Fertility differentials in the Sudan (with reference to the nomadic and settled populations) * This paper is based on a chapter from a Ph.D. thesis completed at the London School of Economics, under the joint supervision of Professor D. V. Glass and Dr. J. G. C. Blacker, to whom I am deeply indebted for guidance, criticism and suggestions. I am also grateful to the Ford Foundation and the Population Council Inc. for the grants which made this work possible.

Abstract Statistically valid records of birth and death registration do not yet exist in the Sudan. The 1955/56 sample census gave some evidence - though not very conclusive 1 The evidence from the 1955/56 sample census is not quite conclusive, partly because the administrative divisions for which the census data are available do not always coincide with the ethnic or mode of life divisions. Further, the available indices are inadequate and unreliable, and throw no light on the possible causes of the differentials. For further details see my article on 'Population of the Sudan' in Essays on Sudan Economy, forthcoming. - that there were fertility differentials in the country. These differentials were of three main types. First, there were differentials between the inhabitants of the three Southern provinces where recorded fertility levels were exceptionally - indeed suspiciously - high; and the Northern provinces where recorded fertility levels were considerably lower. Second, within the Northern populations, there appeared to be fertility differentials between the settled agricultural populations on the one hand, and the pastoral nomads on the other, fertility among the latter being apparently unusually low. Third, there was some evidence of urban-rural differentials.