2014 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2014 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
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 insurgents. 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. 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. The capital experienced a significant insurrection in early 2008, but has had no significant rebel threats since then, in part due to Chad's 2010 rapprochement with Sudan, which previously used Chadian rebels as proxies. DEBY in 2011 was reelected to his fourth term in an election that international observers described as proceeding without incident. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In January 2014, Chad began a two year rotation on the UN Security Council.
Geography
Area
- 1.284 million sq km 1,259,200 sq km 24,800 sq km
- total
- 1.284 million 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
- Djourab 160 m Emi Koussi 3,415 m
- highest point
- Emi Koussi 3,415 m
- lowest point
- Djourab 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
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
- 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)
- 0.88 cu km/yr (12%/12%/76%) 84.81 cu m/yr (2005)
- per capita
- 84.81 cu m/yr (2005)
- total
- 0.88 cu km/yr (12%/12%/76%)
Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 19 00 E
Geography - note
Chad is largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries not long ago - geologically speaking - what is today the Sahara was green savanah teeming with wildlife; during the African Humid Period, roughly 11,000 to 5,000 years ago, a vibrant animal community, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelope lived there; the last remnant of the "Green Sahara" exists in the Lakes of Ounianga (oo-nee-ahn-ga) in northern Chad, a series of 18 interconnected freshwater, saline, and hypersaline lakes now protected as a World Heritage site Lake Chad, the most significant water body in the Sahel, is a remnant of a former inland sea, paleolake Mega-Chad; at its greatest extent, sometime before 5000 B.C., Lake Mega-Chad was the largest of four Saharan paleolakes that existed during the African Humid Period; it covered an area of about 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq mi), i.e., roughly the size of today's Caspian Sea
Irrigated land
302.7 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries
- 6,406 km Cameroon 1,116 km, Central African Republic 1,556 km, Libya 1,050 km, Niger 1,196 km, Nigeria 85 km, Sudan 1,403 km
- border countries
- Cameroon 1,116 km, Central African Republic 1,556 km, Libya 1,050 km, Niger 1,196 km, Nigeria 85 km, Sudan 1,403 km
- total
- 6,406 km
Land use
- 3.82% 0.02% 96.16% (2011)
- arable land
- 3.82%
- other
- 96.16% (2011)
- permanent crops
- 0.02%
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 (2011)
People and Society
Age structure
- 44.7% (male 2,588,424/female 2,515,935) 20.6% (male 1,143,812/female 1,211,136) 27.8% (male 1,436,018/female 1,737,901) 3.9% (male 193,173/female 247,584) 3% (male 140,592/female 197,532) (2014 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 44.7% (male 2,588,424/female 2,515,935)
- 15-24 years
- 20.6% (male 1,143,812/female 1,211,136)
- 25-54 years
- 27.8% (male 1,436,018/female 1,737,901)
- 55-64 years
- 3.9% (male 193,173/female 247,584)
- 65 years and over
- 3% (male 140,592/female 197,532) (2014 est.)
Birth rate
37.29 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Child labor - children ages 5-14
- 1,475,960 48 % (2010 est.)
- percentage
- 48 % (2010 est.)
- total number
- 1,475,960
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
33.9% (2004)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
4.8% (2010)
Death rate
14.56 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios
- 102.2 % 97.4 % 4.8 % 20.7 (2014 est.)
- elderly dependency ratio
- 4.8 %
- potential support ratio
- 20.7 (2014 est.)
- total dependency ratio
- 102.2 %
- youth dependency ratio
- 97.4 %
Drinking water source
- urban: 71.8% of population rural: 44.8% of population total: 50.7% of population urban: 28.2% of population rural: 55.2% of population total: 49.3% of population (2012 est.)
- rural
- 55.2% of population
- total
- 49.3% of population (2012 est.)
- urban
- 28.2% of population
Education expenditures
2.3% of GDP (2011)
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)
Health expenditures
4.3% of GDP (2011)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
2.7% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
14,400 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
213,100 (2012 est.)
Hospital bed density
0.43 beds/1,000 population (2005)
Infant mortality rate
- 90.3 deaths/1,000 live births 95.92 deaths/1,000 live births 84.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
- female
- 84.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
- total
- 90.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects
Life expectancy at birth
- 49.44 years 48.3 years 50.63 years (2014 est.)
