The 1996 CIA World Factbook page on Chad

From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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Chad

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Map

Location: 15 00 N, 19 00 E -- Central Africa, south of Libya

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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

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Geography

Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 1.284 million sq km
land area: 1,259,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 5,968 km
border countries: 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)
International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May 1994; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains part of the airfield and a small military presence at the airfield's water supply located in Chad; demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
lowest point: Djourab Depression 175 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 36%
forest and woodland: 11%
other: 51%
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification
natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geographic note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel

People

Population: 6,976,845 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,543,688; female 1,535,729)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,807,361; female 1,881,930)
65 years and over: 3% (male 91,998; female 116,139) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.68% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.25 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 17.44 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at 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
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 120.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.55 years
male: 45.18 years
female: 50.01 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.84 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian
Ethnic divisions: nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French
north and center: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba)
south: non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa)
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly animism) 25%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write in French or Arabic (1995 est.)
total population: 48.1%
male: 62.1%
female: 34.7%

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad
Data code: CD
Type of government: 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: 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
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990, after seizing power on 3 December 1990); note - transitional government's mandate was scheduled to expire in May 1996; the first round of presidential elections was scheduled for 2 June 1996, with a runoff on 23 June if necessary
head of government: Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April 1995) elected by the Sovereign National Conference
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
Higher Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition: popular elections to the former National Consultative Council (Conceil National Consultatif) were last held 8 July 1990; this body was disbanded on 3 December 1990 by President DEBY and on 8 March 1991 replaced with the Provisional Council of the Republic having 30 members whom he appointed; this body, in turn, was replaced on 6 April 1993 by a 57-member Higher Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition) elected by a specially convened Sovereign National Conference; popular elections, formerly scheduled for April 1995, were initially postponed by mutual agreement of the parties concerned until at least May 1996 and subsequently postponed until after the rainy season (as late as October 1996); note - the name of the anticipated new legislative body has not been announced
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), former dissident group, Idriss DEBY, chairman
note: President DEBY, who promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by April 1994, subsequently twice postponed these initiatives; there are numerous dissident groups and at least 45 opposition political parties
Other political or pressure groups: NA
International 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, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence E. POPE II
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33
FAX: [235] (51) 56-54
Flag: 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

Economy

Economic overview: Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. More than 80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to postpone payment of public sector salaries and to dampen economic enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers. The devaluation resulted in stepped-up inflation of 41% in 1994; in contrast to other Francophone countries, Chad continued to suffer high inflation in 1995 because of the government's lack of financial discipline. Oil production in the Lake Chad area remains a distant prospect and the subsistence-driven economy probably will continue to limp along in the near term.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $600 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 17%
services: 34%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 41% (1994 est.)
Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $120 million
expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1992 est.)
Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 40,000 kW
production: 80 million kWh
consumption per capita: 13 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports: $132 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: cotton, cattle, textiles, fish
partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Sudan, Central African Republic
Imports: $201 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; textiles; note - excludes military equipment
partners: US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Italy, Germany
External debt: $757 million (December 1993 )
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)
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
Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation

Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 31,141 km
paved: 32 km
unpaved: 31,109 km (1987 est.)
Waterways: 2,000 km navigable
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 47
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 11
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 18 (1995 est.)

Communications

Telephones: 5,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)
note: limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)

Defense

Branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,562,052
males fit for military service: 809,210
males reach military age (20) annually: 63,254 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $74 million, 11.1% of GDP (1994)

Chad

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).