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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 (2008) |
| 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: | 10,758,945 (July 2011 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Birth rate: | 39.4 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 15.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| 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 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 male: 47.28 years female: 49.43 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 5.05 children born/woman (2011 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: 25.7% male: 40.8% female: 12.8% (2000 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 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 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, 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 Mark M. BOULWARE 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 |
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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. 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): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $17.36 billion (2010 est.) $16.52 billion (2009 est.) $16.48 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $7.848 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 5.1% (2010 est.) 0.3% (2009 est.) -0.4% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,600 (2010 est.) $1,600 (2009 est.) $1,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 52% industry: 7% services: 41.1% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 4.293 million (2007) |
| 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) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): -2% (2010 est.) 10% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 29.8% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $2.019 billion expenditures: $2.928 billion (2010 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: | 100 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 93 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 126,200 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 115,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 1,837 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$2.512 billion (2010 est.) -$2.305 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $3.16 billion (2010 est.) $2.709 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic |
| Exports - partners: | US 71.9%, China 16.9%, Netherlands 4.6% (2010) |
| Imports: | $2.94 billion (2010 est.) $2.539 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles |
| Imports - partners: | China 29.4%, France 14.3%, Cameroon 12.2%, US 8.1% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $417.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) $616.7 million (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $1.743 billion (31 December 2009 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 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $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) |
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| Communications |
| Telephones in use: | 13,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 199 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 2.686 million (2009) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .td |
| Internet hosts: | 5 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 168,100 (2009) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: | 56 (2010) country comparison to the world: 83 |
| Airports (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 (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: 40,000 km (2006) |
| Waterways: | (Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season) (2010) |
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| Military |
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| 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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