Contents
Chad | 
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Past | Chad | ||
| Background: | Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks into eastern Chad, despite signing peace agreements in December 2006 and October 2007. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won another controversial election in 2006. | ||
Environment | Chad | ||
| Location: | Central Africa, south of Libya | ||
| Geographic coordinates: | 15 00 N, 19 00 E | ||
| Map references: | Africa | ||
| Area: | total: 1.284 million sq km | ||
| Area - comparative: | slightly more than three times the size of California | ||
| Land boundaries: | total: 5,968 km | ||
| Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked) | ||
| Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) | ||
| Climate: | tropical in south, desert in north | ||
| Terrain: | broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south | ||
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m | ||
| Natural resources: | petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt | ||
| Land use: | arable land: 2.8% | ||
| Irrigated land: | 300 sq km (2003) | ||
| Total renewable water resources: | 43 cu km (1987) | ||
| Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | Total: 0.23 cu km/yr (17%/0%/83%) | ||
| Natural hazards: | hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues | ||
| Environment - current issues: | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification | ||
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands | ||
| Geography - note: | landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel | ||
People | Chad | ||
| Population: | 9,885,661 (July 2007 est.) | ||
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 47.3% (male 2,366,496/female 2,308,155) | ||
| Median age: | total: 16.3 years | ||
| Population growth rate: | 2.32% (2007 est.) | ||
| Birth rate: | 42.35 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) | ||
| Death rate: | 16.69 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) | ||
| Net migration rate: | -2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) | ||
| Gender ratio: | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female | ||
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 102.07 deaths/1,000 live births | ||
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 47.2 years | ||
| Total fertility rate: | 5.56 children born/woman (2007 est.) | ||
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 4.8% (2003 est.) | ||
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 200,000 (2003 est.) | ||
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 18,000 (2003 est.) | ||
| Major infectious diseases: | degree of risk: very high | ||
| Nationality: | noun: Chadian(s) | ||
| Ethnic groups: | Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%, other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census) | ||
| Religions: | Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census) | ||
| Languages: | French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects | ||
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic | ||
Government | Chad | ||
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Chad | ||
| Government type: | republic | ||
| Capital: | name: N'Djamena | ||
| Administrative divisions: | 18 regions (regions, singular - region); Batha, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile, Ville de N'Djamena, Wadi Fira | ||
| Independence: | 11 August 1960 (from France) | ||
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 11 August (1960) | ||
| Constitution: | passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed constitutional term limits | ||
| Legal system: | based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction | ||
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal | ||
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4 December 1990) | ||
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the 1996 constitution called for a Senate that has never been formed | ||
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts | ||
| Political parties and leaders: | Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire KOUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE] | ||
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA | ||
| International organization participation: | ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ||
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR | ||
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Louis NIGRO | ||
| Flag description: | three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France | ||
Business | Chad | ||
| Business - overview: | Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion barrels - in southern Chad. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and plan to build a refinery. The nation's total oil reserves have been estimated to be 1.5 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. | ||
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $15.95 billion (2007 est.) | ||
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $7.4 billion (2007 est.) | ||
| GDP - real growth rate: | -1.3% (2007 est.) | ||
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $1,600 (2007 est.) | ||
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 22.2% | ||
| Labor force: | 3.747 million (2006) | ||
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) | ||
| Unemployment rate: | NA% | ||
| Population below poverty line: | 80% (2001 est.) | ||
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% | ||
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 4% (2007 est.) | ||
| Investment (gross fixed): | 11.5% of GDP (2007 est.) | ||
| Budget: | revenues: $1.889 billion | ||
| Agriculture - products: | cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels | ||
| Industries: | oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials | ||
| Industrial production growth rate: | -0.5% (2007 est.) | ||
| Electricity - production: | 95 million kWh (2005) | ||
| Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 100% | ||
| Electricity - consumption: | 88.35 million kWh (2005) | ||
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2005) | ||
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2005) | ||
| Oil - production: | 176,700 bbl/day (2005 est.) | ||
| Oil - consumption: | 1,350 bbl/day (2005 est.) | ||
| Oil - exports: | 170,000 bbl/day (2004) | ||
| Oil - imports: | 1,316 bbl/day (2004) | ||
| Oil - proved reserves: | 1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.) | ||
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) | ||
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) | ||
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) | ||
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005) | ||
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) | ||
| Current account balance: | -$144.5 million (2007 est.) | ||
| Exports: | $4.219 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) | ||
| Exports - commodities: | oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic | ||
| Exports - partners: | US 80.6%, China 10.4%, South Korea 2.3% (2006) | ||
| Imports: | $1.149 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) | ||
| Imports - partners: | France 18.7%, Cameroon 17.6%, US 12.6%, Germany 7.4%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Belgium 4.9% (2006) | ||
| Economic aid - recipient: | ODA, $379.8 million (2005) | ||
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $997.3 million (31 December 2007 est.) | ||
| Debt - external: | $1.6 billion (2005 est.) | ||
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $4.5 billion (2006 est.) | ||
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA | ||
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA | ||
| Currency (code): | Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States | ||
| Currency code: | XAF | ||
| Exchange rates: | Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 480.1 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) | ||
| Fiscal year: | calendar year | ||
Communications | Chad | ||
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 13,000 (2006) | ||
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 466,100 (2006) | ||
| Telephone system: | general assessment: primitive system with high costs and low telephone density | ||
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2001) | ||
| Radios: | 1.67 million (1997) | ||
| Television broadcast stations: | 1 (2001) | ||
| Televisions: | 10,000 (1997) | ||
| Internet country code: | .td | ||
| Internet hosts: | 72 (2007) | ||
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2002) | ||
| Internet users: | 60,000 (2006) | ||
Transportation | Chad | ||
| Airports: | 55 (2007) | ||
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 7 | ||
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 48 | ||
| Pipelines: | oil 205 km (2006) | ||
| Roadways: | total: 33,400 km | ||
| Waterways: | Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2006) | ||
Security | Chad | ||
| Military branches: | Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT), Gendarmerie (2007) | ||
| Military service age and obligation: | 20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004) | ||
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 20-49: 1,527,580 | ||
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 20-49: 794,988 | ||
| Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males age 18-49: 94,536 | ||
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 4.2% (2006) | ||
International | Chad | ||
| Disputes - international: | since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from cross-border banditry; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries | ||
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | refugees (country of origin): 234,000 (Sudan), 41,246 (Central African Republic) | ||
| This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008 Source: The World Factbook | |||
