Background: Chad endured decades of civil warfare among ethnic groups as well as invasions by Libya.

Land boundaries: 5,968 km total; 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

Coastline: none - 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

Natural resources: small quantities of crude oil (unexploited but exploration beginning), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)

Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 36% meadows and pastures; 11% forest and woodland; 51% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Geography
Note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1

Population: 4,949,132 (July 1989), growth rate 2.3% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Chadian(s; adjective - Chadian

Ethnic groups: some 200 distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, and Maba) in the north and center and non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moudang, Moussei, Massa) in the south; some 150,000 nonindigenous, of whom 1,000 are French

Languages: French and Arabic (official; Sara and Sango in south; more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken

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

Birth rate: 42 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 22 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 3 migrants/1000 population (1989)

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

Infant mortality rate: 139 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 38 years male, 40 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 5.3 children born/woman (1989)

Literacy: 17% (est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Chad

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

Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: National Day (founding of the third republic), 7 June (1982)

Constitution: 14 April 1962 (currently suspended; Fundamental Act of the Republic proclaimed 18 October 1982 currently serves as the basis for government with decrees promulgated by the President

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; National Assembly dissolved in April 1975; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: universal over age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government - President Hissein HABRE (since 19 June 1982)

Legislative branch: Army, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

International organization participation: AfDB, CEAO, Conference of East and Central African States, EAMA, ECA, EC (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, Lake Chad Basin Commission, NAM, OAU, OCAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Mahamat Ali ADOUM; Chancery at 2002 R Steet NW, Washington DC 20,009; telephone (202) 462-4,009; US - Ambassador Robert L. PUGH; Embassy at Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena (mailing address is B. P. 413, N'Djamena; telephone Õ235å (51) 32-69 or 35-13, 28-62, 23-29, 32-29, 30-94, 28-47

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Andorra which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; also similar to the flag of Romania which has a national coat of arms featuring a mountain landscape centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Economy overview: The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural resources potential make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is slowly recovering from the ravaging effects of prolonged 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 43% 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 still highly dependent on foreign aid, with its economy in trouble and many regions suffering from shortages.

Agriculture products: commercial - cotton, gum arabic, livestock, peanuts, fish; food crops - millet, sorghum, rice, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, dates

Industries: cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron (sodium carbonate)

Industrial production growth rate: - 7.0% (1986)

Labor force: NA; 85% agriculture (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget: revenues $59.3 million; expenditures $84.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1987 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $98.6 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: cotton 43%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish
Partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon

Imports: $206 million (c.i.f., 1986)
Commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%
Partners: US, France

Debt external: $255 million (December 1988)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 312.52 (January 1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 38,000 kW capacity; 69 million kWh produced, 15 kWh per capita (1988)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $34.3 million, 40.5% of total budget (1987)

Airports: 72 total, 56 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 23 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Waterways: 2,000 km navigable

Disputes international: Libya claims and occupies Aozou Strip in far north; exact locations of the Chad-Niger-Nigeria and Cameroon-Chad-Nigeria tripoints in Lake Chad have not been determined, so the boundary has not been demarcated and border incidents have resulted