Facts

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Area (only Total) total: 2,505,810 sq km

Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)

Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast and west; desert dominates the north

Population: 40,218,456

Main Language (only first): Arabic

Government type: Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national elections in 2009

Capital (Name): Khartoum

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+3

Independence: 1 January 1956

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January