Chad

Republic of ChadRepublique du Tchad local short form:

republicIndependence 11 August 1960 (from France)

Chad as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 74 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalN'Djamena

Area1.284 million km2

LocationCentral Africa, between the Central African Republic and Libya

Populationas each edition published it

5.35 million July 1993 est. · 5.02m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.13% 1993 est. · 2.98% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

40.41 years 1993 est. · 60 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.33 children per woman 1993 est. · 5.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

134 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 136 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$215 1991 est. · $2,600 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

8.4% 1991 est. · 3.7% in 2025

Geography

Central Africa, between the Central African Republic and Libya

14 fields

Land use

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 36%forest and woodland 11%other 51%irrigated 100 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

1.284million km2

land area: 1,259,200 km2comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of California

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

5,968km

total · 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

Location

Central Africa, between the Central African Republic and Libya

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

Libya claims and occupies the 100,000 km2 Aozou Strip in the far north;
demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria

Terrain

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

Natural resources

petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)

Environment

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
drought and desertification adversely affecting south;
subject to plagues of locusts

Note

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

People

14 fields

Population

5,350,971

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.13% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

42.21Death

20.93Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years40.41

39.36 · 41.5

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy30%

42% · 18%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic (1990)

Infant mortality rate

134 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Chadian(s)
adjective:: Chadian

Ethnic divisions

north and center:: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba)
south:: non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French

Religions

Muslim 44%, Christian 33%, indigenous beliefs, animism 23%

Languages

French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken

Labor force

NA; by occupation: agriculture 85% (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)

Government

Republic

21 fields

Names

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

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

Constitution

22 December 1989, suspended 3 December 1990;
Provisional National Charter 1 March 1991;
national conference drafting new constitution to submit to referendum January 1993

Legal system

based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS; former dissident group), Idriss DEBY, chairman note: President DEBY has promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by September 1993; numerous dissident groups; 26 opposition political parties

Other political or pressure groups

Suffrage

universal at age NA

Elections

National Consultative Council:: last held 8 July 1990; disbanded 3 December 1990
President:: last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA);
results - President Hissein HABRE was elected without opposition;
note - the government of then President HABRE fell on 1 December 1990, and Idriss DEBY seized power on 3 December 1990;
national conference opened 15 January 1993;
election to follow by end of year

Executive branch

president, Council of State (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral National Consultative Council (Conseil National Consultatif) was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional Council of the Republic, with 30 members appointed by President DEBY on 8 March 1991

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Leaders

Chief of State:: Col. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Joseph YODOYMAN (since NA August 1992)

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Kombaria Loumaye MEKONYO
chancery:: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:: (202) 462-4009

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Richard W. BOGOSIAN
embassy:: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address:: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone:: [235] (51) 62-18, 40-09, or 51-62-11
FAX:: [235] 51-33-72

Flag

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
similar to the flag of Romania;
also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band;
design was based on the flag of France

Economy

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$215

(1991 est.)

Real growth rate

8.4%

(1991 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

-3% (1991 est.)

External debt

$492million

(December 1990 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$115 millionExpenditures

$412 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $218 million (1991 est.)

Overview

The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural resources make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is burdened by the ravages of civil war, conflict with Libya, drought, and food shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its 1977 level, with cotton, the major cash crop, accounting for 48% of exports.

Over 80% of the work force is employed in subsistence farming and fishing. Industry is based almost entirely on the processing of agricultural products, including cotton, sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, with its economy in trouble and many regions suffering from shortages. Oil companies are exploring areas north of Lake Chad and in the Doba basin in the south. Good crop weather led to 8.4% growth in 1991.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$193.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:: cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish
partners:: France, Nigeria, Cameroon

Imports

$294.1 million (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note - excludes military equipment
partners:: US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon

Electricity

40,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 15 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes

Agriculture

accounts for about 45% of GDP;
largely subsistence farming;
cotton most important cash crop;
food crops include sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc;
livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, camels;
self-sufficient in food in years of adequate rainfall

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $80 million