Sudan
Population
Total Population: Approximately 47 million (as of 2024, UN estimate)
Gender Distribution: 50.1% female, 49.9% male
Youth Population: Over 60% under the age of 25
Urban vs Rural Distribution: 35% urban, 65% rural
Economic Landscape
GDP: $35 billion (2023 estimate, World Bank, pre-conflict adjusted)
Key Industries: Agriculture (cotton, gum arabic), Oil, Livestock
Women in Workforce: Approximately 30%, largely in informal agriculture
Gender Pay Gap: Women earn 35% less than men in formal sectors
Challenges: Ongoing conflict, economic collapse, displacement impacts
Political Landscape
Women’s Representation in Leadership:
Parliament: 31% (Transitional Legislative Council, 2021 quota)
Local Government Leadership: Minimal due to instability
Challenges: Civil war, military rule, rollback of gender gains
Key Policies Promoting Gender Equality:
2020 Constitutional Declaration (gender quota)
Criminalization of FGM (2020)
Social and Cultural Context
Gender Norms and Cultural Attitudes:
Patriarchal traditions reinforced by conflict
Women central to farming and family survival
Traditional Barriers:
Early marriages (38% of girls before 18, UNICEF)
Gender-based violence (worsened by war)
Limited education amid displacement
Gender Index Rankings
Global Gender Gap Index (2023): Ranked 141st out of 146 countries
Human Development Index (2023): 0.510 (Low human development)
Women’s Empowerment Index: Stagnant due to conflict, low literacy (50% for women)
Challenges Identified: Humanitarian crisis, maternal mortality (295 per 100,000), economic exclusion
