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.
Terrain: Desert, mountainous north, large arid central plain, fertile
lowlands in extreme southern regions.
Climate: Northern desert--very dry throughout the year; central
plain--hot and dry, with brief rainy season mid-June to mid-September;
southern lowlands--warm and more humid with seasonal rains from late
May to early October.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Chadian(s).
Population (2004 est.): 9.5 million.
Annual growth rate (2004 est.): 3 %.
Density: 6.6 per sq. km. (17 per sq. mi.).
Ethnic groups: 200 distinct groups. In the north and center, Gorane (Toubou,
Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Arabs, Baguirmi, Hadjerai,
Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are Muslim. In
the south, Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moudang, Moussei, Massa,
most of whom are Christian or animist. About 1,000 French citizens
live in Chad.
Christian singles note-Religions: Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%,
other indigenous beliefs 7%.
Languages: French and Arabic (official); Sara (in the south), more
than 120 indigenous Chadian languages and dialects.
Education: Years compulsory--6. Attendance--primary
school 68% (1998); secondary school 5.5% (1995); higher education n/a.
Literacy (2003 est.)--48%.
Health: Life expectancy (2004 est.)--48. Infant mortality
rate (2004 est.)--95/1,000.
Work force (approximately 48% of population): Agriculture--more
than 80%; largely subsistence agriculture.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: August 11, 1960 (from France).
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister,
Council of Ministers. Legislative--National Assembly
(unicameral) Judicial--Supreme Court; Court of Appeals;
criminal courts; magistrate courts president (head of state, president
of the council of ministers), council of ministers.
Major political parties: About 60, of which Patriotic Salvation
Movement (MPS) is dominant. Other major parties include the Federation
Action for the Republic (FAR); Party for Liberty and Development (PLD);
Rally for Development and Progress (RNDP); Union for Democracy and the
Republic (UDR); National Union for Development and Renewal (UNDR);
Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP); Viva Rally for Development and
Progress, or Viva RNDP.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
Administrative subdivisions: 18 regions.
Economy
GDP (2003): $2.65 billion.
Per capita income (2003): $237.
Natural resources: Petroleum, natron (sodium carbonate), kaolin, gold,
bauxite, tin, tungsten, titanium, iron ore.
Agriculture (2001 est, 38% of GDP): Products--cotton, gum
arabic, livestock, fish, peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, sweet
potatoes, cassava, dates, manioc. Arable land-- 30%.
Industry (2001 est, 13% of GDP): Types—meat-packing, beer
brewing, soap, cigarettes, construction materials, natron mining,
soft-drink bottling.
Services (2001 est): 49% of GDP.
Trade: Exports--$ $365 million (f.o.b., 2003 est.): oil,
cotton, livestock, gum arabic. Major markets (1999)--Portugal,
Germany, Thailand, Costa Rica, South Africa, France, Nigeria,
Cameroon. Imports--$760million (f.o.b., 2003 est.): petroleum
products, machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs,
industrial goods, textiles. Major suppliers (2004)-- U.S.,
France, Cameroon, Nigeria.
Central government budget (2002): Revenues--$161 million. Expenditures--$611
million.
Defense (2002): $31 million.
National holiday: Independence Day, August 11.
Fiscal year: Calendar year.
U.S. aid received (2001): Economic, food relief--$238 million
from all sources, (including $30 million committed by African
Development Bank.
