Edition 2005 — 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 2,365,277/female 2,337,388) 15-64 years: 49.4% (male 2,323,110/female 2,528,086) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 109,535/female 163,023) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.) 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 civil 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 an ethnic minority. Geography Chad

Birth rate

45.98 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $957.7 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (2004 est.)
revenues: $1.131 billion

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 (code)

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

Currency code

XAF

Current account balance

$330.2 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

16.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$1.1 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marc WALL
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
FAX: [235] (51) 56-54
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 Mahamat Adam BECHIR
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009

Disputes - international

since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military have driven about 200,000 Darfur region refugees into eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger

Economic aid - recipient

$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $150 million (2001 est.)

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 livestock raising for its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's export earnings; Chad began 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.

Electricity - consumption

89.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

96.13 million kWh (2002)

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, 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 - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

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 Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3 February 2005)

Exports

$365 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, cattle, gum arabic

Exports - partners

US 67.8%, China 21.5%, Portugal 4.3% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture: 22.6%
industry: 35.6%
services: 41.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

38% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$15.66 billion (2004 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

4.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

18,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

200,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$500.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 21.9%, Cameroon 16.1%, US 10.8%, Portugal 10.4%, Germany 6.4%, Belgium 4.6% (2004)

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: 84.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
male: 103.03 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 93.82 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.td

Internet hosts

8 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

15,000 (2002) Transportation Chad

Investment (gross fixed)

24.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

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: 2.86%
other: 97.12% (2001)
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 April 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 48.87 years (2005 est.)
male: 45.55 years
total population: 47.18 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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis

Manpower available for military service

males age 20-49: 1,559,382 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 20-49: 834,695 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males: 95,228 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female: 16.71 years (2005 est.)
male: 15.32 years
total: 16.02 years

Military branches

Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air Force, Gendarmerie (2004)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$101.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1% (2004) Transnational Issues Chad

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian (2004)

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, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

Net migration rate

-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

200,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

oil 205 km (2004)

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]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA]; 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

9,826,419 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.95% (2005 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)

Radios

1.67 million (1997)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 200,000 (Sudan) 30,000 (Central African Republic) (2004) This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$652.7 million (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
general assessment: primitive system
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

11,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

65,000 (2003)

Television broadcast stations