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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 69 usable: 55 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 24

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

31,322 km total; 32 km bituminous; 7,300 km gravel and laterite; remainder unimproved earth

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

2,000 km navigable

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

fair system of radiocommunication stations for intercity links; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 1 FM, limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $58 million, 5.6% of GDP (1989)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 1,246,617; fit for military service 647,908; reach military age (20) annually 52,870 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues $115 million; expenditures $412 million, including capital expenditures of $218 million (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

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

Electricity [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)

Exports [time series]

$193.9 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$492 million (December 1990 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$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

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

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

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2%-3% (1991 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$215 (1991 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

8.4% (1991 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 1.284 million km2 land area: 1,259,200 km2 comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of California

Climate [time series]

tropical in south, desert in north

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

100 km2 (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 5,968 km, 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 [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 36% forest and woodland: 11% other: 51%

Location [time series]

Central Africa, between the Central African Republic and Libya

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

none; landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

N'Djamena

Constitution [time series]

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

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

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

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

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 [time series]

president, Council of State (cabinet)

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

11 August 1960 (from France)

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

11 August

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age NA

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

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

People

Birth rate [time series]

42.21 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.93 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 40.41 years male: 39.36 years female: 41.5 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic (1990) total population: 30% male: 42% female: 18%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

5,350,971 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.13% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)