- female
- 50.63 years (2014 est.)
- total population
- 49.44 years
Literacy
- age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic 35.4% 45.6% 25.4% (2011 est.)
- definition
- age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
- female
- 25.4% (2011 est.)
- male
- 45.6%
- total population
- 35.4%
Major infectious diseases
- very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever malaria and dengue fever schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis rabies (2013)
- animal contact disease
- rabies (2013)
- degree of risk
- very high
- food or waterborne diseases
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
- respiratory disease
- meningococcal meningitis
- vectorborne diseases
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact disease
- schistosomiasis
Major urban areas - population
N'DJAMENA (capital) 1.079 million (2011)
Maternal mortality rate
1,100 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Median age
- 17.2 years 16.1 years 18.2 years (2014 est.)
- female
- 18.2 years (2014 est.)
- male
- 16.1 years
- total
- 17.2 years
Mother's mean age at first birth
18.2 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2004 est.)
Nationality
- Chadian(s) Chadian
- adjective
- Chadian
- noun
- Chadian(s)
Net migration rate
-3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
2.7% (2008)
Physicians density
0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
Population
11,412,107 (July 2014 est.)
Population growth rate
1.92% (2014 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)
Sanitation facility access
- urban: 31.4% of population rural: 6.5% of population total: 11.9% of population urban: 68.6% of population rural: 93.5% of population total: 88.1% of population (2012 est.)
- rural
- 93.5% of population
- total
- 88.1% of population (2012 est.)
- urban
- 68.6% of population
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- 7 years 9 years 6 years (2011)
- female
- 6 years (2011)
- male
- 9 years
- total
- 7 years
Sex ratio
- 1.04 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 0.83 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.72 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years
- 0.83 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years
- 0.93 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over
- 0.72 male(s)/female
- at birth
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- total population
- 0.93 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.68 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Urbanization
- 21.8% of total population (2011) 3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- rate of urbanization
- 3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- urban population
- 21.8% of total population (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions
23 regions (regions, singular - region); Barh el Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Quest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Ville de N'Djamena, Wadi Fira
Capital
- N'Djamena 12 06 N, 15 02 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- geographic coordinates
- 12 06 N, 15 02 E
- name
- N'Djamena
- time difference
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Constitution
several previous; latest passed by referendum 31 March 1996, entered into force 8 April 1996; amended 2005 (2010)
Country name
- Republic of Chad Chad Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad Tchad/Tshad
- 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
- Ambassador James KNIGHT (since 13 March 2013) Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena B. P. 413, N'Djamena [235] 2251-70-09 [235] 2251-56-54
- chief of mission
- Ambassador James KNIGHT (since 13 March 2013)
- embassy
- Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
- FAX
- [235] 2251-56-54
- mailing address
- B. P. 413, N'Djamena
- telephone
- [235] 2251-70-09
Diplomatic representation in the US
- Ambassador Mahamat NASSER (since 21 May 2014) 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 462-4009 [1] (202) 265-1937
- chancery
- 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- chief of mission
- Ambassador Mahamat NASSER (since 21 May 2014)
- FAX
- [1] (202) 265-1937
- telephone
- [1] (202) 462-4009
Executive branch
- President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. (since 4 December 1990) Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi DEUBET (since 21 November 2013) Council of State; members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a 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 election held on 25 April 2011 (next to be held by 2016); prime minister appointed by the president Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 83.6%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 8.6%, Nadji MADOU 7.8%
- cabinet
- Council of State; members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
- chief of state
- President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. (since 4 December 1990)
- election results
- Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 83.6%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 8.6%, Nadji MADOU 7.8%
- elections
- president elected by popular vote for a 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 election held on 25 April 2011 (next to be held by 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
- head of government
- Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi DEUBET (since 21 November 2013)
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow of the Pan-African colors; blue symbolizes the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which is relatively well-watered; yellow represents the sun, as well as the desert in the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity, and sacrifice 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 law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 15 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 3 judges and 6 jurists) Supreme Court chief justice selected by the president; councilors - 8 designated by the president and 7 by the speaker of the National Assembly; chief justice and councilors appointed for life; Constitutional Council judges - 2 appointed by the president and 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly; jurists - 3 each by the president and by the speaker of the National Assembly; judges term NA High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace
- highest court(s)
- Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 15 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 3 judges and 6 jurists)
- judge selection and term of office
- Supreme Court chief justice selected by the president; councilors - 8 designated by the president and 7 by the speaker of the National Assembly; chief justice and councilors appointed for life; Constitutional Council judges - 2 appointed by the president and 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly; jurists - 3 each by the president and by the speaker of the National Assembly; judges term NA
- subordinate courts
- High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil and customary law
Legislative branch
- unicameral National Assembly (188 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) National Assembly - last held on 13 February 2011 (next to be held by 2015); 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 percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ART 133, UNDR 11, others 44
- election results
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ART 133, UNDR 11, others 44
- elections
- National Assembly - last held on 13 February 2011 (next to be held by 2015); 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
National anthem
- "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian) Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD adopted 1960
- lyrics/music
- Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD
- name
- "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian)
National holiday
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
National symbol(s)
goat (north); lion (south)
Political parties and leaders
Alliance for the Renaissance of Chad or ART, an alliance among the ruling MPS, RDP, and Viva-RNDP Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR] National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP [Dr. Nouradine Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE] National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO] Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Jean-Baptiste LAOKOLE] 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 [Sande NGARYIMBE]
Political pressure groups and leaders
rebel groups
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Budget
- $2.753 billion $3.557 billion (2013 est.)
- expenditures
- $3.557 billion (2013 est.)
- revenues
- $2.753 billion
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-5.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
Central bank discount rate
4.25% (31 December 2009) 4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
15.5% (31 December 2013 est.) 15.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
Current account balance
-$827.1 million (2013 est.) -$378.9 million (2012 est.)
Debt - external
$1.828 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.794 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Economy - overview
Oil and agriculture drive Chad’s economy. At least 80% of Chad's population relies for its livelihood on subsistence farming and livestock raising and oil provides the bulk of export revenues. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. Remittances have also been an important source of income and Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment. Oil production came on stream in late 2003 and Chad began to export oil in 2004. Economic growth has been positive in recent years due to high oil prices and strong local harvests, but Chad’s fiscal situation is repeatedly exposed to declining oil prices and drought . Recently, the economy has been strained by the costs of repatriating Chadians fleeing the violence in South Sudan and the Central African Republic. Chad's investment climate remains challenging due to limited infrastructure, a lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption.
Exchange rates
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 500.7 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008)
Exports
$3.865 billion (2013 est.) $4.126 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities
oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic
Exports - partners
US 81.9%, China 6.7% (2012)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP - composition, by end use
- 25.9% 12.2% 53% 0.3% 32% -23.4% (2013 est.)
- exports of goods and services
- 32%
- government consumption
- 12.2%
- household consumption
- 25.9%
- imports of goods and services
- -23.4%
- investment in fixed capital
- 53%
- investment in inventories
- 0.3%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- 46.3% 9.9% 43.8% (2013 est.)
- agriculture
- 46.3%
- industry
- 9.9%
- services
- 43.8% (2013 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,500 (2013 est.) $2,500 (2012 est.) $2,400 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - real growth rate
3.9% (2013 est.) 8.9% (2012 est.) 0.1% (2011 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$13.59 billion (2013 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$28 billion (2013 est.) $26.94 billion (2012 est.) $24.74 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars
Gross national saving
46.4% of GDP (2013 est.) 45.6% of GDP (2012 est.) 45.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
- 2.6% 30.8% (2003)
- highest 10%
- 30.8% (2003)
- lowest 10%
- 2.6%
Imports
$2.701 billion (2013 est.) $NA (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners
China 20.2%, Cameroon 18.2%, France 16.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.6%, US 4.2% (2012)
Industrial production growth rate
10% (2013 est.)
Industries
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.5% (2013 est.) 10.2% (2012 est.)
Labor force
4.293 million (2007)
Labor force - by occupation
- 80% 20% (2006 est.)
- agriculture
- 80%
- industry and services
- 20% (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Population below poverty line
80% (2001 est.)
Public debt
30.5% of GDP (2013 est.) 31.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.304 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.174 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$1.804 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.559 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$NA $4.5 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$832.4 million (31 December 2013 est.) NA% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$1.598 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.442 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
20.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
289,800 Mt (2011 est.)
