Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
1 state-owned TV station; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state-owned radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and regional stations; over 10 private radio stations; some stations rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2017)
Internet country code [time series]
.td
Internet users [time series]
total: 592,623 | percent of population: 5.0% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: inadequate system of radiotelephone communication stations with high maintenance costs and low telephone density | domestic: fixed-line connections for less than 1 per 100 persons coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of about 40 per 100 persons | international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 14,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 6,231,009 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, sesame, corn, rice, potatoes, onions, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Budget [time series]
revenues: $1.055 billion | expenditures: $1.522 billion (2016 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-4.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Central bank discount rate [time series]
4.25% (31 December 2009) | 4.75% (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 89
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
15.5% (31 December 2016 est.) | 15.5% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
Current account balance [time series]
$-927 million (2016 est.) | $-1.346 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113
Debt - external [time series]
$1.281 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.617 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
43.3 (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Chad’s landlocked location results in high transportation costs for imported goods and dependence on neighboring countries. Oil and agriculture are mainstays of Chad’s economy. Oil provides about 60% of export revenues, while cotton, cattle, livestock, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. The services sector contributes about one-third of GDP and has attracted foreign investment mostly through telecommunications and banking. | Nearly all of Chad’s fuel is provided by one domestic refinery, and unanticipated shutdowns occasionally result in shortages. The country regulates the price of domestic fuel, providing an incentive for black market sales. | Although high oil prices and strong local harvests supported the economy in the past, low oil prices now stress Chad’s fiscal position. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most of its public and private sector investment. Investment in Chad is difficult due to its limited infrastructure, lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption. Chad obtained a three-year extended credit facility from the IMF in 2014 and was granted debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in April 2015. | In 2017, economic policy will be driven by efforts that started in 2016 to reverse the recession and to repair damage to public finances and exports. The government is implementing an emergency action plan to counterbalance the drop in oil revenue and to diversify the economy. Multinational partners, such as the African Development Bank, the EU, and the World Bank are likely to continue budget support in 2017, but Chad will remain at high debt risk, given its dependence on oil revenue and pressure to spend on subsidies and security.
Exchange rates [time series]
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - | 593.01 (2016 est.) | 593.01 (2015 est.) | 591.45 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.)
Exports [time series]
$2.187 billion (2016 est.) | $2.629 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137
Exports - commodities [time series]
oil, livestock, cotton, sesame, gum arabic, shea butter
Exports - partners [time series]
US 57%, India 8.9%, China 6.7%, France 6.4%, UAE 4.3%, Japan 4.1% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$10.1 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$28.96 billion (2016 est.) | $30.56 billion (2015 est.) | $29.71 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 132
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 74.1% | government consumption: 4.6% | investment in fixed capital: 32.5% | investment in inventories: 0.4% | exports of goods and services: 29.2% | imports of goods and services: -40.8% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 57.8% | industry: 13.9% | services: 28.3% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$2,400 (2016 est.) | $2,700 (2015 est.) | $2,700 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 199
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
-6.4% (2016 est.) | 1.8% (2015 est.) | 6.9% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 216
Gross national saving [time series]
7.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 14.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | 21.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.6% | highest 10%: 30.8% (2003)
Imports [time series]
$1.988 billion (2016 est.) | $2.572 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners [time series]
France 19.8%, China 15.7%, Cameroon 15.1%, India 6.1%, US 5.4%, Belgium 4.4% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
-5% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188
Industries [time series]
oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
-1.1% (2016 est.) | 3.7% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1
Labor force [time series]
5.443 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 80% | industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
46.7% (2011 est.)
Public debt [time series]
59% of GDP (2016 est.) | 49.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$20.92 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $380.7 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174
Stock of broad money [time series]
$1.418 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.608 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$4.5 billion (2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$2.387 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.898 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$1.241 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.457 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
10.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212
Unemployment rate [time series]
NA%
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
300,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192
Crude oil - exports [time series]
105,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Crude oil - production [time series]
110,200 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - consumption [time series]
200 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 3
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
47,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - production [time series]
215 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 10,477,071 | electrification - total population: 4% | electrification - urban areas: 14% | electrification - rural areas: 1% (2013)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 124
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
2,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
2,215 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126
Geography
total: 1.284 million sq km | land: 1,259,200 sq km | water: 24,800 sq km | country comparison to the world: 22
Area - comparative [time series]
almost nine times the size of New York state; 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 [time series]
mean elevation: 543 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Djourab 160 m | highest point: Emi Koussi 3,445 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, Hazardous Wastes, 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]
note 1: Chad is the largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries | note 2: not long ago - geologically speaking - what is today the Sahara was green savannah teeming with wildlife; during the African Humid Period, roughly 11,000 to 5,000 years ago, a vibrant animal community, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelope lived there; the last remnant of the "Green Sahara" exists in the Lakes of Ounianga (oo-nee-ahn-ga) in northern Chad, a series of 18 interconnected freshwater, saline, and hypersaline lakes now protected as a World Heritage site | note 3: Lake Chad, the most significant water body in the Sahel, is a remnant of a former inland sea, paleolake Mega-Chad; at its greatest extent, sometime before 5000 B.C., Lake Mega-Chad was the largest of four Saharan paleolakes that existed during the African Humid Period; it covered an area of about 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq mi), roughly the size of today's Caspian Sea
Irrigated land [time series]
300 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 6,406 km | border countries (6): Cameroon 1,116 km, Central African Republic 1,556 km, Libya 1,050 km, Niger 1,196 km, Nigeria 85 km, Sudan 1,403 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 39.6% | arable land 3.9%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 35.7% | forest: 9.1% | other: 51.3% (2011 est.)
