World Countries Info Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of ethnic
warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in
1990. The government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military
groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a
democratic constitution, and held multiparty presidential elections in 1996 and 1997. In
1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite two
peace agreements signed in 2002 and 2003 between the government and the rebels. Despite
movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic
oligarchy.
Geography of Chad
|
Location:
|
Central Africa, south of
Libya |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
15 00 N, 19 00 E |
|
Area:
|
total: 1.284 million
sq km
water: 24,800 sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly more than three
times the size of California |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic
1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 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
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
petroleum (unexploited but
exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad) |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 2.78%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.2% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
200 sq km (1998 est.) |
|
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,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping |
|
Geography - note:
|
landlocked; Lake Chad is
the most significant water body in the Sahel
|
More Geography
Population of Chad
|
Population:
|
9,538,544 (July 2004 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,297,490;
female 2,269,801)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,245,586; female 2,459,796)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 107,594; female 158,277) (2004 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 16 years
male: 15.3 years
female: 16.7 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
3% (2004 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
46.5 births/1,000 |
|
Death rate:
|
16.38 deaths/1,000 |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 94.78 deaths/1,000 live
births
female: 85.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 104.01 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 48.24 years
male: 46.91 years
female: 49.63 years (2004 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
6.38 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
3.6% 5%-7% (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
150,000 (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
14,000 (confirmed AIDS cases, actual number
far higher but difficult to estimate) (2001 est.) |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
200 distinct groups; in the north and
center: Arabs, Gorane (Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi,
Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are Muslim; in the south:
Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang, Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or
animist; about 1,000 French citizens live in Chad |
|
Religions:
|
Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%,
other 7% |
|
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
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.)
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad |
|
Government type:
|
republic |
|
Capital:
|
N'Djamena |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac,
Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative structure of 28
departments (departments, singular - department), and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El
Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,
Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul,
Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam, N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile
Oriental, Tandjile Occidental, Tibesti |
|
Independence:
|
11 August 1960 (from France) |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 11 August (1960) |
|
Constitution:
|
passed by referendum 31 March 1996 |
|
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 (since 4 December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Moussa Faki MAHAMAT (since NA July 2003)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation
of the prime minister
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected president; percent of vote - Lt.
Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7%
note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year term; if no
candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two candidates receiving the most
votes must stand for a second round of voting; last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA
2006); prime minister appointed by the president |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral according to constitution,
consists of a National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified, members to serve
six-year terms, one-third of membership renewable every two years)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPS 110, RDP 12,
FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, others 11
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held in NA April
2006) |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal
Courts; Magistrate Courts |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR
[Ngarlejy YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Mamadou BISSO];
National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Patriotic Salvation
Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman] (originally in opposition but now the
party in power and the party of the president); Rally for Democracy and Progress or RPD
[leader NA]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]; Viva
Rally for Development and Progress or Viva RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE] |
Economy
Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major oilfield
and pipeline projects that began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on
subsistence farming and stock raising for its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic
provide the bulk of Chad's export earnings, but Chad will begin to export oil in 2004.
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. Oil production came on stream in late 2003.
|
GDP:
|
purchasing power parity - $10.86 billion
(2003 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
15% (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2003
est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 38%
industry: 13%
services: 49% (2001 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
80% (2001 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
6% (2002 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
NA (2002) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture more than 80% (subsistence
farming, herding, and fishing) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
NA% (2000) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $198 million
expenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1998
est.) |
|
Industries:
|
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer
brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
5% (1995) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
94.04 million kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
87.46 million kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
0 kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
0 kWh (2001) |
|
Oil - production:
|
0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice,
potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels |
|
Exports:
|
$365 million f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
cotton, cattle, gum arabic |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Portugal 30.3%, Germany 15.2%, US 9.1%,
France 6.1%, Nigeria 6.1%, Spain 6.1%, Morocco 4.5%, Poland 4.5% (2002) |
|
Imports:
|
$760 million f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery and transportation equipment,
industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles |
|
Imports - partners:
|
France 31.5%, US 31.3%, Germany 5.6%,
Nigeria 4.7% (2002) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$1.1 billion (2000 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$238.3 million; note - $125 million
committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA
$150 million (2001 est.) |
|
Currency:
|
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 - 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7
(1999) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
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