2015 Edition

Background

Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare, as well as invasions by Libya, before peace was 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 insurgents. 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. In January 2014, Chad began a two-year rotation on the UN Security Council.

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

Climate

tropical in south, desert in north

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

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

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)

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

note 1

Chad is the largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries

note 2

not long ago - geologically speaking - what is today the Sahara was green savannah 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

note 3

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), roughly the size of today's Caspian Sea

Irrigated land

302.7 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (6)

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

arable land 3.9%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 35.7%

agricultural land

39.6%

forest

9.1%

other

51.3% (2011 est.)

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)

Age structure

0-14 years

44.2% (male 2,607,314/female 2,534,163)

15-24 years

20.9% (male 1,183,962/female 1,247,130)

25-54 years

28.05% (male 1,479,285/female 1,783,014)

55-64 years

3.87% (male 197,673/female 252,379)

65 years and over

2.98% (male 143,712/female 202,824) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

36.6 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

48% (2010 est.)

total number

1,475,960

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

30.3% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

4.8% (2010)

Death rate

14.28 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.9%

potential support ratio

20.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

100.7%

youth dependency ratio

95.8%

Drinking water source

urban: 71.8% of population

rural: 44.8% of population

total: 50.8% of population

urban: 28.2% of population

rural: 55.2% of population

total: 49.2% of population (2015 est.)

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

3.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.53% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

11,700 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

215,000 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

female

82.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

94.23 deaths/1,000 live births

total

88.69 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

51.03 years (2015 est.)

male

48.64 years

total population

49.81 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic

female

31.9% (2015 est.)

male

48.5%

total population

40.2%

Major infectious diseases

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) 1.26 million (2015)

Median age

female

18.4 years (2015 est.)

male

16.4 years

total

17.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Chadian

noun

Chadian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.6% (2014)

Physicians density

0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

11,631,456 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.89% (2015 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: 12.1% of population

urban: 68.6% of population

rural: 93.5% of population

total: 87.9% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

6 years (2011)

male

9 years

total

7 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.95 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.83 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.78 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.55 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.42% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

22.5% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

23 regions (regions, singular - region); Barh el Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, 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

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

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 James KNIGHT (since 6 September 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

chancery

2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Mahamat Nasser HASSANE (since 21 May 2014)

FAX

[1] (202) 758-0431

telephone

[1] (202) 652-1312

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers; members 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 (MPS) 83.6%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE (Viva-RNDP) 8.6%, Nadji MADOU 7.8%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last 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

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the 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; judge 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

description

unicameral National Assembly (188 seats; 118 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 70 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ART 133, UNDR 11, other 44

elections

National Assembly - last held on 13 February 2011 (next to be held on 30 September 2015)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD

name

"La Tchadienne" (The Chadian)

note

adopted 1960

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

National symbol(s)

goat (north), lion (south); national colors: blue, yellow, red

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

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, sesame, corn, rice, potatoes, onions, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Budget

expenditures

$3.713 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$2.884 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009)

4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

15.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.219 billion (2014 est.)

-$1.225 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$3.222 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.878 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

43.3 (2011 est.)

Economy - overview

Chad’s landlocked location results in high transportation costs for imported goods and dependence on neighboring countries. Oil and agriculture are mainstays of Chad’s economy. Oil provides about 60% of export revenues, while cotton, cattle, livestock, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for much public and private sector investment. The services sector contributes about one-third of GDP and has attracted foreign investment mostly through telecommunications and banking. Chad’s fiscal position is encumbered by declining oil prices, though high oil prices and strong local harvests supported the economy in recent years. Nearly all of Chad’s fuel is provided by one domestic refinery, and unanticipated shut-downs occasionally result in shortages. The country regulates the price of domestic fuel, providing an incentive for black market sales. Chad's investment climate remains challenging due to limited infrastructure, a lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption. Chad obtained a three-year extended credit facility from the IMF in 2014 and was granted debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in April 2015.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

491.2 (2014 est.)

494.04 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports

$4.912 billion (2014 est.)

$3.926 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil, livestock, cotton, sesame, gum arabic, shea butter

Exports - partners

US 77.6%, Japan 10.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

27.1%

government consumption

6.3%

household consumption

76.1%

imports of goods and services

-39%

investment in fixed capital

29.3%

investment in inventories

0.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

54.3%

industry

13.2%

services

32.4% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,600 (2014 est.)

$2,400 (2013 est.)

$2,300 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.9% (2014 est.)

5.7% (2013 est.)

8.9% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.95 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.53 billion (2014 est.)

$27.63 billion (2013 est.)

$26.14 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

-6.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

18.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

22.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.8% (2003)

lowest 10%

2.6%

Imports

$3.481 billion (2014 est.)

$3.193 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

Algeria 54.6%, China 11.2%, Italy 6.2%, France 5.4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2014 est.)

0.1% (2013 est.)

Labor force

4.919 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

80%

industry and services

20% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.7% (2011 est.)

Public debt

34.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

31.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.389 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.196 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.976 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.751 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA (31 December 2010)

$4.5 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$895.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$757.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.746 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.606 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

264,300 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

125,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

97,910 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

186 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

31,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

200 million kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,870 bbl/day (2013 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.)

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 users

percent of population

2.4% (2014 est.)

total

273,900

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2001)

Telephone system

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 maintenance costs and low telephone density

international

country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

23,600

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

46 (2014 est.)

total

5.3 million

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Airports

59 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

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

note

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)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,441,321 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,090,244

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,395,811 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,183,242

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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)

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 21; while provisions for military service have not been repealed, they have never been fully implemented (2015)

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

IDPs

111,000 (majority are in the east) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

367,229 (Sudan); 84,223 (Central African Republic); 14,586 (Nigeria) (2015)