Population (2019, millions)¹	42.81
Population Projections (2030, millions)¹	55.25
Economically active population in agriculture (as % of Economically active population)12, 2019	78.9
Capital	Khartoum
Surface Area (km²)²	1,861,480
Weather¹¹	In Khartoum: Hottest month, May, 26-42°C; coldest month, January, 16-32°C; driest months, January-April, usually no rainfall; wettest month, August, 72 mm average rainfall (average annual rainfall 200 mm)
Languages³	Official: Arabic and English - Others: Nubian, Ta Bedawie and Fur
Main Religions³	Main: Sunni Muslim - Others: Christian
Time⁴	Central Africa Time (CAT) +0200 UTC
Driving Orientation⁵	Right Side
Internet Country Code⁶	.sd
Country Calling Code	+249
Plug, Socket and Voltage⁷	Type C and D - 230V/50Hz
Currency	Sudanese Pound (SDG) - 1/100 = Piastres
Exchange Rate (As of 5 February 2019, per USD)⁸	47.61 (buy rate)
GDP at Market Prices (2018, current, billions of USD)⁹	40.85
GDP Growth (2018, annual %)⁹	(2.32)
Average GDP Growth (2014-2018, annual %)⁹	2.84
GDP per Capita, PPP (2018, current international $)⁹	4,759
Inflation, Consumer Prices (2015, annual %)⁹	16.9
Average Inflation, Consumer Prices (2011-2015, annual %)⁹	28.79
Total Reserves in Months of Imports (2018)⁹	3.23

Sources:
¹United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
²COMESA Statistics, COMESTAT Data Hub.
³CIA World Factbook.
⁴Time and Date Portal.
⁵Chartsbin Portal, "Worldwide Driving Orientation by Country".
⁶Wikipedia, "List of Internet top-level domains"; and, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, Root Zone Database.
⁷International Electrotechnical Commission, World Plugs.
⁹World Bank, World Development Indicators 2019.
¹¹Economist Intelligence Unit.
12AFDB Socioeconomic Database

Population Projections (millions)

Population (2019)	42.81
Population Projections (2030)	55.25

Source: United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Population Residing in Urban Areas (%)

Population Projections (2019)	34.93
Percentage of Population Residing in Urban Areas (2030)	39.7

Source: United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Youth Literacy Rates (2017, %)

Youth Literacy Rate, Population 15-24 Years, Both Sexes

Youth Literacy Rate, Population 15-24 Years, Female

Youth Literacy Rate, Population 15-24 Years, Male

Source: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO Institute of Statistics.

Unemployment (2018, % of Total Labour Force)

Unemployment, Total	12.87
Unemployment, Female	23.22
Unemployment, Male	9.18

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2019.

Labour Force (2017, % of Ages 15+)

Labour Force Participation Rate, Total	47.14
Labour Force Participation Rate, Female	24.53
Labour Force Participation Rate, Male	70.28
Labour Force, Total (number)	11,724,628

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2019.

GDP

	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
GDP at Market Prices (current, billions of USD)	82.15	96.74	95.55	123.05	40.851
GDP Growth (annual %)	2.67	4.9	4.7	4.28	(2.32)

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2019.

Value Added by Sector (% of GDP)

Indicator	2018	2019
Agriculture	37.35	37.89
Manufacturing	12.27	12.29
Industry	24.86	24.61
Services	56.80	56.49
Construction	5.58	5.47
Electricity, gas and water	0.98	0.94
Mining and quarrying	6.02	5.91
Education	0.00	0.00
Finance, real estate and business services	11.28	11.25
Public administration and Defense	7.45	7.30
Health and Social Work	0.00	0.00
Other services	1.31	1.37
Transport, storage and communication	17.14	17.10
Wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants	20.67	20.50

Source: AFDB Socio Economic Database.

Import Partners (USD ‘000)

	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
World	6,644,308	10,446,154	10,654,606	11,919,446	8,850,672
China	1,316,167	2,172,033	2,214,838	2,322,578	1,756,372
Saudi Arabia	344,884	477,072	541,636	722,193	966,065
India	560,422	774,104	705,072	836,051	817,880
United Arab Emirates	740,134	957,256	1,018,594	1,144,658	725,061
Japan	298,925	442,014	393,572	588,552	530,304

Source:COMTRADE Statistics.

Export Partners (USD ‘000)

	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
World	4,308,065	3,710,876	3,993,685	5,645,191	3,602,570
United Arab Emirates	1,265,239	219,077	1,274,495	2,455,928	992,849
China	2,041,748	180,516	502,774	1,706,923	735,108
Egypt	212,727	373,284	608,782	410,831	574,598
Saudi Arabia	325,427	857,287	532,538	230,257	550,054
India	36,141	230,278	112,601	46,680	97,303

Source: COMTRADE Statistics.

Sudan’s Top Import Products (USD ‘000)

Chapter	Description	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
	All products	6,644,308	10,446,154	10,654,606	11,919,446	8,850,672
27	Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes	1,098,158	1,045,262	715,027	881,477	1,206,188
87	Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof	726,942	1,071,574	1,054,408	1,402,774	1,175,498
84	Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof	601,027	752,897	799,400	1,323,106	978,890
10	Cereals	389,246	567,230	2,056,475	1,796,599	617,422
17	Sugars and sugar confectionery	275,238	566,189	515,620	1,161,763	587,480

Source: COMTRADE Statistics.

