2008 Edition

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 has sporadically flared up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and made probing attacks into eastern Chad, despite signing peace agreements in December 2006 and October 2007. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns continued throughout 2006 and 2007, and the capital experienced a significant rebel threat in early 2008.

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of California

Climate

tropical in south, desert in north

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.23 cu km/yr (17%/0%/83%) per capita: 24 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 19 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

300 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 5,968 km 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

Land use

arable land: 2.8% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.18% (2005)

Location

Central Africa, south of Libya

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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

Terrain

broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

Total renewable water resources

43 cu km (1987)

Age structure

0-14 years: 47% (male 2,408,638/female 2,346,984) 15-64 years: 50.1% (male 2,317,406/female 2,746,104) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 123,561/female 168,644) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

41.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

16.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups

Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%, other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census)

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.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 100.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 106.48 deaths/1,000 live births female: 94 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 47.43 years male: 46.4 years female: 48.5 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 25.7% male: 40.8% female: 12.8% (2000 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Median age

total: 16.4 years male: 15.2 years female: 17.5 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian

Net migration rate

-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

10,111,337 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

2.195% (2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 6 years male: 7 years female: 4 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

18 regions (regions, singular - region); Batha, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile, Ville de N'Djamena, Wadi Fira

Capital

name: N'Djamena geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Louis NIGRO embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] 251-62-11, [235] 251-70-09, [235] 251-77-59

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4 December 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Youssof Saleh ABBAS (since 16 April 2008) cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister 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 election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire KOUMAKOYE 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

FAX

[1] (202) 265-1937

[235] 251-56-54

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red note: 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

Government type

republic

Independence

11 August 1960 (from France)

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, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the 1996 constitution called for a Senate that has never been formed elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held by 2009); note - legislative elections, originally scheduled for 2006, were first delayed by National Assembly action and subsequently by an accord, signed in August 2007, between government and opposition parties election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, UNDR 5, URD 3, other 11

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

Political parties and leaders

Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire KOUMAKOYE]; 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 Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

rebel groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.864 billion expenditures: $1.749 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

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

Currency code

XAF

Current account balance

-$171 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $379.8 million (2005)

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. At least 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. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and plan to build a refinery. The nation's total oil reserves have been estimated to be 1.5 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

88.35 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

95 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

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

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 480.1 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Exports

$4.201 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic

Exports - partners

US 89.5%, Japan 3.7%, China 3.4% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 21.5% industry: 47.8% services: 30.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.3% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.095 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$15.26 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.158 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

France 20.4%, Cameroon 16.1%, US 10.9%, China 10%, Germany 7.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.4% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

11.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

3.747 million (2006)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,352 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

176,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

1,492 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

156,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2001 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$969 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$4.5 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$82.81 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$874.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$55.23 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet country code

.td

Internet hosts

5 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

60,000 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2001)

Radios

1.67 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: primitive system with high costs and low telephone density; fixed-line connections for only about 1 per 1000 persons coupled with mobile-cellular usage of only about 9 per 100 persons domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

13,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

918,400 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

10,000 (1997)

Airports

55 (2007)

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 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 48 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Pipelines

oil 250 km (2007)

Roadways

total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (2002)

Waterways

Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2006)

Armed Forces

Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT), Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT), Gendarmerie (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,906,545 females age 16-49: 2,258,758 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,066,565 females age 16-49: 1,279,318 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 116,824 female: 117,831 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2006)

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; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

Disputes - international

since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into 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

IDPs

178,918 (2007)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 234,000 (Sudan); 54,200 (Central African Republic)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Chad is a source, transit, and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of children are trafficked within Chad for involuntary domestic servitude, forced cattle herding, forced begging, forced labor in petty commerce or the fishing industry, or for commercial sexual exploitation; to a lesser extent, Chadian children are also trafficked to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Nigeria for cattle herding; children may also be trafficked from Cameroon and the Central African Republic to Chad's oil producing regions for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Chad is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; Chad was destabilized during 2007 by civil conflict leading to a declared state of emergency in February 2008, and a steady influx of refugees fleeing Sudan and the Central African Republic; the government demonstrated insufficient overall efforts to combat trafficking; Chad has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008