Sudan 101

Two years ago I knew exactly two things about Sudan: 1) it's a country in Africa and 2) there's a war-torn region called Darfur that t-shirts repeatedly told me to save (however that works.)


Now Sudan is my home, a place where I've come to know some of the strongest, kindest people I've ever met; a place where you can distinguish someone's tribe by the lines carved into their forehead; a place that is swelling with enormous potential, promise, and hope.


There is less than one month until the referendum where South Sudan (which is currently autonomous) will vote for secession from the North. In light of that, here are some statistics about Sudan so you can be more knowledgeable than I was.

o Sudan is the largest country in Africa, the 10th largest country in the world, and is slightly more than ¼ the size of the U.S.
o Sudan gained independence in 1956 after almost 60 years of British and Egyptian rule
o The second civil war of the century broke out in 1983 after Muslim Sharia Law was imposed throughout the country
o The final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in January 2005, which granted South Sudan autonomy for six years
o More than 90% of the population lives on less than one dollar a day
o One out of seven women who become pregnant will die of pregnancy related complications
o 92% of women in Southern Sudan cannot read or write
o Only 27% of girls are in school and there are 1,000 primary school pupils per teacher
o 97% of the population has no access to sanitation
o Polio, once eradicated from Southern Sudan has reemerged
o Some of the deadliest diseases in the world are prevalent in Southern Sudan, including cholera, meningitis, ebola, hemorrhagic fever, and guinea worm
o A 15 year old girl has a higher chance of dying in childbirth than of finishing school
o One in five children will die before the age of five