Sudan is situated in Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea. It is dominated by the River Nile and its tributaries. With an area of 2,505,810 square kilometres (967,499 sq mi), it is the largest country in the continent and tenth largest in the world. Sudan is a country rich with potential but severely impacted by the effects of a civil war, which entered its 20th consecutive year in 2002. Sudan remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with widespread poverty and a weak and uneven economic base and infrastructure. Civil war in Sudan has led to inadequate health services and lack of HIV/AIDS education. The spread of HIV is accelerated by family separation, war-related rape and other factors

Full country name: Republic of the Sudan 
Area: 2,505,810 sq km 
Population: 41,236,378 
People living with HIV/AIDS: 400,000 (2001 est.) 
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high 
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever 
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations 
water contact disease: schistosomiasis 
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis 
Language: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
Religion: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% 
Government: Government of National Unity (GNU) 
Climate: temperate; tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region 
Major Industries: oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly

Imports partners: China 13%, Saudi Arabia 11.5%, UAE 5.9%, Egypt 5.1%, India 4.8%, Germany 4.5%, Australia 4.1%, Japan 4% 
Currency: Sudanese dinar (SDD)