Chad

Internet country code

.td

Internet hosts

8 (2004)

Internet users

15,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (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)

Telephones - main lines in use

11,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

65,000 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2002)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $591.2 million expenditures: $680.9 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (2003 est.)

Currency

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

Currency code

XAF

Current account balance

$-474 million (2003)

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.)

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.

Electricity - consumption

87.46 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

94.04 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)

Exports

$365 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, cattle, gum arabic

Exports - partners

US 25%, Germany 17%, Portugal 15.9%, France 6.8%, Morocco 4.5% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.67 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 32.4% industry: 18.8% services: 48.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

15% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$760 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

France 28.6%, US 20.7%, Cameroon 14.6%, Netherlands 4.7% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (1995)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

40.3% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

NA (2002)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)

Oil - consumption

1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2001 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$191.8 million (2003)

Unemployment rate

NA (2000)

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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 19 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

200 sq km (1998 est.)

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: 2.86% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.12% (2001)

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)

Terrain

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

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

Capital

N'Djamena

Constitution

passed by referendum 31 March 1996

Country name

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

Executive branch

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3 February 2005) 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 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister appointed by the president 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

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

Government type

republic

Independence

11 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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

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) elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held in NA April 2006) 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

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military branches

Armed Forces: National Army (ANT), Air Force, and Republican Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$55.4 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.1% (2003)

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 - military 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 (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 91,231 (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.)

Birth rate

46.5 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

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

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: 94.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 104.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 85.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 48.24 years male: 46.91 years female: 49.63 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 47.5% male: 56% female: 39.3% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 16 years male: 15.3 years female: 16.7 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian

Net migration rate

-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

9,538,544 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

3% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

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.)

Total fertility rate

6.38 children born/woman (2004 est.)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 200,000 (Sudan), 30,000 (Central African Republic) (2004)

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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Highways

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

Pipelines

oil 205 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

none

Waterways

Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)