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Background:
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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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Location:
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Central
Africa, south of Libya |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 00 N,
19 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
1.284 million sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq km
water: 24,800 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
more than three times the size of California |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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tropical
in south, desert in north |
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Terrain:
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broad,
arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in
northwest, lowlands in south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad),
gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.12% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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200 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry,
dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts;
locust plagues |
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Environment - current issues:
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inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste
disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water
pollution; desertification |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body
in the Sahel |
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Population:
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9,826,419
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 47.9% (male 2,365,277/female 2,337,388)
15-64 years: 49.4% (male 2,323,110/female
2,528,086)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 109,535/female
163,023) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
16.02 years
male: 15.32 years
female: 16.71 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.95%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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45.98
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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16.41
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.11
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
93.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 103.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 47.18 years
male: 45.55 years
female: 48.87 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.32
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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4.8%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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200,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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18,000
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
(2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian |
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Ethnic groups:
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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 |
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Religions:
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Muslim
51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7% |
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Languages:
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French
(official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more
than 120 different languages and dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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N'Djamena
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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11 August
1960 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 11 August (1960) |
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Constitution:
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passed by
referendum 31 March 1996 |
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Legal system:
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based on
French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4
December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascal
YOADIMNADJI (since 3 February 2005)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by
the president on the recommendation of the prime
minister
elections: president elected by popular vote to
serve 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
held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected
president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%,
Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7% |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
according to constitution, consists of a National
Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and
size unspecified, members to serve six-year terms,
one-third of membership renewable every two years)
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April
2002 (next to be held in April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5,
UNDR 3, others 11 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate
Courts |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarlejy
YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress
or RNDP [Mamadou BISSO]; National Union for Democracy
and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Patriotic Salvation
Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman]; Rally
for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA];
Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal
Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]; Viva Rally for Development and
Progress or Viva RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP,
AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Marc WALL
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 70-09
FAX: [235] (51) 56-54 |
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Flag description:
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three
equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; 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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Chad's
primarily agricultural economy will continue to be
boosted by major oilfield and pipeline projects that
began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on
subsistence farming and livestock raising for its
livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the
bulk of Chad's export earnings; Chad began to export oil
in 2004. 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. A consortium led by two US
companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil
reserves estimated at 1 billion barrels in southern
Chad. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$15.66
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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38% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 22.6%
industry: 35.6%
services: 41.7% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding,
and fishing) |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Population below poverty line:
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80% (2001
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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8% (2004
est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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24.7% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.131 billion
expenditures: $957.7 million, including capital
expenditures of $146 million (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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cotton,
sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc
(tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels |
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Industries:
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oil,
cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron
(sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction
materials |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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5% (1995)
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Electricity - production:
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96.13
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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89.4
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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200,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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1,500
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Current account balance:
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$330.2
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$365
million f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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cotton,
cattle, gum arabic |
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Exports - partners:
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US 67.8%,
China 21.5%, Portugal 4.3% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$500.7
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and transportation equipment, industrial goods,
petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles |
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Imports - partners:
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France
21.9%, Cameroon 16.1%, US 10.8%, Portugal 10.4%, Germany
6.4%, Belgium 4.6% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$652.7
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.1
billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$238.3
million received; note - $125 million committed by
Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African
Development Bank; ODA $150 million (2001 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note -
responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African
States |
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Currency code:
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XAF |
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US
dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002),
733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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11,800
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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65,000
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone
communication stations
international: country code - 235; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM
4, shortwave 5 (2002) |
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Radios:
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1.67
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2002)
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Televisions:
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10,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.td |
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Internet hosts:
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8 (2004)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2002)
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Internet users:
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15,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
33,400 km
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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Chari and
Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)
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Pipelines:
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oil 205
km (2004) |
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Airports:
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50 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
7
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Chadian
National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air
Force, Gendarmerie (2004) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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20 years
of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation;
18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age
restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian
(2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 20-49: 1,559,382 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 20-49: 834,695 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
95,228 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$101.3
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.1%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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since
2003, Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military have
driven about 200,000 Darfur region refugees into eastern
Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese
civil conflict; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern
Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake
Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation
treaty which also includes Chad and Niger |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 200,000 (Sudan) 30,000
(Central African Republic) (2004) |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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