDP.

(Source: UNDP, UN)

Healthcare resources

The health care system in the country is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Health.

Only 56% of the population has access to clean water and about 20% of total population in the country are under nourished. The expenditure on health in 2007 was recorded at 1.3% of the country’s GDP.

(Source: UNICEF, UNDP, fmoh, UNECA)

Railways

The country has about 4,725 kilometres of single track, narrow gauge railway lines.

(Source: loc.gov)

Ports

The major ports in Sudan are, Port Sudan and Prot Sawakin. Inland ports in the country include Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Juba, and Nimule.

The country has about 4,000 kilometres of inland waterways.

(Source: loc.gov)

Airports

There are 44 airports in the country. Some of the major airports are:

(Source:aircraft-charter-world)

Telecommunications networks

In 2010, the total number of internet users was 4,200,000, with an internet penetration of 4.6%.

Mobile cellular subscriptions and fixed telephone lines

(Source:internetworldstats.com,ITU)