, Khartoum
mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829
telephone: [249] (183) 774701
FAX: [249] (183) 774137
note: US Consul in Cairo is providing backup service for Khartoum;
consular services are being established in Juba (southern Sudan)

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a
green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Economy Sudan

Economy - overview:
Sudan has turned around a struggling economy with sound economic
policies and infrastructure investments, but it still faces
formidable economic problems, starting from its low level of per
capita output. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been implementing IMF
macroeconomic reforms. In 1999, Sudan began exporting crude oil and
in the last quarter of 1999 recorded its first trade surplus, which,
along with monetary policy, has stabilized the exchange rate.
Increased oil production, revived light industry, and expanded
export processing zones helped sustain GDP growth at 10% in 2006.
Agricultural production remains Sudan's most important sector,
employing 80% of the work force, contributing 35% of GDP, and
accounting for most of GDP growth, but most farms remain rain-fed
and susceptible to drought. Chronic instability - resulting from the
long-standing civil war between the Muslim north and the
Christian/pagan south, adverse weather, and weak world agricultural
prices - ensure that much of the population will remain at or below
the poverty line for years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$96.01 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$25.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
9.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35.5%
industry: 24.8%
services: 39.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
7.415 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry: 7%
services: 13% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:
18.7% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
25.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $7.943 billion
expenditures: $10.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $304
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
59.6% of