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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.td

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

9 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

35,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: primitive system domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

13,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

210,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2002)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Budget [time series]

revenues: $765.2 million expenditures: $653.3 million; including capital expenditures of $146 million (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Current account balance [time series]

$-602 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.5 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $246.9 million (2003 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. Over 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. The nation's total oil reserves has been estimated to be 2 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

111.6 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production [time series]

120 million kWh (2003)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$3.016 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

cotton, cattle, gum arabic, oil

Exports - partners [time series]

US 78.1%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$4.799 billion (2005 est.)

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

$13.98 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 33.5% industry: 25.9% services: 40.6% (2005 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$1,400 (2005 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

6% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$749.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners [time series]

France 21.1%, Cameroon 15.5%, US 12.1%, Belgium 6.8%, Portugal 4.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (1995)

Industries [time series]

oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

18.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.719 million

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) industry and services: 20%

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

1,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

225,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

80% (2001 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$297 million (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than three times the size of California

Climate [time series]

tropical in south, desert in north

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 00 N, 19 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

300 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.8% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.18% (2005)

Location [time series]

Central Africa, south of Libya

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

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 note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department) and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera, Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam, N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile Occidental, Tibesti

Capital [time series]

name: N'Djamena geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 15 03 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed constitutional term limits

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Marc M. WALL embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] 516-211 FAX: [235] 515-654

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4 December 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3 February 2005) cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote to serve 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 held 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%, Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

11 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral according to constitution, consists of a National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified, members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewable every two years) elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held by April 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, other 11

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

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

Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]; 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 Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 sporadically flares up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 20-49: 1,527,580 females age 20-49: 1,629,510 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 20-49: 794,988 females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 94,536 females age 20-49: 93,521 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air Force, Gendarmerie (2004)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

20 years of age for conscripts, with three-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to one year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,396,393/female 2,369,261) 15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,355,940/female 2,550,535) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 107,665/female 164,407) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane (Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are Muslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang, Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000 French citizens live in Chad

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

4.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

18,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

200,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 91.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 100.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 82.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 47.52 years male: 45.88 years female: 49.21 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 47.5% male: 56% female: 39.3% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

Median age [time series]

total: 16 years male: 15.3 years female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

9,944,201 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.93% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

since the expulsions of residents from Darfur in 2003 by Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military, about 200,000 refugees remain in eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from cross-border banditry; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 224,924 (Sudan), 29,683 (Central African Republic) (2005)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

52 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Pipelines [time series]

oil 205 km (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1999)

Waterways [time series]

Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)