Sudan/Society

Society in Sudan

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
50M(2023)
Population Growth
1.3%(2023)
Fertility Rate
4.32(2023)
Death Rate
6.4 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-544.3K(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
66.3 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
50.1 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
256 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure (as share of GDP)
4.6%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
60.7%(2018)
Primary Enrollment
60%(2017)
Secondary Enrollment
48.4%(2018)
Tertiary Enrollment
17.2(2015)
Education Expenditure (as share of GDP)
2%(2009)

Living Standards & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
26.4%(2020)
Access to Electricity
66%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
64.9%(2022)
Urban Population
18.2M(2023)
Rural Population
31.9M(2023)

Current Snapshot Overview

A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Sudan

  • Sudan has an estimated population of 50.0M
    2023
    A steady annual growth rate of 1.3%
    2023
    supports sustained population expansion, providing a stable base for economic development. The elevated fertility rate of 4.3 births per woman
    2023
    contributes to a young population, presenting both opportunities for future growth and demands on educational and health services. Substantial net emigration of approximately 544K individuals annually (or 10.9 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    exacerbates demographic challenges, potentially leading to 'brain drain' and diminished economic capacity.
  • Regarding public health, Healthcare outcomes show foundational progress with a life expectancy of 66.3 years
    2023
    , yet significant disparities or developmental gaps may still exist. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (50.1 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality (256 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    ) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 4.6% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
  • Basic literacy development shows promise at 61%
    2018
    , but substantial and targeted investment is required to expand educational access and improve outcomes comprehensively. Complementing this, educational access remains notably limited with 60% primary enrollment
    2017
    , pointing to fundamental infrastructure, accessibility, and retention barriers across the educational system. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 2.0% of GDP
    2009
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, the primarily rural population distribution (64% rural population
    2023
    ) presents distinct challenges for universal infrastructure provision, service access, and economic modernization. Furthermore, critical infrastructure gaps are evident, with electricity access at 66%
    2023
    and internet penetration at 26%
    2020
    severely limiting economic potential, hindering social development, and impeding digital integration.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

Managing demographic trends is crucial for long-term economic planning and workforce stability.

Public Health System

Addressing critical gaps in the healthcare system is essential to improve lagging indicators like life expectancy and maternal mortality.

Human Capital Formation

Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Expanding access to basic infrastructure, particularly electricity, remains a key bottleneck for broad-based development.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.