Statistical information Chad 1998
Chad in the World
top of pageBackground: In December 1990, after Chad had endured decades of civil warfare among ethnic groups as well as invasions by Libya, former northern guerrilla leader Idriss DEBY seized control of the government. His transitional government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled the territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution which was ratified by popular referendum in March 1996, held multiparty national presidential elections in June and July 1996 (DEBY won with 67% of the vote), and held multiparty elections for the National Assembly in January and February 1997, in which Idriss DEBY's party, Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS, won a majority of the seats.
top of pageLocation: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 1.284 million km²
Land: 1,259,200 km²
Water: 24,800 km²
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of California
Land boundariesTotal: 5,968 km
Border countries: (6) Cameroon 1,094 km;
, Central African Republic 1,197 km;
, Libya 1,055 km;
, Niger 1,175 km;
, Nigeria 87 km;
, Sudan 1,360 kmCoastline: 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Djourab Depression 175 m
Extremes highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land useArable land: 3%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 36%
Forests and woodland: 26%
Other: 35% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues
GeographyNote: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel
top of pagePopulation: 7,359,512 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 2.66% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Chadian(s)
Adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba), non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa), nonindigenous 150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French)
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly animism) 25%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 44% (male 1,631,010; female 1,623,272)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,903,012; female 1,982,257)
65 years and over: 3% (male 97,118; female 122,843) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.66% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 43.45 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 16.86 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 116.97 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 48.22 years
Male: 45.81 years
Female: 50.73 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.74 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write in French or Arabic
Total population: 48.1%
Male: 62.1%
Female: 34.7% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Chad
Conventional short form: Chad
Local long form: Republique du Tchad
Local short form: Tchad
Government type: republic
Capital: N'Djamena
Administrative divisions: 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution: 31 March 1995, passed by referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Nassour Guelengdouksia OUAIDOU (since 16 May 1997); appointed by the president; note_he was reappointed on 1 January 1998 when President DEBY named his new government
Cabinet: Council of State appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections: the constitution provides for the election of a president by direct popular vote to serve a term of five years; 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 2 June and 11 July 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); the prime minister is appointed by the president
Election results: in the first round of voting none of the 15 candidates received the required 50% of the total vote; percent of vote, first round_Lt. Gen. Idress DEBY 47.8%; percent of vote, second round_Lt. Gen. DEBY 69.1%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 30.9%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (125 seats; members serve four-year terms); replaces the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de Transition
Elections: National Assembly_last held in two rounds on 5 January and 23 February 1997, (next to be held NA 2001); in the first round of voting on 5 January 1997 some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% or more of the vote; where that did not happen, the two highest scoring candidates stood for a second round of voting
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_MPS 65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, 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, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT
In the us chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-4,009
In the us fax: [1] (202) 265-1937
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador David C. HALSTED
From the us embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
From the us mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
From the us telephone: [235] (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33
From the us fax: [235] (51) 56-54
Flag description: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Landlocked Chad's economic development suffers from it's geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure, and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on agriculture, including the herding of livestock. Of Africa's Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World Bank, the African Development Fund, and other sources is directed largely at the improvement of agriculture, especially livestock production. Lack of financing, however, is stalling the development of a southern oil field and the construction of a proposed oil pipeline through Cameroon.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 5.5% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 48%
Industry: 18%
Services: 34% (1995)
Agriculture products: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca; cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995)
Labor force: NA
By occupation agriculture: 85% (subsistence farming herding and fishing)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $198 million
Expenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1998 est.)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Current account balanceInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$259 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: cotton, cattle, textiles
Partners: Portugal 30%, Germany 18%, South Africa 16%, France 7%
Imports: total value:$301 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; textiles; note_excludes military equipment
Partners: France 34%, Cameroon 24%, Nigeria 7%, US 6%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $875 million (1995 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: CFA Francs (CFAF) per US$1_608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993)
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
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity production: 80 million kWh (1995)
Electricity consumptionPer capita: 14 kWh (1995)
Electricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaChad - Communication 1998
top of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone system: primitive system
Domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
International: satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $74 million (1994)
Percent of gdp: 11.1% (1994)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsChad - Transportation 1998
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 53 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 6
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 47
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 16
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 21
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.)
Airports with paved runwaysTotal: 6
Over 3047 m: 1
2438 to 3047 m: 2
15-24 to 2437 m: 2
Under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports with unpaved runwaysTotal: 47
15-24 to 2437 m: 16
914 to 1523 m: 21
Under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterways: 2,000 km navigable
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsChad - Transnational issues 1998
top of pageDisputes international: demarcation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs