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 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. The capital experienced a significant rebel threat in early 2008.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Central Africa, south of Libya`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`15 00 N, 19 00 E`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 1.284 million sq km country comparison to the world: 21 land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 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: |  |
`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 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 2.8% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.18% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`300 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`43 cu km (1987)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 0.23 cu km/yr (17%/0%/83%) per capita: 24 cu m/yr (2000)`
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, Hazardous Wastes, 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`

People

Population: |  |
`10,758,945 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 77`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 46% (male 2,510,656/female 2,441,780) 15-64 years: 51% (male 2,531,896/female 2,960,406) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 131,805/female 182,402) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 16.8 years male: 15.6 years female: 17.9 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`2.009% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 49`
Birth rate: |  |
`39.4 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 13`
Death rate: |  |
`15.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 7`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 188`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 28% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`N'DJAMENA (capital) 808,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 95.31 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 8 male: 101.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 89.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 48.33 years country comparison to the world: 219 male: 47.28 years female: 49.43 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`5.05 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 19`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`3.4% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`210,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 27`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`11,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 24`
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 animal contact disease: rabies (2009)`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 67% of population rural: 44% of population total: 50% of population unimproved: urban: 33% of population rural: 56% of population total: 50% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 23% of population rural: 4% of population total: 9% of population unimproved: urban: 77% of population rural: 96% of population total: 91% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian`
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)`
Religions: |  |
`Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)`
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: 25.7% male: 40.8% female: 12.8% (2000 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 7 years male: 9 years female: 5 years (2009)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`3.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 125`

Government

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`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
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)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`22 regions (regions, singular - region); Barh el Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi, 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`
Independence: |  |
`11 August 1960 (from France)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 11 August (1960)`
Constitution: |  |
`passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed constitutional term limits`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of civil and customary law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4 December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Emmanuel NADINGAR (since 5 March 2010)
cabinet: Council of State; members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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
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%
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
unicameral National Assembly (188 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
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
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ART 133, UNDR 11, others 44
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court; Constitutional Council; High Court of Justice; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts`
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 [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`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamoud Adam BECHIR chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937`
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, 251-70-09, 251-77-59 FAX: [235] 251-56-54`
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
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian) lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD note: adopted 1960`

Economy

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 are currently building a 300-km pipeline and the country's first refinery. The nation's total oil reserves are estimated at 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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$17.36 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $16.52 billion (2009 est.) $16.48 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$7.848 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`5.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 0.3% (2009 est.) -0.4% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$1,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 $1,600 (2009 est.) $1,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 50.5% industry: 7% services: 42.5% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`4.293 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 85`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`NA%`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`80% (2001 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.8% (2003)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`14.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $1.972 billion expenditures: $2.859 billion (2010 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 10% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 94 4.75% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`NA%`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$920.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 $937.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$1.257 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $1.008 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$943.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $566.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels`
Industries: |  |
`oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113`
Electricity - production: |  |
`100 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`93 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`115,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200`
Oil - exports: |  |
`157,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55`
Oil - imports: |  |
`1,571 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-2.6 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $-2.305 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$3.036 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $2.709 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic`
Exports - partners: |  |
`US 90.06%, France 4.81%, China 1.6% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$2.631 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $2.539 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles`
Imports - partners: |  |
`France 17.74%, Cameroon 12.7%, China 11.23%, US 7.59%, Italy 6.54%, Ukraine 5.33%, Netherlands 4.37% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$868 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $685 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $1.749 billion (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$NA (31 December 2010) $4.5 billion (2006 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) 480.1 (2007) 522.59 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`13,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 199`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`2.686 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 119`
Telephone system: |  |
`general assessment: inadequate system of radiotelephone communication stations with high costs and low telephone density domestic: fixed-line connections for only about 1 per 1000 persons coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of only about 25 per 100 persons international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)`
Broadcast media: |  |
`1 state-owned TV broadcast 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: |  |
`5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 226`
Internet users: |  |
`168,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 145`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`56 (2010) country comparison to the world: 83`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 8 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 48 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 10 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`oil 265 km (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 33,400 km country comparison to the world: 95 paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (2002)`
Waterways: |  |
`(Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season) (2010)`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Armed Forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT), Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT), Gendarmerie (2008)`
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 parent or guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 2,090,244 females age 16-49: 2,441,321 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,183,242 females age 16-49: 1,395,811 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 128,723 female: 128,244 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 90`

Transnational Issues

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
`

Refugees and internally displaced persons: |  |
`refugees (country of origin): 234,000 (Sudan); 54,200 (Central African Republic) IDPs: 178,918 (2007)`
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 - the Government of Chad does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making any significant efforts to do so; although facing resource constraints, the government has the capacity to conduct basic anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, yet did not do so during the last year; it showed no results in enforcing government policy prohibiting the recruitment of child soldiers; Chad has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2009)
`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011