Total population | |
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71,788 (2022) [1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Mainly in New York City, Dallas, Detroit, Des Moines, Kansas City, Missouri, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Diego, Greensboro, Omaha, Memphis, Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver [2] | |
Languages | |
Religion | |
Predominantly: Sunni Islam
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Lists of Americans |
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By US state |
By ethnicity or nationality |
Sudanese Americans are Americans of Sudanese ancestry or Sudanese who have American citizenship. Sudanese Americans may also include children born in the United States to an American (or to another nationality) parent and a Sudanese parent. Many Sudanese immigrated to the United States in the 1990s as war refugees, escaping from the second civil war. In the 2012 American Community Survey, 48,763 people identified as Sudanese or Sudanese Americans who—or whose ancestors—have emigrated from their native land to the U.S. in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. [3]
With the Civil War in Sudan, in 1983, many Sudanese and South Sudanese were settled in refugee camps in other neighboring African countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda.) Since 1990, Sudanese refugees in these camps have been accepted to the United States. As such, most Sudanese refugees came to the United States after 1991, [4] although most them hailed from South Sudan (who arrived in this country, basically, from 2001, although also were established there some Sudanese refugee communities from northern Sudan). [5] So, many northern Sudanese settled in places such as Maine (where Darfurian people first arrived in 1993 in cities such as Portland; also, Lewiston) [6] or Omaha, Nebraska (which had built a Sudanese community by 1997.) [7]
According to the 2000 Census, the largest Sudanese communities (the 2000 U.S. census did not distinguish between Northern and Southern Sudanese as South Sudan was not yet an independent nation) were New York City; Detroit; Des Moines, Iowa; [8] Alexandria, Virginia; Los Angeles; and San Diego. Sudanese and South Sudanese American communities are also found in other cities such as Greensboro, North Carolina; Dallas; Flint, MI; the Washington Metropolitan Area and many other cities. Virginia, Washington, Maryland, California, Idaho, Minnesota, and North Carolina have the largest Sudanese populations in the United States. [6]
Since at least 1997, many Sudanese and South Sudanese have lived in Omaha, Nebraska. [9] There are ten Sudanese and South Sudanese tribes, [9] among which are the Northern Sudanese Maban people. [10] According to the UNO School of Social Work, Sudanese from the Nuba Mountains and Darfur among other places have settled in Omaha. [10] Seventeen tribes (with around 2,000 Sudanese and South Sudanese [esp. the South Sudanese Acholi tribe]) have also settled in Maine. [6] Maine is, indeed, the state with the largest group of resettled Darfurians in the United States. [11]
Several Sudanese ethnic groups live in the United States, including the Maban and Fur people. [11]
Political dissidents in Northern Sudan emigrated, fleeing from the oppressive Muslim fundamentalist regime in Khartoum. Many of them migrated to refugee camps in neighboring countries, particularly Ethiopia, to escape forced conscription or, to a lesser extent, religious persecution directed specifically against followers of the Baháʼí Faith. From these camps, many were accepted to the United States. [5] Sudanese or South Sudanese immigrated to the U.S. from different regions of Sudan due to political disagreements, educational and vocational opportunities or for family reunification, as well.
