1) General culture


Education expenditure
NA

Literacy
definition; age 15 and over can read and write
total population; 61.1%
male; 71.8%
female; 50.5% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 4 years (2000)

Health expenditures
7.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world
70

Physicians density
0.28 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2008)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world
 44

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
260,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world; 22

HIV/AIDS - deaths
12,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world; 23

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk
very high
Food or waterborne diseases
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)

water contact disease
schistosomiasis

respiratory disease
meningococcal meningitis

animal contact disease
rabies

note
highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Languages
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
note
program of "Arabization" in process

2) Religions

Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority


3) Media

Telephones - main lines in use
374,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world
107

Telephones - mobile cellular
17.654 million (2009)
country comparison to the world
48

Telephone system
general assessment
well-equipped system by regional standards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have expanded substantially with wide coverage of most major cities
domestic
consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international
country code - 249; linked to the EASSy and FLAG fiber-optic submarine cable systems; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2010)

Broadcast media
The Sudanese Government directly controls TV and radio, requiring that both media reflect government policies; TV has a permanent military censor; a private radio station is in operation (2007)

Internet

Internet country code
.sd

Internet hosts
90 (2010)
country comparison to the world
210

Internet users
4.2 million (2008)
country comparison to the world
56


4) Tourist

Travel

Right Now


Typically, Sudan isn’t a hot spot for most vacationers, especially if they’re looking for beach bunnies and Western-style fun. Sudan does have aspects that intrigue tourists enough to lure them to this North African country, however. The country possesses a culture that can’t be experienced elsewhere.

When Sudan is in the headlines, the news generally concerns the civil conflict that has been taking place for practically half a century. Outside those war zones, tourists experience a different side of Sudan that is very rarely featured in the media.

The hospitality shown by the Sudanese is inherent in their culture they are generally very kind, friendly, and welcoming. Northern Sudan tends to attract the majority of visitors because it has the largest territory, including the capital, Khartoum, as well as other urban centers. Since peace treaties that ended the civil war have come into e
ffect, southern Sudan has also started to attract adventurous tourists.

The Top 6
What to Do in Sudan


1. Red Sea
The Red Sea’s shoreline is a major attraction in Sudan. It is particularly appealing to those interested in diving. The marvelous sea and its surrounding area have been one of Sudan’s top tourist attractions.

2. Ethnographic Museum
This museum in Khartoum gives visitors a chance to go back in time and get a glimpse of Sudanese village life. Its displays show how Sudanese culture has developed, through songs, traditions, religion, and other aspects of day-to-day life.

3. National Museum
This museum is also located in Khartoum and offers a comprehensive overview of Sudanese history. Two reconstructed temples, saved from older sites that had been flooded, are highlights.

4. Camel Market
Visit the camel market in the old capital of Omdurman. Animals from both eastern Sudan and western Sudan are to be seen here.

5. Tomb of Mahdi
After this tomb and mosque was destroyed, in 1898, a son of the Mahdi (the empire that ruled Sudan before English colonization) rebuilt both the tomb and the mosque in 1947.

6. Sudan’s Souks
Visit the various souks in Omdurman. You’ll find original handcrafted Sudanese pieces at great prices. It is also a fine place for people watching and interacting with locals.

When to Go


Eid Al-Fitr occurs right after Ramadan; that is probably the best time to go to Sudan to enjoy music and cultural events.

The weather in Sudan is typically very hot. The rainy season lasts from May until October. Sandstorms can occur during the dry period, from April until September, so plan accordingly.