Crude oil - exports
125,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production
104,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Electricity - consumption
91.14 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
31,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - production
98 million kWh (2010 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
999.5 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
1,817 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
1,754 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Communications
Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station; state-owned radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and regional stations; about 10 private radio stations; some stations rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2007)
Internet country code
.td
Internet hosts
6 (2012)
Internet users
168,100 (2009)
Telephone system
- inadequate system of radiotelephone communication stations with high costs and low telephone density fixed-line connections for less than 1 per 100 persons coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of only about 35 per 100 persons country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
- domestic
- fixed-line connections for less than 1 per 100 persons coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of only about 35 per 100 persons
- general assessment
- inadequate system of radiotelephone communication stations with high costs and low telephone density
- international
- country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Telephones - main lines in use
29,900 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
4.2 million (2012)
Transportation
Airports
59 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
- 1 (2013)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 2
- 2,438 to 3,047 m
- 4
- over 3,047 m
- 2
- total
- 9
- under 914 m
- 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
- 11 (2013)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 14
- 2,438 to 3,047 m
- 2
- 914 to 1,523 m
- 22
- over 3,047 m
- 1
- total
- 50
Pipelines
oil 582 km (2013)
Roadways
- 40,000 km consists of 25,000 km of national and regional roads and 15,000 km of local roads; 206 km of urban roads are paved (2011)
- total
- 40,000 km
Waterways
(Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season) (2012)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
- 2,090,244 2,441,321 (2010 est.)
- females age 16-49
- 2,441,321 (2010 est.)
- males age 16-49
- 2,090,244
Manpower fit for military service
- 1,183,242 1,395,811 (2010 est.)
- females age 16-49
- 1,395,811 (2010 est.)
- males age 16-49
- 1,183,242
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
- 128,723 128,244 (2010 est.)
- female
- 128,244 (2010 est.)
- male
- 128,723
Military branches
- Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT): Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), National Gendarmerie, National and Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT) (2013)
- Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT)
- Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), National Gendarmerie, National and Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT) (2013)
Military expenditures
NA% (2012) 2.28% of GDP (2011) NA% (2010)
Military service age and obligation
20 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service, with a 3-year service obligation; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a parent or guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2012)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
since 2003, ad hoc armed militia groups and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- 352,948 (Sudan); 110,000 (Central African Republic) (2014) 90,000 (majority are in the east) (2013)
- IDPs
- 90,000 (majority are in the east) (2013)
- refugees (country of origin)
- 352,948 (Sudan); 110,000 (Central African Republic) (2014)
Trafficking in persons
- Chad is a source, transit, and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the trafficking problem is mainly internal and frequently involves family members entrusting children to relatives or intermediaries in return for promises of education, apprenticeships, goods, or money; child trafficking victims are subjected to involuntary domestic servitude, forced cattle herding, forced begging, involuntary agricultural labor, or commercial sexual exploitation; some Chadian girls who travel to larger towns in search of work are forced into prostitution; in 2012, Chadian children were identified in some government military training centers and among rebel groups Tier 2 Watch List - Chad does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has made a limited commitment to increased anti-trafficking law enforcement but continues to lack formal victim identification procedures; draft revisions to Chad's penal code that would prohibit child trafficking and provide protection for victims were not enacted for the third consecutive year; the government continues its nationwide campaign on human rights issues, including human trafficking, and high-ranking officials, such as the president and prime minister, are speaking out publicly against human trafficking (2013)
- current situation
- Chad is a source, transit, and destination country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the trafficking problem is mainly internal and frequently involves family members entrusting children to relatives or intermediaries in return for promises of education, apprenticeships, goods, or money; child trafficking victims are subjected to involuntary domestic servitude, forced cattle herding, forced begging, involuntary agricultural labor, or commercial sexual exploitation; some Chadian girls who travel to larger towns in search of work are forced into prostitution; in 2012, Chadian children were identified in some government military training centers and among rebel groups
- tier rating
- Tier 2 Watch List - Chad does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has made a limited commitment to increased anti-trafficking law enforcement but continues to lack formal victim identification procedures; draft revisions to Chad's penal code that would prohibit child trafficking and provide protection for victims were not enacted for the third consecutive year; the government continues its nationwide campaign on human rights issues, including human trafficking, and high-ranking officials, such as the president and prime minister, are speaking out publicly against human trafficking (2013)