Geography

Area; 1,284,634 sq. km. (496,000 sq. mi.); about twice the size of Texas. Cities; Capital--N'Djamena (pop. 1 million est.). Other major cities--Moundou, Abeche, Sarh, Bongor, Faya. Terrain; Desert, mountainous north; large arid central plain; fertile lowlands in southern regions. Climate; Northern desert--very dry throughout the year; central plain--hot and dry, with intense rainy season mid-June to mid-September; southern lowlands--warm and more humid with intense rainy seasons from late May to early October.

People

Nationality; Noun and adjective--Chadian(s). Population (2009 census); 11,175,915. Annual population growth rate (2009 census); 3.5%. Density; 8.7 per sq. km. (3.36 per sq. mi.). Ethnic groups; 200 distinct groups. In the north and center, Gorane (sub-groups are Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Arabs, Baguirmi, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are Muslim. In the south, Sara (including major subgroups--Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moudang, Moussei, and Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist. About 1,000 French citizens live in Chad. Religions; Muslim 55%, Christian 35%, animist 10%. Languages; French and Arabic (official); Sara (in the south), more than 120 indigenous Chadian languages and dialects. Education; Years compulsory--6. Attendance--primary school 82.71% (2008); secondary school 19.02% (2007); higher education n/a. Literacy (age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic, 2003 est.)--48%. Health; Life expectancy (2009 est.)--48.7 years. Infant mortality rate (2008 est.)--130 deaths/1,000 live births. Work force (2006 est.)--3.747 million. Agriculture--more than 80%; largely subsistence agriculture and stock raising.

Government

Type; Republic. Independence; August 11, 1960 (from France). Branches; Executive--president (head of state), prime minister, Council of State. Legislative--National Assembly (unicameral). Judicial--Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; criminal courts; magistrate courts. Major political parties; The Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) is dominant, with a coalition of 103 of the 120 parties. The other 17 are aligned in the opposition coalition called the Coalition for the Defense of the Constitution (CPDC). Suffrage; Universal over 18. Administrative subdivisions; 22 regions.

Economy

GDP, current prices (2010); $7.9 billion. GDP per capita income (2008); $780. Population living below poverty line (2008); 43.4%. Natural resources; Petroleum, natron (sodium carbonate), kaolin, gold, bauxite, tin, tungsten, titanium, iron ore. Agriculture (2008, 13.6% of GDP); Products--sugar, cotton, gum arabic, livestock, fish, peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, sweet potatoes, cassava, dates, manioc. Arable land (2007)--38%. Industry (2008, 48.8% of GDP); Types--meatpacking, beer brewing, soap, cigarettes, construction materials, natron mining, soft-drink bottling. Services (2008); 37.6% of GDP. Trade; Exports--U.S. $2.71 billion (f.o.b., 2009); oil, cotton, livestock, gum arabic. Major markets--United States, Nigeria, France, Cameroon, Portugal, Germany, Thailand, Costa Rica, South Africa. Imports--U.S. $2.54 billion (f.o.b., 2009); petroleum products, machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, industrial goods, textiles. Major suppliers (2004)--U.S., France, Cameroon, Nigeria. Central government budget (2010); Revenues--U.S. $2.06 billion. Expenditures--U.S. $2.4 billion. Defense (2002); $31 million. National holiday; Independence Day, August 11. Fiscal year; Calendar year. U.S. aid received to date (FY 2008 and 2009); Total USAID and State humanitarian assistance to Chad--$777,425,663.

Background

 

SOURCES All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; Wikipedia National colours

ALTERNATIVE NAMES Chad, Republic of Chad, Republique du Tchad, Tchad

Identification

 

SOURCES ; CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; Microsoft.com; Wkipedia; IOC country codes

ALTERNATIVE NAMES Chad, Republic of Chad, Republique du Tchad, Tchad