1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical in south, desert in north
Coastline
none - landlocked
Comparative area
slightly more than three times the size of California
Disputes
Libya claims and occupies the 100,000 km2 Aozou Strip in the far north; demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
Environment
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; drought and desertification adversely affecting south; subject to plagues of locusts
Land area
1,259,200 km2
Land boundaries
5,968 km; 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
Land use
arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 36%; forest and woodland 11%; other 51%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Maritime claims
none - landlocked
Natural resources
crude oil (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Note
landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel
Terrain
broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
Total area
1,284,000 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
42 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
21 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
some 200 distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba) in the north and center and non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) in the south; some 150,000 nonindigenous, of whom 1,000 are French
Infant mortality rate
136 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
NA; agriculture (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) 85%
Languages
French and Arabic (official); Sara and Sango in south; more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken
Life expectancy at birth
39 years male, 41 years female (1992)
Literacy
30% (male 42%, female 18%) age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic (1990 est.)
Nationality
noun - Chadian(s); adjective - Chadian
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
about 20% of wage labor force
Population
5,238,908 (July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992)
Religions
Muslim 44%, Christian 33%, indigenous beliefs, animism 23%
Total fertility rate
5.3 children born/woman (1992)
Government
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
Capital
N'Djamena
Chief of State
Col. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990)
Communists
no front organizations or underground party; probably a few Communists and some sympathizers
Constitution
22 December 1989, suspended 3 December 1990; Provisional National Charter 1 March 1991
Diplomatic representation
Ambassador ACHEIKH ibn Oumar; Chancery at 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 462-4009 US: Ambassador Richard W. BOGOSIAN; Embassy at Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena (mailing address is B. P. 413, N'Djamena); telephone [235] (51) 62-18, 40-09, or 51-62-11; FAX [235] 51-33-72
Executive branch
president, Council of State (cabinet)
Flag
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Head of Government
Prime Minister Jean ALINGUE Bawoyeu (since 8 March 1991)
Independence
11 August 1960 (from France)
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal
Legal system
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
the National Consultative Council (Conseil National Consultatif) was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional Council of the Republic; 30 members appointed by President DEBY on 8 March 1991
Long-form name
Republic of Chad
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
National Consultative Council
last held 8 July 1990; disbanded 3 December 1990
National holiday
11 August
Other political or pressure groups
NA
Political parties and leaders
Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS; former dissident group), Idriss DEBY, chairman; President DEBY has promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by September 1993; numerous dissident groups; national conference to be held in 1992
President
last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA); results - President Hissein HABRE was elected without opposition; note - the government of then President HABRE fell on 1 December 1990, and Idriss DEBY seized power on 3 December 1990; national conference scheduled for mid-1992 and election to follow in 1993
Suffrage
universal at age NA
Type
republic
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for about 45% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; cotton most important cash crop; food crops include sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, camels; self-sufficient in food in years of adequate rainfall
Budget
entirely funded by outside donors
Currency
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural - francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $80 million
Electricity
40,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 15 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 269.01 (January 1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987)
Exports
$174 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon
External debt
$530 million (December 1990 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
exchange rate conversion - $1.0 billion, per capita $205; real growth rate 0.9% (1989 est.)
Imports
$264 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note - excludes military equipment partners: US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon
Industrial production
growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP
Industries
cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
--4.9% (1989)
Overview
The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural resources potential make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is burdened by the ravages of civil war, conflict with Libya, drought, and food shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its 1977 level, with cotton, the major cash crop, accounting for 48% of exports. Over 80% of the work force is employed in subsistence farming and fishing. Industry is based almost entirely on the processing of agricultural products, including cotton, sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, with its economy in trouble and many regions suffering from shortages. Oil companies are exploring areas north of Lake Chad and in the Doba basin in the south. Since coming to power in December 1990, the Deby government has experienced a year of economic chaos.
Unemployment rate
NA
Communications
Airports
71 total, 55 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 25 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
3 major transport aircraft
Highways
31,322 km total; 32 km bituminous; 7,300 km gravel and laterite; remainder unimproved earth
Inland waterways
2,000 km navigable
Telecommunications
fair system of radiocommunication stations for intercity links; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 1 FM, limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Branches
Army (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), National Police, Republican Guard
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $39 million, 4.3% of GDP (1988)
Manpower availability
males 15-49, 1,217,728; 632,833 fit for military service; 50,966 reach military age (20) annually