Sudan’s Top Export Products (USD ‘000)

Chapter	Description	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
	All products	4,308,065	3,710,876	3,993,685	5,645,191	3,602,570
71	Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin	1,245,566	54,604	1,105,642	2,228,865	908,378
12	Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medical plants; straw and fodder	422,741	950,461	618,922	611,159	818,722
01	Live animals	374,668	765,557	726,010	463,480	759,805
27	Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes	1,902,928	1,009,002	424,326	1,581,403	509,492
52	Cotton	23,293	39,423	80,306	25,764	154,039

Source: COMTRADE Statistics.

FDI Inflows (millions of USD)

Year	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
FDI Inflows	1,251	1,728	1,064	1,065	1,136

Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report 2019

FDI Inward Stock (millions of USD)

Year	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
FDI Inward Stock	22,675	24,404	25,467	26,614	27,669

Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Investment Report 2019

FDI Inflows Main Source Countries (in terms of number of projects)

UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, China, France, India, Kuwait, and Malaysia.

Source: Financial Times, fDi Markets, 2018

FDI Inflows Main Sectors (in terms of number of projects)

Financial Services, Financial Services, Coal, Oil and Natural Gas, Transportation, Business Services, Hotels and Tourism, Real Estate, Automotive OEM, Food and Tobacco, and Building and Construction Materials.

Source: Financial Times, fDi Markets, 2018

FDI Inflows Main Companies (in terms of number of projects)

Bank of Khartoum, Byblos Bank Africa, China National Petroleum (CNPC), ASEC Cement Holding (ACH), Barwa International, Hospitality Management Holdings, RAK Ceramics, Albaraka Banking Group (ABG), Pharmaoverseas, and Qatar National Bank Al Islami. 

Source: Financial Times, fDi Markets, 2018

Overall Doing Business Ranking

2020	171/190
2019	162/190

Source: World Bank, Doing Business, 2020

Starting a Business

2020 Rank	157/190
Procedures (number)	9
Time (days)	34
Cost (% of income per capita*)	17.8
Paid-in Minimum Capital (% of income per capita*)	0.0

*GNI per capita used: USD 280
Source: World Bank, Doing Business, 2020

Paying Taxes

2020 Rank	164/190
Payments (number per year)	42
Time (hours per year)	180
Total Tax Rate (% of profit)	45.4
Profit Tax (% of profit)	11.5
Labor Tax and Contributions (% of profit)	19.2
Other Taxes (% of profit)	14.7

Source: World Bank, Doing Business, 2020

Trading Across Borders

2020 Rank	185/190
Time to Export: Border Compliance (hours)	180
Cost to Export: Border Compliance (USD)	967
Time to Export: Documentary Compliance (hours)	190
Cost to Export: Documentary Compliance (USD)	428
Time to Import: Border Compliance (hours)	144
Cost to Import: Border Compliance (USD)	1,093
Time to Import: Documentary Compliance (hours)	132
Cost to Import: Documentary Compliance (USD)	420

Assumptions:
* It is assumed that shipment travels from a warehouse in the largest business city of the exporting economy to a warehouse in the largest business city of the importing economy.
* It is assumed that each economy imports a standardized shipment of 15 metric tons of containerized auto parts (HS 8708) from its natural import partner—the economy from which it imports the largest value (price times quantity) of auto parts. It is assumed that each economy exports the product of its comparative advantage (defined by the largest export value) to its natural export partner—the economy that is the largest purchaser of this product.
* A shipment is a unit of trade. Export shipments do not necessarily need to be containerized, while import shipments of auto parts are assumed to be containerized.
* Shipping cost based on weight is assumed to be greater than shipping cost based on volume.
* If government fees are determined by the value of the shipment, the value is assumed to be $50,000.
* The mode of transport is the one most widely used for the chosen export or import product and the trading partner, as is the seaport, airport or land border crossing.
* Time is measured in hours, and 1 day is 24 hours.
* Costs do not include tariffs.
Source: World Bank, Doing Business, 2020

Legal Framework

The National Investment Encouragement Law of 2013.

Key guarantees in terms of investment protection include:

• The principle of non-discrimination, which applies to domestic and foreign investors, is granted under the 2013 Investment Law;
• Guarantees against expropriation are offered.

Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, iGuide Sudan..

Investment Incentives

• Complete exemption from customs fees for capital projects
• Freedom of capital transfer
• Simplify procedures through a single outlet “One Stop Shop”
• Grant exemptions from profit taxes of 5 to 10 years for investment projects
• Grant customs exemptions for strategic projects and non-strategic capital goods
• Strategic projects are given the necessary land free-of-charge
• Non-strategic projects are given land at an encouragement price
• The investor has the right to operate without a Sudanese partner
• The investment law has provided the following fundamental guarantees:   
• No confiscation of property will occur except through the legal system and after payment of a reasonable compensation
• The investor has the right to re-transfer the capital in case the project isn’t executed or is liquidated
• Transfer of profits and costs of finance will be executed in the currency of import and on the date due (after payment of the legal duties)
• The project is automatically included in the registry of importers and exporters.

Source: Sudan Ministry of Investment Online Portal