Northern State (Sudan)

Northern State
الولاية الشمالية
ash-Shamaliyah
The sandstone mesa of Jebel Barkal near Karima
Location in Sudan
Coordinates: 19°37′N 29°38′E / 19.617°N 29.633°E / 19.617; 29.633
Country Sudan
CapitalDongola
Government
 • GovernorAbdeen Awadallah
Area
 • Total
348,765 km2 (134,659 sq mi)
 • Rank1st
Highest elevation1,895 m (6,217 ft)
Lowest elevation183 m (600 ft)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total
936,255
 • Density2.39/km2 (6.2/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)
ISO 3166 codeSD-NO
GeoNames378389
HDI (2023)0.628
medium · 2nd
Websitealshamaliastate.gov.sd

Northern State (Arabic: الولاية الشمالية Aš Šamāliya) is one of the 18 wilayat (states) of Sudan and the largest by area. It has an area of 348,765 km2 and an estimated population of 936,255. The area that comprises present-day Northern State was known in ancient times as Nubia. The territory has been part of successive ancient and medieval polities, including the Kingdom of Kush, and in the modern era the Mahdist State. The state borders Egypt to the north, River Nile State to the east, Khartoum State to the southeast, North Kordofan to the south, and North Darfur and Libya to the west. The disputed Wadi Halfa Salient is located on the border of the state and Egypt.