1988 Edition

Boundary disputes

none; Libya claims Aozou Strip in far north; Libyan troops occupy northern Chad

none; sporadic border dispute with Cameroon

Climate

tropical in south gradually becoming dry desert in north

desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in south

varies — equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Coastline

853 km

Communists

no Communist party; small number of Communist sympathizers

Comparative area

slightly larger than Texas and California combined

almost three times the size of California

more than twice the size of California

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

Environment

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; recent drought and desertification adversely affecting south

recent drought and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities; overgrazing; soil erosion

recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities; desertification; soil degradation

Ethnic divisions

some 200 distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, and Maba) in the Chad (continued) north and center and non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moudang, Moussei, Massa) in the south; some 150,000 nonindigenous, of whom 1,000 are French

56% Hausa; 22% Djerma; 8.5% Fula; 8% Tuareg; 4.3% Beri Beri (Kanouri); 1.2% Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche; about 4,000 French expatriates

more than 250 tribal groups; Hausa and Fulani of the north, Yoruba of the southwest, and Ibos of the southeast comprise 65% of the population; about 27,000 non-Africans

Extended economic zone

200 nm

Infant mortality rate

142/1,000 (1983)

136/1,000 (1984)

113/1,000 (1983)

Labor force

85% agriculture (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)

2.5 million (1982) wage earners; 90% agriculture, 6% industry and commerce, 4% government

est. 45-50 million (1984); 54% agriculture; 19% industry, commerce, and services; 15% government

Land boundaries

5,987 km total

5,745 km total

4,034 km total

Land use

2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 36% meadows and pastures; 11% forest and woodland; 51% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

3% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 2% forest and woodland; 88% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

31% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 23% meadows and pastures; 15% forest and woodland; 28% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Language

French and Arabic (official); Sara and Sango in south; more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken

French (official); Hausa, Djerma

English (official); Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and several other languages also widely used

Life expectancy

men 42.0, women 45.0

45

men 47, women 50 (1983)

Literacy

about 17%

10%

25-30%

Member of

AfDB, CFA (Franc Zone), Conference of East and Central African States, EAMA, EGA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UDEAC, UEAC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Nationality

noun — Chadian(s); adjective— Chadian

noun — Nigerien(s) adjective — Nigerien

noun- — Nigerian(s); adjective— Nigerian

Organized labor

about 20% of wage labor force

negligible

3.52 million wage earners belong to one of 42 recognized trade unions, which are under a single national labor federation, the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC)

Population

4,646,054 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.44%

6,988,540 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 3.16%

108,579,764 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.93%

Religion

44% Muslim, 23% indigenous beliefs, 33% Christian

80% Muslim, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians

50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% indigenous beliefs

Special notes

landlocked; Lake Chad most significant water body in Sahel

landlocked

none

Terrain

broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south

southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north

Territorial sea

30 nm

Total area

1,284,000 km2; land area: 1,259,200 km2

1,267,000 km2; land area: 1,266,700 km2

923,770 km2; land area: 910,770 km2

Administrative divisions

14 prefectures, 54 subprefectures, 27 administrative posts, 9 municipalities

7 departments, 38 arrondissements

Branches

presidency; Council of Ministers; National Consultative Council, Court of Appeal, and several lower courts

executive authority exercised by President Seyni Kountche in the name of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), which is composed of army officers; office of prime minister created January 1983; since November 1983, civilians have held all cabinet portfolios except Defense and Interior, which are held by President Kountche

Capital

N'Djamena

Niamey

Communists

no front organizations or underground party; probably a few Communists and some sympathizers

no Communist party; some sympathizers in outlawed Sawaba party

Elections

none planned Political parties and leaders: National Union for Independence and Revolution (UNIR) established June 1984 with Habre as President; numerous dissident groups (several have returned to the government since mid-1986)

popular elections currently allowed only for choosing representatives for village Development Councils, which advise on local economic development Political parties and leaders: political parties banned

Government leaders

Hissein HABRE, President (since June 1982)

Brig. Gen. Seyni KOUNTCHE, President of Supreme Military Council, Chief of State (since 1974); Hamid ALGABID, Prime Minister (since November 1983)

Legal system

based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; constitution adopted in 1962; constitution suspended and National Assembly dissolved in April 1975; Fundamental Act, a quasi-constitution decreed in October 1982, provides juridical framework whereby decrees are promulgated by the President; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

based on French civil law system and customary law; constitution adopted 1960, suspended 1974; committee appointed January 1984 to reflect on a new national charter; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Member of

AfDB, CEAO, Conference of East and Central African States, EAMA, EGA, EC (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IDE— Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, Lake Chad Basin Commission, NAM, OAU, OGAM, QIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

AfDB, APC, CEAO, EAMA, EGA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDE— Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, Lake Chad Basin Commission, Niger River Commission, NAM, OAU, OGAM, QIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 August

National holidays

Independence Day, 3 August; Republic Day, 18 December

Official name

Republic of Chad

Republic of Niger

Federal Republic of

Other political or pressure groups

the development of a stable government continues to be hampered by prolonged tribal and regional antagonisms; one rebel group (with Libyan backing) occupies the northern third of Chad (Aozou Strip)

