Sudan Economy
Implementation of macroeconomic reforms prescribed by the IMF beginning in 1997 along with the export of crude oil from 1999 resulted in the first ever trade surplus recorded by the Sudan Economy. The lowly per capita Gross Domestic Production (GDP) of Sudan Economy ranked at 172, is a major worry for the nation which has turned around on the strength of profound economic policies and wise investments in the infrastructure of the nation.
Several factors have combined to improve the trying Sudan economy such as increased production of oil, sharply rising oil prices and assisted in maintaining the real growth rate of GDP close to 10 percent in the last financial year.
The country has a total surface area of 2.5 millions square kilometers as in 2004 with a forest area of 704.9 thousand square kilometers.
Sudan Economy and Social Indicators:
The total population of the country as in 2004 is calculated at 35.5 millions with an annual percentage growth rate of 1.9. Country's demographic and social indicators are as follows:
| Social Indicators |
2000 |
2003 |
2004 |
| Population, total |
32.9 million |
34.9 million |
35.5 million |
| Population growth (annual %) |
2.1 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) |
55.9 |
56.4 |
56.5 |
| Fertility rate, total (births per woman) |
4.6 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
| Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) |
65.0 |
.. |
62.6 |
| Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000) |
97.0 |
.. |
91.4 |
|
Economic Indicators:
Both agriculture and oil production has contributed a lot to the country's economy. Country's economic indicators are as follows:
| Econmic Indicator |
2000 |
2003 |
2004 |
| GNI, Atlas method (current US$) |
10.3 billion |
15.4 billion |
18.7 billion |
| GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) |
310.0 |
440.0 |
530.0 |
| GDP (current US$) |
12.2 billion |
17.8 billion |
21.1 billion |
| GDP growth (annual %) |
6.5 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
| Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %) |
8.4 |
8.2 |
10.6 |
Sectoral Overview of the Sudan Economy
Agriculture forms a significant sector of the national GDP , simultaneously engaging nearly 4/5 th of the total workforce. Cultivation of crops such as cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, sugarcane and cassava (tapioca) besides fruits like mango, papaya and bananas comprise the major agricultural activities.
Livestock, especially sheep are farmed for the flesh as well as subsidiary products.
The industrial production growth rate which is close to 9 percent including major industries like oil and petroleum refining, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, pharmaceuticals and armaments contributes only a quarter of the GDP.
|