Edition 2003 — Chad — World Factbook

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,228,605; female 2,201,368) 15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,171,169; female 2,393,184) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 105,686; female 153,481) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Airports

50 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
total: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 10 (2002) Military Chad

Area

land: 1,259,200 sq km
total: 1.284 million sq km
water: 24,800 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of California

Background

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 and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997, respectively. In 1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which continued to escalate throughout 2000. A peace agreement, signed in January 2002 between the government and the rebels, provides for the demobilization of the rebels and their reintegration into the political system. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic oligarchy. Geography Chad

Birth rate

47.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1998 est.)
revenues: $198 million

Capital

N'Djamena

Climate

tropical in south, desert in north

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

passed by referendum 31 March 1996

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code

XAF

Death rate

16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$1.1 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher E. GOLDTHWAIT
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 70-09

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
chief of mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE

Disputes - international

internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlap into Chad and Central African Republic, leaving refugees and rebel groups in both countries; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lake region, which remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and militias; Chad rejects Nigerian request to redemarcate boundary, the site of continuing cross-border incidents This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$238.3 million; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $150 million

Economy - overview

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 is scheduled to come on stream in late 2003.

Electricity - consumption

87.46 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

94.04 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m

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

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

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990)
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7%
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
head of government: Prime Minister Moussa Faki MAHAMAT (since NA July 2003)
note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD

Exports

$197 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, cattle, gum arabic

Exports - partners

Portugal 28.3%, Germany 13.6%, US 7.8%, Czech Republic 6.5%, France 5.8%, Nigeria 5.8%, Poland 5.5%, Spain 5.2%, Morocco 4.5% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1937; [235] (51) 56-54
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Chad

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 Economy Chad

GDP

purchasing power parity - $9.297 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 38%
industry: 13%
services: 49% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.4% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 19 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel People Chad

Government type

republic

Highways

paved: 267 km
total: 33,400 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.6% 5%-7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

14,000 (confirmed AIDS cases, actual number far higher but difficult to estimate) (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

150,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%

Imports

$570 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

France 31.5%, US 31.4%, Germany 5.5%, Nigeria 4.6% (2002)

Independence

11 August 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (1995)

Industries

oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Infant mortality rate

female: 86.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 105 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 95.74 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.td

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

4,000 (2002) Transportation Chad

Irrigated land

200 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)

Land boundaries

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
total: 5,968 km

Land use

arable land: 2.78%
other: 97.2% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0.02%

Languages

French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects

Legal system

based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 50.1 years (2003 est.)
male: 46.97 years
total population: 48.51 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
female: 39.3% (2003 est.) Government Chad
male: 56%
total population: 47.5%

Location

Central Africa, south of Libya

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female: 16.8 years (2002)
male: 15.2 years
total: 16 years

Military branches

Armed Forces (including National Army, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Rapid Intervention Force, National and Nomadic Guard (GNNT), Presidential Security Guard, Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$40.74 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.9% (FY02) Transnational Issues Chad

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,940,328 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,015,982 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 86,953 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

Nationality

adjective: Chadian
noun: Chadian(s)

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

Natural resources

petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

oil 205 km (2003)

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); Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]; Viva Rally for Development and Progress or Viva RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

9,253,493 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

3.07% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)

Radios

1.67 million (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
general assessment: primitive system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

9,700 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5,500 (2000)

Television broadcast stations