GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

A stunning view of silhouetted mountains and cityscape during a vibrant orange sunset.A small mosque seen through a car window in a desert landscape, under a clear sky.

Sudan

Africa · Northern Africa

Very low safetyLow development

It is among the least peaceful countries.

Safety

160th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
3.195lower is more peacefulVery low safety
#160 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
55.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$900national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 3% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 56% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.5K$5.0K$2,192 PPP$1,165Inflation, % a year400%0200620102015202020252006, $1,132 a person, $3,637 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2007, $1,444 a person, $3,836 at PPP, inflation 14.8%2008, $1,528 a person, $3,938 at PPP, inflation 14.3%2009, $1,178 a person, $3,732 at PPP, inflation 11.3%2010, $1,306 a person, $3,806 at PPP, inflation 13%2011, $1,333 a person, $4,112 at PPP, inflation 18.1%2012, $1,019 a person, $3,710 at PPP, inflation 35.6%2013, $1,139 a person, $3,725 at PPP, inflation 36.5%2014, $1,275 a person, $4,261 at PPP, inflation 36.9%2015, $1,292 a person, $4,217 at PPP, inflation 16.9%2016, $1,033 a person, $4,470 at PPP, inflation 17.8%2017, $967 a person, $4,252 at PPP, inflation 32.4%2018, $731 a person, $4,199 at PPP, inflation 63.3%2019, $710 a person, $3,914 at PPP, inflation 51%2020, $578 a person, $3,349 at PPP, inflation 163.3%2021, $712 a person, $3,249 at PPP, inflation 359.1%2022, $1,046 a person, $3,355 at PPP, inflation 138.8%2023, $797 a person, $2,423 at PPP2024, $985 a person, $2,119 at PPP2025, $1,165 a person, $2,192 at PPP$0$2.5K$5.0KInflation, % a year400%0200620102015202020252006, $1,132 a person, $3,637 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2007, $1,444 a person, $3,836 at PPP, inflation 14.8%2008, $1,528 a person, $3,938 at PPP, inflation 14.3%2009, $1,178 a person, $3,732 at PPP, inflation 11.3%2010, $1,306 a person, $3,806 at PPP, inflation 13%2011, $1,333 a person, $4,112 at PPP, inflation 18.1%2012, $1,019 a person, $3,710 at PPP, inflation 35.6%2013, $1,139 a person, $3,725 at PPP, inflation 36.5%2014, $1,275 a person, $4,261 at PPP, inflation 36.9%2015, $1,292 a person, $4,217 at PPP, inflation 16.9%2016, $1,033 a person, $4,470 at PPP, inflation 17.8%2017, $967 a person, $4,252 at PPP, inflation 32.4%2018, $731 a person, $4,199 at PPP, inflation 63.3%2019, $710 a person, $3,914 at PPP, inflation 51%2020, $578 a person, $3,349 at PPP, inflation 163.3%2021, $712 a person, $3,249 at PPP, inflation 359.1%2022, $1,046 a person, $3,355 at PPP, inflation 138.8%2023, $797 a person, $2,423 at PPP2024, $985 a person, $2,119 at PPP2025, $1,165 a person, $2,192 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
66.5years, at birthLow
#159 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
48WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
28.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
7.5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2022
English proficiency
421EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025
A small mosque seen through a car window in a desert landscape, under a clear sky.
How it changed

Sudan's Human Development Index

0.511Low human development

176th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 39th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #174Guinea-Bissau0.514
  2. #175Djibouti0.513
  3. #176Sudan0.511
  4. #177Liberia0.510
  5. #178Eritrea0.503
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2008

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.456 in 2008 to 0.511 in 2023.

0.400.480.550.5112008201020232008: 0.4562009: 0.4692010: 0.4792011: 0.4762012: 0.4822013: 0.4882014: 0.4962015: 0.4982016: 0.5022017: 0.5062018: 0.5152019: 0.5172020: 0.5132021: 0.5122022: 0.5162023: 0.5110.400.480.552008201020232008: 0.4562009: 0.4692010: 0.4792011: 0.4762012: 0.4822013: 0.4882014: 0.4962015: 0.4982016: 0.5022017: 0.5062018: 0.5152019: 0.5172020: 0.5132021: 0.5122022: 0.5162023: 0.511

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 16 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
66.5 years2024at birthUp 9.3 years from 57.2 years in 2005
Urban population
35%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 32% in 2006
Births per woman
4.262024births per womanDown 1.14 from 5.40 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
61%2021of energy usedDown 14 points from 75% in 2004
Access to electricity
66%2024of people with electricityUp 36 points from 31% in 2005
Infant mortality
432024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 24 from 66 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.4 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.3 t in 2005

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Ongoing civil war since 2023 and a humanitarian crisis; ancient Nubian heritage. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and patchy access to essential health services.

About Sudan

Sudan is a vast Northeast African country with more ancient pyramids than Egypt, the remarkable ruins of the Nubian kingdoms of Meroe and Kerma, and a northern Nile Valley culture of extraordinary depth and quietness. The Sudanese are widely regarded as among the most hospitable people in Africa, and the old towns of Omdurman and Kassala have a character entirely their own. It is an unusual and deeply memorable destination for experienced African travellers.

Practical facts

  • CapitalKhartoum
  • LanguagesArabic, English
  • CurrencySudanese pound (SDG)
  • Area1,868,000 km²
  • Plug typeType C/D/G
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Sudan against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Sudan

Compare Sudan

Borders

Central African RepublicChadEgyptEritreaEthiopiaLibyaSouth Sudan

Side by side

Compare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Sudan's Human Development Index?

Sudan's Human Development Index is 0.511 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #176 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Sudan safe?

Sudan scores 3.19 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #160 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Sudan?

Life expectancy at birth in Sudan is 66.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #159 of 195 countries.