Sudan used to have the largest area of all the countries in Africa. However, on 9 July 2011, the southern part of the country separated and became a new country, South Sudan. Sudan now has an area of1,861,484 square kilometres (718,723 square miles).[12] It is the third largest country in Africa by area. TheNile flows through Sudan, providing water to crops. There are many different tribal andethnic groups, though the country is mainly divided between the north, which has more Arabic people, and the south, which has more people of African descent.
People from Sudan are calledSudanese. About 45 million people live in Sudan. Almost two million people live in the capital Khartoum.[13]
Arabic is the official language of Sudan. Most of the people speak in the Sudanese dialect, which is known as Sudanese Arabic.Beja andHausa are otherAfro-Asiatic languages that are spoken in certain parts of the country. Dinka and Nuer are the mainNilo-Saharan languages spoken in Sudan. Several Nubian and Niger-Congo languages are also spoken. As a formercolony ofGreat Britain, English is also spoken throughout the country.[14]
Islam is the official state religion and the majority of Sudanese areMuslims, mostlySunni. Along the southern border there are also people who are Christian or animist.[15]
The currency of Sudan is called the Sudanese Pound (SDG) (Jinneh Sudani).[16]
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