Edition 2007 — 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 2,396,393/female 2,369,261) 15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,355,940/female 2,550,535) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 107,665/female 164,407) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

52 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

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 drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits. Geography Chad

Birth rate

45.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $877.6 million; including capital expenditures of $146 million (2006 est.)
revenues: $617.3 million

Capital

geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 15 03 E
name: N'Djamena
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical in south, desert in north

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed constitutional term limits

Country name

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

Currency (code)

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

Currency code

XAF

Current account balance

$-324.1 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$1.5 billion (2003 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marc M. WALL
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 516-211

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009

Disputes - international

since the expulsions of residents from Darfur in 2003 by Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military, about 200,000 refugees remain in eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from cross-border banditry; 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 the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Economic aid - recipient

$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $246.9 million (2003 est.)

Economy - overview

Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. 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. The nation's total oil reserves has been estimated to be 2 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.

Electricity - consumption

87.42 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

94 million kWh (2004)

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, Hazardous Wastes, 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 - 508.494 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

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 Itno (since 4 December 1990)
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%, Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection
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 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3 February 2005)

Exports

$4.342 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, cattle, gum arabic, oil

Exports - partners

US 78.1%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1937

[235] 515-654

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: 32.5%
industry: 26.6%
services: 40.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.255 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$15.26 billion (2006 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

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

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

IDPs

100,000 (2006) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$823.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

France 21.2%, Cameroon 15.5%, US 12.1%, Belgium 6.8%, Portugal 4.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)

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: 82.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
male: 100.12 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 91.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.td

Internet hosts

9 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

35,000 (2005) Transportation Chad

Investment (gross fixed)

9.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

300 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

2.719 million (1993)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
industry and services: 20%

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: 2.8%
other: 97.18% (2005)
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, other 11
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held by April 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 49.21 years (2006 est.)
male: 45.88 years
total population: 47.52 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 (2007)
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis

Manpower available for military service

females age 20-49: 1,629,510 (2005 est.)
males age 20-49: 1,527,580

Manpower fit for military service

females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)
males age 20-49: 794,988

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 20-49: 93,521 (2005 est.)
males age 18-49: 94,536

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)
male: 15.3 years
total: 16 years

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$68.95 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Chad

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for conscripts, with three-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to one year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

Nationality

adjective: Chadian
noun: Chadian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

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 (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,460 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

225,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

2 billion bbl (2005)

Pipelines

oil 205 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

9,944,201 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.93% (2006 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): 234,000 (Sudan), 41,246 (Central African Republic)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$352.8 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

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

13,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

210,000 (2005)

Television broadcast stations