| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
15° 00' North Latitude
19° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
1.284 million sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical in south, desert in north |
| Natural Resources |
Petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt |
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| Political Information |
 |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Chad |
| Capital City |
N'Djamena |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| 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
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 Day |
11 August 1960 (from France) |
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| Demographical Information |
|
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| Population |
9,826,419 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
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 1,000 French citizens live in Chad |
| Religion |
Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7% |
| Languages |
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.95% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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|
| Currency |
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF);
note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States |
| Industries |
Oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials |
| Labor Force |
NA |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) |
| Agriculture Products |
Cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels |
| Export Commodities |
Cotton, cattle, gum arabic |
| Export Partners |
US 74.2%, China 14.8%, Portugal 5.2% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles |
| Import Partners |
France 22.9%, Cameroon 13.7%, US 11.8%, Portugal 10.9%, Germany 7.7%, Belgium 4.8% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
33,400 km |
| Pipelines |
Oil 205 km (2004) |
| Airports |
50 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
- |
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| Communication |
|
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| Phone Code |
+235 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.td |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution,
and held multiparty presidential elections in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite two peace agreements signed in 2002 and 2003 between the government and the rebels.
Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. |
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