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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

NA telephones; primitive system local: NA intercity: fair system of radio communication stations for intercity links international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: NA; note - limited TV service; many facilties are inoperative televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $74 million, 11.1% of GDP (1994) CHILE

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 1,307,210; males fit for military service 679,640; males reach military age (20) annually 54,945 (1995 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: $120 million expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1992 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: 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]

capacity: 40,000 kW production: 80 million kWh consumption per capita: 13 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990) note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Exports [time series]

$190 million (f.o.b., 1992) 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]

$261 million (f.o.b., 1992) 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 2.7% (1992 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]

-4.1% (1992)

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

GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1993 est.)

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

$530 (1993 est.)

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

3.5% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, conflict with Libya, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. More than 80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to dampen economic enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers and public sector salaries. Oil production in the Lake Chad area remains a distant prospect and the subsistence-driven economy probably will continue to limp along in the near term.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 1.284 million sq km land area: 1,259,200 sq km 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]

current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains an airfield in the disputed area; 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 sq km (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, south of Libya

Map references [time series]

Africa

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 is in effect (note - the constitutional commission, which was drafting a new constitution to submit to transitional parliament for ratification in April 1994, failed to do so but expects to submit a new draft to the parliament before the end of April 1995)

Digraph [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY, since 4 December 1990 (after seizing power on 3 December 1990 - transitional government's mandate expires April 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April 1995) cabinet: Council of State; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister

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

[1] (202) 265-1937

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

[235] (51) 33 72

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

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

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, 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

Legislative branch (National Consultative Council (Conceil National Consultatif)) [time series]

elections, formerly scheduled for April 1995, were postponed by mutual agreement of the parties concerned until some time prior to April 1996; elections last held 8 July 1990; the National Consultative Council was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional Council of the Republic having 30 members appointed by President DEBY on 8 March 1991; this, in turn, was replaced by a 57-member Higher Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition) elected by a specially convened Sovereign National Conference on 6 April 1993

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day 11 August (1960)

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, who promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by April 1994, subsequently twice postponed these initiatives, first until April 1995 and again until sometime before April 1996; there are numerous dissident groups and at least 45 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 Laurence E. POPE II embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] (51) 62 18, (51) 40 09, (51) 47 59

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44% (female 1,198,619; male 1,267,470) 15-64 years: 54% (female 1,563,678; male 1,456,481) 65 years and over: 2% (female 71,971; male 28,286) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

42.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

20.26 deaths/1,000 population (1995 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]

129.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 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: 41.19 years male: 40.04 years female: 42.38 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over has the ability to read and write in French and Arabic (1990 est.) 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 (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

5,586,505 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.18% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs, animism 25%

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.33 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 66 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 23 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 17 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 31,322 km paved: bituminous 263 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 7,069 km; earth 23,990 km

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

2,000 km navigable

Ports [time series]

none

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km