Suffrage

universal over age 18

universal adult

Type

republic

republic; military regime in power since April 1974

Agriculture

commercial — cotton, coffee, peanuts, sesame, tobacco, timber; main food crops manioc, corn, millet, sorghum, peanuts, rice, potatoes; livestock

commercial — cotton, gum arabic, livestock, peanuts, fish; food crops — millet, sorghum, rice, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, dates; imports food

commercial — cowpeas, groundnuts, cotton; main food crops — millet, sorghum, rice

Budget

(1984) revenues $93.3 million; current expenditures $90.8 million; official foreign debt $223 million (1984)

total revenues, $57.4 million; total expenditures $76.5 million (1986 est.)

(1986 est.) revenue $173 million, (1986 est.) $364.6 million expenditures

Electric power

35,000 kW capacity; 61 million kWh produced, 22 kWh per capita (1986)

38,000 kW capacity; 66 million kWh produced, 12 kWh per capita (1986)

101,000 kW capacity; 265 million kWh produced, 39 kWh per capita (1986)

Exports

$145.2 million (f.o.b., 1984); diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco

$113.15 million (f.o.b., 1984); cotton (80%), meat, fish, animal products

$250.6 million (f.o.b., 1985); uranium, livestock, cowpeas, onions, hides, skins; exports understated because much regional trade not recorded

Fiscal year

calendar year

calendar year

1 October-30 September

Fishing

catch 110,000 metric tons (1983 est.)

GDP

$764 million, $300 per capita, —8.7% real growth; 4% inflation rate (1984)

$405.7 million, $90 per capita (1985 est); real annual growth rate —2.8% (1960-82 est.)

$1.2 billion, $180 per capita; annual real growth rate - 3.1% (1985 est.)

Imports

$139.6 million (f.o.b., 1984 est); textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, Pharmaceuticals

$114.38 million (f.o.b., 1984); cement, petroleum, flour, sugar, tea, machinery, textiles, motor vehicles

$309.4 million (f.o.b., 19825); petroleum products, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, electronic equipment, Pharmaceuticals, chemical products, cereals, foodstuffs

Major industries

sawmills, breweries, diamond mining, textiles, soap, footwear

agricultural and livestock processing plants (cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery), natron

cement plant, brick factory, rice mill, small cotton gins, oil presses, slaughterhouse, and a few other small light industries; uranium production began in 1971

Major trade partners

exports — France, Belgium, Japan, US; imports — France and other EC countries, Japan, Algeria, Yugoslavia

France and Central African Customs and Economic Union countries

France (about half), other EC countries, Nigeria, UDEAC countries; US (3.8%, 1981); preferential tariff to EC and franc zone countries

Monetary conversion rate

331.24 Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA) francs=US$l (November 1986)

331.24 Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA) francs=US$l (November 1986)

331 Communaute Financiere Af ricaine (CFA) francs=US$l (November 1986)

Natural resources

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

petroleum (unexploited but exploration beginning), uranium, natron, kaolin

uranium, coal, iron, tin, phosphates

Airfields

68 total, 61 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

82 total, 71 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 26 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

33 total, 32 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 13 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

Army, Air Force

Army, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

Army, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, paramilitary Republican Guard, paramilitary Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Police

Civil air

3 major transport aircraft

2 major transport aircraft

2 major transport aircraft

Highways

20,800 km total; 454 km bituminous, 7,656 km improved earth, 12,690 unimproved earth

31,322 km total; 32 km bituminous, 7,300 km gravel and laterite, remainder unimproved

39,970 km total; 3,170 km bituminous, 10,330 km gravel and laterite, 3,470 km earthen, 23,000 km tracks

Inland waterways

800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts

about 2,000 km navigable

Niger River navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March Nigeria

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 31 December 1983; $12.2 million; about 14.5% of central government budget

for fiscal year ending 31 December 1986, $27.1 million; about 35% of total budget

Military manpower

males 15-49, 592,000; 309,000 fit for military service

males 15-49, 1,087,000; 565,000 fit for military service; 47,000 reach military age (20) annually

males 15-49, 1,468,000; 787,000 fit for military service; 81,000 reach military age (18) annually 300km Gull of Guinea Sec regional map VII

Railroads

none

none

none

Telecommunications

facilities are meager; network is composed of low-capacity, low-powered radiocommunication stations and radio-relay links; 6,000 telephones (0.2 per 100 popl.); 1 AM, 1 FM, and 1 TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite ground station Defense Forces

fair system of radiocommunication stations for intercity links; 5,000 telephones (0.1 per 100 popl.); 1 FM, 3 AM stations; many facilities, including satellite ground station, inoperative Defense Forces

small system of wire and radio-relay links concentrated in southwestern area; 9,800 telephones (0.2 per 100 popl.); 9 AM, 2 FM, 12 TV stations; 2 Atlantic Ocean satellite stations, 4 domestic satellite stations Defense Forces