1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 1.284 million km2 land area: 1,259,200 km2 comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of California
Climate
tropical in south, desert in north
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Environment
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; drought and desertification adversely affecting south; subject to plagues of locusts
International 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
Irrigated land
100 km2 (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
total 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: 0% meadows and pastures: 36% forest and woodland: 11% other: 51%
Location
Central Africa, between the Central African Republic and Libya
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
none; landlocked
Natural resources
petroleum (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
People and Society
Birth rate
42.21 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
20.93 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
north and center: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba) south: non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French
Infant mortality rate
134 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
NA by occupation: agriculture 85% (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
Languages
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 40.41 years male: 39.36 years female: 41.5 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic (1990) total population: 30% male: 42% female: 18%
Nationality
noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
5,350,971 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
2.13% (1993 est.)
Religions
Muslim 44%, Christian 33%, indigenous beliefs, animism 23%
Total fertility rate
5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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)
Constitution
22 December 1989, suspended 3 December 1990; Provisional National Charter 1 March 1991; national conference drafting new constitution to submit to referendum January 1993
Digraph
CD
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Kombaria Loumaye MEKONYO chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 462-4009
Executive branch
president, Council of State (cabinet)
FAX
[235] 51-33-72
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 Joseph YODOYMAN (since NA August 1992)
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
unicameral National Consultative Council (Conseil National Consultatif) was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional Council of the Republic, with 30 members appointed by President DEBY on 8 March 1991
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, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form:
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 note: President DEBY has promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by September 1993; numerous dissident groups; 26 opposition political parties
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 opened 15 January 1993; election to follow by end of year
Republique du Tchad local short form
Tchad
Suffrage
universal at age NA
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. BOGOSIAN embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] (51) 62-18, 40-09, or 51-62-11
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
revenues $115 million; expenditures $412 million, including capital expenditures of $218 million (1991 est.)
Currency
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 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)
Exports
$193.9 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon
External debt
$492 million (December 1990 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Imports
$294.1 million (f.o.b., 1991) 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)
2%-3% (1991 est.)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion (1991 est.)
National product per capita
$215 (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate
8.4% (1991 est.)
Overview
The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural resources 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. Good crop weather led to 8.4% growth in 1991.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
total: 69 usable: 55 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 24
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), Republican Guard
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $58 million, 5.6% of GDP (1989)
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 1,246,617; fit for military service 647,908; reach military age (20) annually 52,870 (1993 est.)