According to estimates for 2015 to 2019 from The Migration Policy Institute, 46,700 Sudanese immigrants lived in the U.S. The top six counties of settlement were as follows: [12]
Rank | County | State | Population |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 2,500 |
2 | Guilford County | North Carolina | 1,300 |
3 | Tarrant County | Texas | 1,100 |
4 | Maricopa County | Arizona | 1,100 |
5 | Douglas County | Nebraska | 1,100 |
6 | Dallas County | Texas | 1,100 |
In 2023, the Top 10 cities with the most residents reporting Sudanese ancestry or origin were as follows:
City | State | Sudanese Population | City's Population | Sudanese Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Omaha | Nebraska | 2,858 | 488,059 | 0.586% |
Des Moines | Iowa | 2,552 | 213,545 | 1.195% |
Nashville | Tennessee | 2,412 | 682,646 | 0.353% |
New York | New York | 1,804 | 8,736,047 | 0.021% |
Arlington | Texas | 1,714 | 392,304 | 0.437% |
Iowa City | Iowa | 1,529 | 74,240 | 2.059% |
Greensboro | North Carolina | 1,309 | 295,483 | 0.443% |
Rochester | Minnesota | 1,077 | 119,732 | 0.899% |
Anchorage | Alaska | 974 | 292,545 | 0.333% |
Glendale Heights | Illinois | 907 | 33,443 | 2.712% |
Most Sudanese that have established themselves in the U.S. face numerous difficulties in accessing health care, although in varying degrees depending on factors such as educational level and having obtained medical care in Sudan. Among the linguistic and educational differences are added factors such as the discrepancy of name and date of birth, and a general lack of prior medical documentation, causing confusion in the American health system.
With no prior care or checkups in Sudan, immigrants from this country are found with medical conditions previously unknown to them. Many Sudanese have diabetes, hypertension, food allergies, severe cases of depression, loss of vision and hearing, parasitism, and dental problems, although it's feeding change in the U.S.
In addition, Sudanese Americans often stop taking their medication when symptoms resolve, which often contradicts doctors' recommendations. [5]
Sudanese Americans (whether from North or South Sudan) created several associations. In 1999, due to linguistic or educational barriers, a Sudanese group from Rochester, Minnesota, founded the New Sudan-American Hope (NSAH) to help Sudanese refugees in the resettlement process. Almost a decade later and with members from diverse backgrounds, NSAH still helps refugees in Rochester and has also informed others of the effects of civil war in Sudan. [13]
The Second Sudanese Civil War was a conflict from 1983 to 2005 between the central Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. It was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originated in southern Sudan, the civil war spread to the Nuba mountains and the Blue Nile. It lasted for almost 22 years and is one of the longest civil wars on record. The war resulted in the independence of South Sudan 6 years after the war ended.
There are tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees in Egypt, most of them seeking refuge from ongoing military conflicts in their home country of Sudan. Their official status as refugees is highly disputed, and they have been subject to racial discrimination and police violence.
The Lost Boys of Sudan refers to a group of over 20,000 boys of the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups who were displaced or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1987–2005). Two million were killed and others were severely affected by the conflict. The term was used by healthcare workers in the refugee camps and may have been derived from the children's story of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. The term was also extended to refer to children who fled the post-independence violence in South Sudan in 2011–2013.
Sudanese Australians are people of Sudanese origin or descent living in Australia. The largest population of Sudanese Australians reside in Victoria (6,085).
Ethiopian Americans are Americans of Ethiopian descent, as well as individuals of American and Ethiopian ancestry. The largest Ethiopian American community is in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with some estimates claiming a population of over 200,000 in the area; other large Ethiopian communities are found in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Las Vegas, Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, Denver, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Columbus, and South Dakota.
John Dau, also known as Dhieu-Deng Leek is a human rights activist from South Sudan. He is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who was featured in the 2006 award-winning documentary God Grew Tired of Us. In 2007, he founded the John Dau Foundation aiming to transform the health system in South Sudan.
African immigration to the United States refers to immigrants to the United States who are or were nationals of modern African countries. The term African in the scope of this article refers to geographical or national origins rather than racial affiliation. From the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 to 2017, Sub-Saharan African-born population in the United States grew to 2.1 million people.
Various ethnic groups in Omaha, Nebraska have lived in the city since its organization by Anglo-Americans in 1854. Native Americans of various nations lived in the Omaha territory for centuries before European arrival, and some stayed in the area. The city was founded by white Anglo-Saxon Protestants from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. However, since the first settlement, substantial immigration from all of Europe, migration by African Americans from the Deep South and various ethnic groups from the Eastern United States, and new waves of more recent immigrants from Mexico and Africa have added layers of complexity to the workforce, culture, religious and social fabric of the city.