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
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated
Terrain [time series]
broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
23 regions (regions, singular - region); Barh el Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, 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
Capital [time series]
name: N'Djamena | geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E | time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Chad | dual citizenship recognized: Chadian law does not address dual citizenship | residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years
Constitution [time series]
history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 31 March 1996, entered into force 8 April 1996 | amendments: proposed as a revision by the president of the republic after a Council of Ministers (cabinet) decision or by the National Assembly; approval for consideration of a revision requires at least three-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval by referendum or at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended 2005, 2013 (2017)
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 | etymology: named for Lake Chad, which lies along the country's western border; the word "tsade" means "large body of water" or "lake" in several local native languages
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Geeta PASI (since September 2016) | embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena | mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena | telephone: [235] 2251-70-09 | FAX: [235] 2251-56-54
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Nasser HASSANE (since 21 May 2014) | chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 652-1312 | FAX: [1] (202) 758-0431
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. (since 4 December 1990) | head of government: Prime Minister Albert Pahimi PADACKE (since 15 February 2016) | cabinet: Council of Ministers; members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 10 April 2016 (next to be held in April 2021); prime minister appointed by the president | election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president in 1 round; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 61.6%, Saleh KEBZABO (UNDR) 12.8%, Laokein Kourayo MEDAR (CTPD) 10.7%, Djimrangar DADNADJI (CAP-SUR) 5.1%, other 9.8%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and red; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow (gold) of the Pan-African colors; blue symbolizes the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which is relatively well-watered; gold represents the sun, as well as the desert in the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity, and sacrifice | note: almost identical to the flag of Romania but with a darker shade of blue; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design based on the flag of France
Government type [time series]
presidential republic
Independence [time series]
11 August 1960 (from France)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 3 chamber presidents, and 12 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 3 judges and 6 jurists) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice selected by the president; councilors - 8 designated by the president and 7 by the speaker of the National Assembly; chief justice and councilors appointed for life; Constitutional Council judges - 2 appointed by the president and 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly; jurists - 3 each by the president and by the speaker of the National Assembly; judges appointed for 9-year terms | subordinate courts: High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of civil and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral National Assembly (188 seats; 118 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 70 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: National Assembly - last held on 13 February and 6 May 2011 (next to be held in 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 117, UNDR 10, RDP 9, URD 8, RNDT/Le Reveil 8, Viva-RNDP 5, FAR 4, PUR 2, UDR 2, PDSA 2, CTPD 2, other minor parties 19 | note: the National Assembly mandate was extended, reportedly due to a lack of funding for the scheduled 2015 election
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian) | lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD | note: adopted 1960
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
National symbol(s) [time series]
goat (north), lion (south); national colors: blue, yellow, red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD [Laoukein Kourayo MEDAR] | Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR] | Framework of Popular Action for Solidarity and Unity of the Republic or CAP-SUR [Joseph Djimrangar DADNADJI] | National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP [Dr. Nouradine Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE] | National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO] | Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Mahamat Allahou TAHER] | Party for Unity and Reconciliation | Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Idriss DEBY] | Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mahamat Allahou TAHER] | RNDT/Le Reveil | Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA | Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Sande NGARYIMBE]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
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 peace was 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 has sporadically flared up despite several peace agreements between the government and insurgents. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns continued throughout 2006 and 2007. The capital experienced a significant insurrection in early 2008, but has had no significant rebel threats since then, in part due to Chad's 2010 rapprochement with Sudan, which previously used Chadian rebels as proxies. In late 2015, the government imposed a state of emergency in the Lake Chad region following multiple attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram throughout the year; Boko Haram also launched several bombings in N'Djamena in mid-2015. DEBY in 2016 was reelected to his fifth term in an election that was peaceful but flawed. In December 2015, Chad completed a two-year rotation on the UN Security Council. In January 2017, DEBY completed a one-year term as President of the African Union.
