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Chad
Index
The small industrial sector was dominated by
agribusiness, and
Cotontchad in particular. Next in importance were the
National
Sugar Company of Chad (Société Nationale Sucrière du
Tchad--
SONASUT), the Chadian Textile Company (Société Tchadienne
de
Textile--STT), the Logone Breweries (Brasseries du
Logone--BdL),
and the Cigarette Factory of Chad (Manufacture des
Cigarettes du
Tchad--MCT). Observers estimated that these five
industries
generated some 20 percent of GDP. Of lesser importance
were the
Farcha Slaughterhouse (Abattoir Frigorifique de Farcha),
the
Industrial Agricultural Equipment Company (Société
Industrielle de
Matériel Agricole du Tchad--SIMAT), and Soft Drinks of
Chad
(Boissons Gazeuses du Tchad--BGT).
During the Chadian Civil War, the facilities and
equipment of
many industries were badly damaged. Most industrial
operations
either ceased or were reduced greatly, and almost all
foreign
investors withdrew from the country. Those operations that
did
continue on a reduced scale were limited to the
soudanian
region, which was not involved directly in large-scale
fighting. By
1983, with the reestablishment of political stability on a
national
scale, the five major industrial concerns resumed full
operations,
and the less significant ones, such as SIMAT and the BGT,
were
rebuilt.
With the exception of the two bottling companies (the
BGT and
the BdL), which were privately owned, all the other
important
industries were either parastatals with majority
government
ownership or mixed companies with important government
participation
(see
fig. 6). For the most part, private
participation was limited to French investors; investment
by
private Chadian interests was extremely rare. French
companies were
also important shareholders in the larger Chadian
companies, such
as Cotontchad. Except for Cotontchad, whose top management
was
Chadian, all the other major industries were run by
expatriate
directors, accountants, and mid-level managers who, for
the most
part, were French.
Industrial output grew rapidly in 1983 and 1984, as
industries
resumed operations that had been interrupted by war. By
1984 and
1985, prewar levels of output had been either reached or
exceeded.
Growth slowed for all industries after 1985, however,
because of
the dramatic downturn of world cotton prices, and output
in 1986
began to decline.
Cotton fiber production by Cotontchad, which directly
reflected
production of raw cotton, fell sharply in 1985. This
decline was
stabilized in 1986-87 by emergency support from
international
donors. These donors prescribed retrenchment programs to
prevent
the total collapse of the cotton industry. The
restrictions imposed
on the production of ginned cotton fiber, however, reduced
by half
the number of ginning mills, with raw cotton production
limited to
about 100,000 tons. Production of edible oils by
Cotontchad was
also affected by the program of cost savings.
Other industries were affected directly by the fall of
cotton
prices. STT textile production slowed, as did the
production of
agricultural equipment by SIMAT, which made plowing
equipment for
use in cotton planting. Furthermore, the drop in revenues
to
farmers in the soudanian zone for their cotton and
peanut
production affected their ability to buy equipment. Lost
revenues
to farmers, along with the reduction in the numbers of
workers
needed in ginning operations, took a toll on cash earnings
and
therefore on buying power. By 1986 the ripple effect of
these lost
revenues in the cotton sector was widespread. The downturn
in
production in all industries left Chad with considerable
unused
capacity, ranging from 15 to 50 percent.
A number of other factors resulted in the slump in
Chadian
industry. Commercial sale of goods was low in a largely
cash poor
or nonmonetary economy. The decline in the cotton sector,
which had
provided the largest infusion of cash into the economy,
further
reduced consumer demand. Another impediment to industry
was the
high local cost of production compared with the cost of
production
in neighboring countries. Factors that raised local
production
costs included high transportation costs, overdependence
on
imports, and restricted economies of scale for small
operations.
Imported inputs were equivalent to about 30 percent of
industrial
turnover for Cotontchad, the BdL, and the STT and to about
60
percent for the MCT. Local substitutes for inputs were
often more
expensive than imported equivalents. Imports were often
marketed to
subsidize local production by a given industry. An example
was
SONASUT's importing refined sugar at less than local
production
costs, selling it locally, and using the proceeds to
subsidize
sugarcane production on SONASUT plantations. Interlocking
relationships of production among companies also kept
production
costs high. For example, the BGT used SONASUT's refined
sugar in
its production of soft drinks, according to a convention
with the
government to use local inputs, even though imported
refined sugar
was cheaper.
