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 has sporadically flared up despite several peace agreements between the government and the insurgents. In 2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and made probing attacks into eastern Chad despite signing peace agreements in December 2006 and October 2007. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns continued throughout 2006 and 2007. The capital experienced a significant insurrection in early 2008, but has had no significant rebel threats since then, in part due to Chad's 2010 rapprochement with Sudan, which previously used Chadian rebels as proxies. DEBY in 2011 was reelected to his fourth term in an election that international observers described as proceeding without incident. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority.

Central Africa, south of Libya

15 00 N, 19 00 E

Africa

total: 1.284 million sq km
country comparison to the world: 21
land: 1,259,200 sq km
water: 24,800 sq km

slightly more than three times the size of California

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

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

tropical in south, desert in north

broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

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

petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

arable land: 3.82%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 96.16% (2011)

302.7 sq km (2003)

43 cu km (2011)

total: 0.88 cu km/yr (12%/12%/76%)
per capita: 84.81 cu m/yr (2005)

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

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

noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian

Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%, other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census)

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

Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)

11,193,452 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

0-14 years: 45.2% (male 2,565,613/female 2,494,020)
15-24 years: 20.4% (male 1,107,121/female 1,178,946)
25-54 years: 27.6% (male 1,393,498/female 1,693,233)
55-64 years: 3.9% (male 188,558/female 242,559)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 137,590/female 192,314) (2013 est.)

total dependency ratio: 103.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 98.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 %
potential support ratio: 20.4 (2013)

total: 17 years
male: 15.9 years
female: 18.1 years (2013 est.)

1.95% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

37.99 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

14.85 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

-3.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

urban population: 21.8% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

N'DJAMENA (capital) 1.079 million (2011)

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

18.2 (2004 est.)

1,100 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 2

total: 91.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 6
male: 97.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total population: 49.07 years
country comparison to the world: 223
male: 47.95 years
female: 50.22 years (2013 est.)

4.8 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

4.8% (2010)

4.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 158

0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

0.43 beds/1,000 population (2005)

3.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

210,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

11,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

2.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 177

33.9% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 9

2.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 146

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 35.4%
male: 45.6%
female: 25.4% (2011 est.)

total: 8 years
male: 10 years
female: 6 years (2011)

total number: 1,475,960
percentage: 48 % (2010 est.)

conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
local short form: Tchad/Tshad

republic

name: N'Djamena
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

23 regions (regions, singular - region); Barh el Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Quest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Ville de N'Djamena, Wadi Fira

11 August 1960 (from France)

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

several previous; latest passed by referendum 31 March 1996, entered into force 8 April 1996; amended 2005 (2010)

mixed legal system of civil and customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4 December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi DEUBET (since 21 November 2013)
cabinet: Council of State; members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections: president elected by popular vote for a 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 election held on 25 April 2011 (next to be held by 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 83.6%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 8.6%, Nadji MADOU 7.8%

unicameral National Assembly (188 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 13 February 2011 (next to be held by 2015); note - legislative elections, originally scheduled for 2006, were first delayed by National Assembly action and subsequently by an accord, signed in August 2007, between government and opposition parties
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ART 133, UNDR 11, others 44

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 15 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 3 judges and 6 jurists)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice selected by the president; councilors - 8 designated by the president and 7 by the speaker of the National Assembly; chief justice and councilors appointed for life; Constitutional Council judges - 2 appointed by the president and 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly; jurists - 3 each by the president and by the speaker of the National Assembly; judges term NA
subordinate courts: High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace

Alliance for the Renaissance of Chad or ART, an alliance among the ruling MPS, RDP, and Viva-RNDP

rebel groups

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Maitine DJOUMBE (since 12 July 2012)
chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

chief of mission: Ambassador James KNIGHT (since 13 March 2013)
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 2251-70-09
FAX: [235] 2251-56-54

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow of the Pan-African colors; blue symbolizes the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which is relatively well-watered; yellow represents the sun, as well as the desert in the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity, and sacrifice
note: 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

goat (north); lion (south)

name: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian)
lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD
note: adopted 1960

Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. Economic conditions have been positive in recent years, with real GDP growth reaching 13% in 2010 because of high international prices for oil and a strong local harvest. GDP growth for 2012 was 5%. However, Chad's investment climate remains challenging due to limited infrastructure, a lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption. At least 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. The government of Chad is determined to improve agricultural production through modernization and mechanization over the next three years, and hosted a national Rural Development Forum in 2012 to promote investment in agriculture. 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. Remittances are also an important source of income. The Libyan conflict disrupted inflows of remittances to Chad's impoverished western region that relies on income from Chadians living in Libya. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1.5 billion barrels - in southern Chad. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and have completed a 311-km pipeline and the country's first refinery. The nation's total oil reserves are estimated at 1.5 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.

$26.58 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

$12.73 billion (2012 est.)

8.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

$2,500 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

45.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

household consumption: 66.5%
government consumption: 11.9%
investment in fixed capital: 31.9%
investment in inventories: 0.7%
exports of goods and services: 41%
imports of goods and services: -52.1%

agriculture: 47.9%
industry: 9.4%
services: 42.6% (2012 est.)

cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

10.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

4.293 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 88

agriculture: 80% (2006 est.)
industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)

NA%

80% (2001 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.8% (2003)

revenues: $2.748 billion
expenditures: $2.979 billion (2012 est.)

21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

-1.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

31.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

calendar year

10.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 77

15.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

$1.442 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

$1.642 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

$550.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

$NA

$-378.9 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

$4.126 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic

US 81.9%, China 6.7% (2012)

$2.672 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

China 20.2%, Cameroon 18.2%, France 16.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.6%, US 4.2% (2012)

$1.174 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

$1.794 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

$NA

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

98 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

91.14 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

31,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

104,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

125,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 38

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

1,817 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

1,754 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

999.5 billion cu m (1 January 2012 es)
country comparison to the world: 27

289,800 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

29,900 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 176

4.2 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 119

general assessment: inadequate system of radiotelephone communication stations with high costs and low telephone density
domestic: fixed-line connections for less than 1 per 100 persons coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of only about 35 per 100 persons
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

1 state-owned TV station; state-owned radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and regional stations; about 10 private radio stations; some stations rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2007)

.td

6 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 229

168,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145

59 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 82

total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2013)

total: 50
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m:

oil 582 km (2013)

total: 40,000 km
country comparison to the world: 87
note: consists of 25,000 km of national and regional roads and 15,000 km of local roads; 206 km of urban roads are paved (2011)

(Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season) (2012)

Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT): Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), National Gendarmerie, National and Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT) (2013)

20 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service, with a 3-year service obligation; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a parent or guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2012)

males age 16-49: 2,090,244
females age 16-49: 2,441,321 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49: 1,183,242
females age 16-49: 1,395,811 (2010 est.)

male: 128,723
female: 128,244 (2010 est.)

NA% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 111

since 2003, ad hoc armed militia groups and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; 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 (country of origin): 346,000 (Sudan); 78,950 (Central African Republic) (2013)
IDPs: 90,000 (majority are in the east) (2012)