|
Background:
|
 Chad,
part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three
decades of ethnic 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 a northern ethnic oligarchy. |
|
Location:
|
Central Africa,
south of Libya |
|
Map references:
|
Africa |
|
Area:
|
total:
1.284 million sq km
water: 24,800 sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly more
than three times the size of California |
|
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 |
|
Coastline:
|
0 km (landlocked) |
|
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and
Definitions):
|
none (landlocked) |
|
Climate:
|
tropical in
south, desert in north |
|
Terrain:
|
broad, arid
plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest,
lowlands in south |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
petroleum,
uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad) |
|
Land use:
|
arable land:
2.78%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.2% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
200 sq km (1998
est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
hot, dry, dusty
harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust
plagues |
|
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 |
|
Geography - note:
|
landlocked; Lake
Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel |
|
Population:
|
9,538,544 (July
2004 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years:
47.9% (male 2,297,490; female 2,269,801)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,245,586; female 2,459,796)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 107,594; female 158,277)
(2004 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 16
years
male: 15.3 years
female: 16.7 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
3% (2004 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
46.5 births/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
16.38
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
94.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 85.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 104.01 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 48.24 years
male: 46.91 years
female: 49.63 years (2004 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
3.6% 5%-7% (2001
est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
150,000 (2001
est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
14,000 (confirmed
AIDS cases, actual number far higher but difficult to
estimate) (2001 est.) |
|
Nationality:
|
noun:
Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian |
|
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 |
|
Religions:
|
Muslim 51%,
Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7% |
|
Languages:
|
French
(official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120
different languages and dialects |
|
Literacy:
|
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.) |
|
Country name:
|
conventional
long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad |
|
Government type:
|
republic |
|
Capital:
|
N'Djamena |
|
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 |
|
Independence:
|
11 August 1960
(from France) |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day,
11 August (1960) |
|
Constitution:
|
passed by
referendum 31 March 1996 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on French
civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of
state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December
1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Moussa Faki MAHAMAT
(since NA July 2003)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected
president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%,
Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7%
note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD
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 |
|
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 NA April 2006) |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court;
Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts |
|
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] (originally in opposition but now the party in power
and the party of the president); Rally for Democracy and
Progress or RPD [leader NA]; 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 |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief of
mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief of
mission: Ambassador Christopher E. GOLDTHWAIT
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 70-09
FAX: [235] (51) 56-54 |
|
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 stock
raising for its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic
provide the bulk of Chad's export earnings, but Chad will
begin 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. |
|
GDP:
|
purchasing power
parity - $10.86 billion (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
15% (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power
parity - $1,200 (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture:
38%
industry: 13%
services: 49% (2001 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
80% (2001 est.) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
6% (2002 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
NA (2002) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture more
than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
NA% (2000) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues:
$198 million
expenditures: $218 million, including capital
expenditures of $146 million (1998 est.) |
|
Industries:
|
oil, cotton
textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium
carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
5% (1995) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
94.04 million kWh
(2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil fuel:
100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
87.46 million kWh
(2001) |
|
Oil - production:
|
0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
1,500 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
cotton, sorghum,
millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle,
sheep, goats, camels |
|
Exports:
|
$365 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
cotton, cattle,
gum arabic |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Portugal 30.3%,
Germany 15.2%, US 9.1%, France 6.1%, Nigeria 6.1%, Spain 6.1%,
Morocco 4.5%, Poland 4.5% (2002) |
|
Imports:
|
$760 million
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery and
transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleum
products, foodstuffs, textiles |
|
Imports - partners:
|
France 31.5%, US
31.3%, Germany 5.6%, Nigeria 4.7% (2002) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$1.1 billion
(2000 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$238.3 million;
note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30
million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $150
million (2001 est.) |
|
Currency:
|
Communaute
Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority
is the Bank of the Central African States |
|
Currency code:
|
XAF |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Communaute
Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 581.2
(2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7
(1999) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
11,800 (2002) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
34,200 (2002) |
|
Telephone system:
|
general
assessment: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication
stations
international: country code - 235; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 2, FM 4,
shortwave 5 (2002) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
1 (2002) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.td |
|
Internet hosts:
|
11 (2002) |
|
Internet users:
|
15,000 (2002) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
33,400 km
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (1999 est.) |
|
Waterways:
|
2,000 km |
|
Pipelines:
|
oil 205 km (2003) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
none |
|
Airports:
|
50 (2003 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 (2003 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 10 (2003 est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Armed Forces:
National Army (ANT), Air Force, and Republican Guard |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
20 years of age
(2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - availability:
|
males age
15-49: 2,008,825 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service:
|
males age
15-49: 1,051,802 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
|
males:
91,231 (2004 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$55.4 million
(2003) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
2.1% (2003) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
civil war in
Sudan overlaps into Chad as both states step up border
patrols, leaving refugees and rebel groups in both countries;
Chad serves as an important mediator in the Sudanese civil
conflict; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; Lake
Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lake
region; Chad rejects Nigerian request to redemarcate boundary,
the site of periodic cross-border incidents |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
|