Military and Security
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT): Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), National Gendarmerie, National and Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT) (2013)
Military expenditures [time series]
2.79% of GDP (2016) | 2.03% of GDP (2015) | 2.82% of GDP (2014) | 5.61% of GDP (2013)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
20 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service, with a 3-year service obligation; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; 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 21; while provisions for military service have not been repealed, they have never been fully implemented (2015)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 43.02% (male 2,634,817/female 2,560,790) | 15-24 years: 21.46% (male 1,267,944/female 1,324,115) | 25-54 years: 28.62% (male 1,574,782/female 1,881,183) | 55-64 years: 3.88% (male 206,627/female 261,586) | 65 years and over: 3.02% (male 150,364/female 213,777) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
35.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
28.8% (2015) | country comparison to the world: 13
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
5.7% (2014/15)
Death rate [time series]
13.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Demographic profile [time series]
Despite the start of oil production in 2003, 40% of Chad’s population lives below the poverty line. The population will continue to grow rapidly because of the country’s very high fertility rate and large youth cohort – more than 65% of the populace is under the age of 25 – although the mortality rate is high and life expectancy is low. Chad has the world’s third highest maternal mortality rate. Among the primary risk factors are poverty, anemia, rural habitation, high fertility, poor education, and a lack of access to family planning and obstetric care. Impoverished, uneducated adolescents living in rural areas are most affected. To improve women’s reproductive health and reduce fertility, Chad will need to increase women’s educational attainment, job participation, and knowledge of and access to family planning. Only about a quarter of women are literate, less than 5% use contraceptives, and more than 40% undergo genital cutting. | As of October 2017, more than 320,000 refugees from Sudan and more than 75,000 from the Central African Republic strain Chad’s limited resources and create tensions in host communities. Thousands of new refugees fled to Chad in 2013 to escape worsening violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. The large refugee populations are hesitant to return to their home countries because of continued instability. Chad was relatively stable in 2012 in comparison to other states in the region, but past fighting between government forces and opposition groups and inter-communal violence have left nearly 60,000 of its citizens displaced in the eastern part of the country.
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 100.2 | youth dependency ratio: 95.2 | elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 | potential support ratio: 20.3 (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 71.8% of population | rural: 44.8% of population | total: 50.8% of population | urban: 28.2% of population | rural: 55.2% of population | total: 49.2% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
2.9% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 160
Ethnic groups [time series]
Sara (Ngambaye/Sara/Madjingaye/Mbaye) 29.9%, Kanembu/Bornu/Buduma 9.7%, Arab 9.6%, Wadai/Maba/Masalit/Mimi 7.5%, Gorane 5.8%, Masa/Musseye/Musgum 4.9%, Marba/Lele/Mesme 3.7%, Bulala/Medogo/Kuka 3.6%, Bidiyo/Migaama/Kenga/Dangleat 2.6%, Dadjo/Kibet/Muro 2.5%, Mundang 2.5%, Tupuri/Kera 2.1%, Gabri/Kabalaye/Nanchere/Somrai 2%, Fulani/Fulbe/Bodore 1.9%, Karo/Zime/Peve 1.3%, Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe 1.1%, Tama/Assongori/Mararit 1.1%, Baguirmi/Barma 1.1%, Mesmedje/Massalat/Kadjakse 0.8%, other Chadian ethnicities 3.2%, Chadians of foreign ethnicities 0.9%, foreign nationals 0.4%, unspecified 1.7% (2014-15 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
1.3% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
2,800 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
110,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
3.6% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 169
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 85.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 90.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 79.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5
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: 50.6 years | male: 49.4 years | female: 51.9 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 224
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic | total population: 22.3% | male: 31.3% | female: 14% (2016 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
N'DJAMENA (capital) 1.26 million (2015)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
856 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 3
Median age [time series]
total: 17.8 years | male: 16.8 years | female: 18.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 218
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
17.9 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2014/15 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Chadian(s) | adjective: Chadian
Net migration rate [time series]
-3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
6.1% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 171
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Population [time series]
12,075,985 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75
Population distribution [time series]
the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated
Population growth rate [time series]
1.86% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52
Religions [time series]
Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2014-15 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 31.4% of population | rural: 6.5% of population | total: 12.1% of population | urban: 68.6% of population | rural: 93.5% of population | total: 87.9% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 7 years | male: 9 years | female: 6 years (2011)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.83 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female | total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.34 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 22.8% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.7% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
since 2003, ad hoc armed militia groups and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; 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): 322,866 (Sudan); 75,635 (Central African Republic); 9,191 (Nigeria) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2017) | IDPs: 118,804 (majority are in the east) (2017)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
59 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 82
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 9 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | under 914 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 50 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 | 914 to 1,523 m: 22 | under 914 m: 11 (2013)
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 28,332 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: mt-km (2015)
Pipelines [time series]
oil 582 km (2013)
Roadways [time series]
total: 40,000 km | note: consists of 25,000 km of national and regional roads and 15,000 km of local roads; 206 km of urban roads are paved (2011) | country comparison to the world: 88
Waterways [time series]
(Chari and Legone Rivers are navigable only in wet season) (2012)