Chad Population: 11,193,452
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel | |
| Location: | Central Africa, south of Libya |
| Geographic coordinates: | 15 00 N, 19 00 E |
| Area: | total: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km Size comparison: 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) |
| Natural hazards: | hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues |
| Current Environment Issues: | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 11,193,452 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 45.2% (male 2,565,613/female 2,494,020) 15-24 years: 20.4% (male 1,107,121/female 1,178,946) 25-54 years: 27.6% (male 1,393,498/female 1,693,233) 55-64 years: 3.9% (male 188,558/female 242,559) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 137,590/female 192,314) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 16.9 years male: 15.8 years female: 18 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.98% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 38.7 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 15.16 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 93.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 99.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 87.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 48.69 years male: 47.61 years female: 49.82 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.8 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 3.4% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 210,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 11,000 (2009 est.) |
| 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: 34.5% male: 45% female: 24.2% (2010 est.) |
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| 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 |
| 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 Djimrangar DADNADJI (since 21 January 2013) cabinet: Council of State; members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World 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, 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, 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 Maitine DJOUMBE 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 Mark M. BOULWARE embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] 2251-70-09 FAX: [235] 2251-56-54 |
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| Economy | |
| Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. Economic conditions have been positive in recent years, with real GDP growth reaching 13% in 2010 because of high international prices for oil and a strong local harvest. GDP growth for 2012 is estimated at 7.3%. However, Chad's investment climate remains challenging due to limited infrastructure, a lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption. At least 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. The government of Chad is determined to improve agricultural production through modernization and mechanization over the next three years, and hosted a national Rural Development Forum in 2012 to promote investment in agriculture. 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. Remittances are also an important source of income. The Libyan conflict disrupted inflows of remittances to Chad's impoverished western region that relies on income from Chadians living in Libya. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1.5 billion barrels - in southern Chad. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and have completed a 311-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): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $21.34 billion (2012 est.) $19.88 billion (2011 est.) $19.53 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $9.723 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 7.3% (2012 est.) 1.8% (2011 est.) 13% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,000 (2012 est.) $1,900 (2011 est.) $1,900 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 51% industry: 7% services: 42% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 4.293 million (2007) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 80% (2006 est.) 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) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (2012 est.) 2% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 26.8% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $2.831 billion expenditures: $3.348 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 36.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 43.1% of GDP (2011 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Electricity - production: | 95 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 88.35 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$1.965 billion (2012 est.) -$2.386 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $4.951 billion (2012 est.) $4.974 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic |
| Exports - partners: | US 83.2%, China 6.8%, France 5.6% (2011) |
| Imports: | $3.936 billion (2012 est.) $4.054 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles |
| Imports - partners: | Cameroon 17%, France 15.8%, China 10.8%, Finland 6.6%, Sweden 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Belgium 4.4%, US 4% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $799.7 million (31 December 2012 est.) $968.1 million (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $1.749 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.769 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $NA (31 December 2010) $4.5 billion (2006 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 514.1 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 31,200 (2011) country comparison to the world: 175 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 3.666 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: inadequate system of radiotelephone communication stations with high costs and low telephone density domestic: fixed-line connections for less than 1 per 100 persons coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of only about 35 per 100 persons international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .td |
| Internet hosts: | 6 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 168,100 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 58 (2012) country comparison to the world: 83 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 49 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 11 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | oil 265 km (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 40,000 km 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) |
| Waterways: | (Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season) (2012) |
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| 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.) |
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