Background: 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.

Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N 19 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 1.284 million km²
Land: 1,259,200 km²
Water: 24,800 km²
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of California

Land boundaries
Total: 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 km

Coastline: 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

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

Natural resources: petroleum uranium natron kaolin fish (Lake Chad) gold limestone sand and gravel salt

Land use
Arable land: 2.8%
Permanent crops: 0.02%
Other: 97.18% (2005)

Irrigated land: 300 km² (2003)

Natural hazards: hot dry dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

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

Population: 9,944,201 (July 2006 est.)
Growth rate: 2.93% (2006 est.)
Below poverty line: 80% (2001 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Chadian
Adjective: Chadian

Ethnic groups: 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 1000 French citizens live in Chad

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

Religions: Muslim 51% Christian 35% animist 7% other 7%

Age structure
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.)

Median age
Total: 16 years
Male: 15.3 years
Female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.93% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 45.73 births/1000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 16.38 deaths/1000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.11 migrant(s)/1000 population (2006 est.)

Environment
Current 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male/female
Total population: 0.96 male/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 91.45 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 100.12 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 82.43 deaths/1000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 47.52 years
Male: 45.88 years
Female: 49.21 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 4.8% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 200,000 (2003 est.)
Deaths: 18,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases
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)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
Total population: 47.5%
Male: 56%
Female: 39.3% (2003 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Chad
Conventional short form: Chad
Local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
Local short form: Tchad/Tshad

Government type: republic

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

Administrative divisions
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

Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day 11 August (1960)

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

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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

Legislative branch
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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders: 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]

International organization participation: 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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
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 Marc M. WALL
From the us embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
From the us mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
From the us telephone: [235] 516-211
From the us fax: [235] 515-654

Flag description: 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

Economy overview: 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $13.98 billion (2005 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (2005 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $1400 (2005 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 33.5%
Industry: 25.9%
Services: 40.6% (2005 est.)

Agriculture products: cotton sorghum millet peanuts rice potatoes manioc (tapioca); cattle sheep goats camels

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

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995)

Labor force: 2.719 million
By occupation agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
By occupation industry and services: 20%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: 80% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3% (2005 est.)

Current account balance: $-602 million (2005 est.)

Exports: $3.016 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Commodities: cotton cattle gum arabic oil
Partners: US 78.1% China 9.9% Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

Imports: $749.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Commodities: machinery and transportation equipment industrial goods foodstuffs textiles
Partners: France 21.1% Cameroon 15.5% US 12.1% Belgium 6.8% Portugal 4.6% Saudi Arabia 4.3% Netherlands 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $297 million (2005 est.)

Debt external: $1.5 billion (2003 est.)

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

Electricity
Production: 120 million kWh (2003)
Consumption: 111.6 million kWh (2003)
Exports: 0 kWh (2003)
Imports: 0 kWh (2003)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2003 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2003 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 13,000 (2004)
Mobile cellular: 210,000 (2005)

Telephone system
General assessment: primitive system
Domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
International: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Internet
Country code: .td
Hosts: 9 (2006)
Users: 35,000 (2005)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 1% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation: 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)

Airports: 52 (2006)
With paved runways total: 7
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2006)
With unpaved runways total: 45
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 14
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 21
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Pipelines: oil 205 km (2006)

Roadways
Total: 33,400 km
Paved: 267 km
Unpaved: 33,133 km (1999)

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

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