Sudan Sunrise, Inc. is a 501c3 organization based out of Fairfax, Virginia. According to their mission statement, Sudan Sunrise strives for grassroots reconciliation, education and community building in order to lift up examples of peace and forgiveness between former enemies as alternatives to the history of violence in Sudan and South Sudan. Sudan Sunrise also facilitates local efforts in Southern Sudan to provide education, health care and community development.
Congolese Americans are Americans descended from the peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of the Congo, which themselves consist of hundreds of ethnic groups.
Aheu Deng Kudum is a South Sudanese-Ethiopian fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder. She won the title of Miss Earth South Sudan 2009 at the annual beauty pageant, organized by South Sudan's Ministry of Tourism and Beauties of Africa Inc, the exclusive franchise holder.
Sudanese refugees are persons originating from the country of Sudan, but seeking refuge outside the borders of their native country. In recent history, Sudan has been the stage for prolonged conflicts and civil wars, as well as environmental changes, namely desertification. These forces have resulted not only in violence and famine but also the forced migration of large numbers of the Sudanese population, both inside and outside the country's borders. Given the expansive geographic territory of Sudan, and the regional and ethnic tensions and conflicts, much of the forced migration in Sudan has been internal. Yet, these populations are not immune to similar issues that typically accompany refugeedom, including economic hardship and providing themselves and their families with sustenance and basic needs. With the creation of a South Sudanese state, questions surrounding southern Sudanese IDPs may become questions of South Sudanese refugees.
Pakok, formerly Khor Shum, is a community in South Sudan on the border with Ethiopia.
North African Americans are Americans with origins in the region of North Africa. This group includes Americans of Algerian, Egyptian, Libyan, Moroccan, and Tunisian descent.
Prostitution in South Sudan is legal but related activities such as soliciting or brothel-keeping are illegal.
The South Sudanese diaspora consists of citizens of South Sudan and descendants of South Sudanese origin residing abroad outside their homeland.
South Sudanese Americans are an ethnic group of Americans of South Sudanese ancestry, or South Sudanese people who have American citizenship. South Sudanese Americans can include American descendants to South Sudanese ancestors or South Sudanese immigrants who obtained an American citizenship.
U.Sudan Peace & Development Foundation,(Arabic: المؤسّسة الأمريكية السودانية للسلام والتنمية) is a nonprofit public benefit organization and international aid and relief agency. It was registered in Tennessee in the United States under Article 501(c)3 section of the Department of Internal Revenue. The organization was established by Sudanese American public figures to help achieve peace in Sudan through highly specialized scientific modules and intervention strategies.
South Sudanese refugees are persons originating from the African country of South Sudan, but seeking refuge outside the borders of their native country. The world's youngest independent country has a recent and troubled history of prolonged conflicts and ecosystem mismanagement such as overlogging, which has led to desertification. These forces have resulted not only in violence and famine, but also the forced migration of large numbers of the population, both inside and outside the country's borders. South Sudan was cited as the largest refugee crisis in 2016, being the world's third largest, followed by Syria and Afghanistan. As of 2022, the UNHCR estimated that there were 2.4 million refugees under its mandate originating from South Sudan, making the country the fifth largest source of refugees.
The city of Baltimore, Maryland includes a significant African population. Immigrants from many African countries have settled in Baltimore, including Nigerians, Sudanese, South Sudanese, Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, Kenyans, Ghanaians, Cameroonians, Ethiopians, Eritreans, and Cape Verdeans. Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Ethiopians are the largest African immigrant groups residing in Baltimore. The largest concentration of African immigrants is located in northeast Baltimore. Nigerians are one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in Maryland, with many Nigerian-Americans living in northwest Baltimore and adjacent suburbs of Baltimore County, such as Parkville, Owings Mills, and Woodlawn.