Location:

 

Northern Africa. Border countries: Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Uganda. Coastline of 853 km along the Red Sea.

Area:

 

Total area: 2,505,810sq km; Land area: 2,376,000sq km; Water: 129,810km. Largest country in Africa .

Climate:

 

Tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region

Physical description:

 

Generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west. Desert dominates in the north.

Land use:

 

Arable land � 6.83% Permanent crops � 0.18% Other � 92.99%

Physical Infrastructure:

Communication:

 

•  Daily newspapers - 27 (1997: per 1,000 inhabitants) •  Radio broadcast stations � AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998) •  Television broadcast stations � 3 (1997) •  Main telephone lines in use � 900,000 (2003). Cellular telephones in use: 650,000 (2003)

•  Internet service providers: 2 (2002)

Transportation:

 

•  Railways -5,978 km •  Roads- 11,900 of which 4,320 km paved •  Ports and harbours - Juba, Khartoum Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin •  Waterways - 5,310 km navigable •  Airports with paved runways - 12

Energy provision:

 

2.389 billion kWh (2001); by source - fossil fuel 52.1%; hydro 47.9 (2001).

Electricity consumption: 2.222 billion kWh (2001)