Before the warfare of the 1979-82 period, Chad's
industrial
sector included between 80 and 100 small- to medium-sized
enterprises, in addition to the major manufacturing
industries.
Most processed agricultural products or competed in the
importexport trade. About half were local subsidiaries of
foreign-owned
firms or were Chadian firms with significant foreign
capital. The
foreign-owned distributorships sold agricultural
equipment,
construction materials, and petroleum products.
Since 1983 the return of foreign investment has been
slow
because of the high costs of rebuilding and a continuing
perception
of political uncertainty. Of the approximately twenty
enterprises
that had reopened by the late 1980s, most were
import-export
enterprises that lacked a formal relationship with the
banking
sector. Most Chadian-owned enterprises had managed to
reestablish
themselves. Yet by 1986, small enterprises that had
assembled
bicycles, motorcycles, and radios remained closed.
The lack of access to credit was another impediment to
business
expansion in Chad. Despite the reopening in 1983 of the
Bank of
Central African States (Banque des Etats d'Afrique
Centrale--BEAC)
and of two commercial banks, the International Bank for
Africa in
Chad (Banque Internationale pour l'Afrique au Tchad--BIAT)
and the
Chadian Credit and Deposit Bank (Banque Tchadienne de
Crédit et de
Dépôt--BTCD), the high proportion of available credit
going to
Chad's major industries limited credit available to
smaller
enterprises
(see Banking and Finance
, this ch.). Moreover,
the
banks invoked strict criteria for loan eligibility because
of the
high risk of lending in Chad. Few owners of small
businesses knew
sufficient accounting and technical skills to meet bank
information
requirements for loans.
Data as of December 1988
Manufacturing
The small industrial sector was dominated by
agribusiness, and
Cotontchad in particular. Next in importance were the
National
Sugar Company of Chad (Société Nationale Sucrière du
Tchad--
SONASUT), the Chadian Textile Company (Société Tchadienne
de
Textile--STT), the Logone Breweries (Brasseries du
Logone--BdL),
and the Cigarette Factory of Chad (Manufacture des
Cigarettes du
Tchad--MCT). Observers estimated that these five
industries
generated some 20 percent of GDP. Of lesser importance
were the
Farcha Slaughterhouse (Abattoir Frigorifique de Farcha),
the
Industrial Agricultural Equipment Company (Société
Industrielle de
Matériel Agricole du Tchad--SIMAT), and Soft Drinks of
Chad
(Boissons Gazeuses du Tchad--BGT).
During the Chadian Civil War, the facilities and
equipment of
many industries were badly damaged. Most industrial
operations
either ceased or were reduced greatly, and almost all
foreign
investors withdrew from the country. Those operations that
did
continue on a reduced scale were limited to the
soudanian
region, which was not involved directly in large-scale
fighting. By
1983, with the reestablishment of political stability on a
national
scale, the five major industrial concerns resumed full
operations,
and the less significant ones, such as SIMAT and the BGT,
were
rebuilt.
With the exception of the two bottling companies (the
BGT and
the BdL), which were privately owned, all the other
important
industries were either parastatals with majority
government
ownership or mixed companies with important government
participation
(see
fig. 6). For the most part, private
participation was limited to French investors; investment
by
private Chadian interests was extremely rare. French
companies were
also important shareholders in the larger Chadian
companies, such
as Cotontchad. Except for Cotontchad, whose top management
was
Chadian, all the other major industries were run by
expatriate
directors, accountants, and mid-level managers who, for
the most
part, were French.
Industrial output grew rapidly in 1983 and 1984, as
industries
resumed operations that had been interrupted by war. By
1984 and
1985, prewar levels of output had been either reached or
exceeded.
Growth slowed for all industries after 1985, however,
because of
the dramatic downturn of world cotton prices, and output
in 1986
began to decline.
Cotton fiber production by Cotontchad, which directly
reflected
production of raw cotton, fell sharply in 1985. This
decline was
stabilized in 1986-87 by emergency support from
international
donors. These donors prescribed retrenchment programs to
prevent
the total collapse of the cotton industry. The
restrictions imposed
on the production of ginned cotton fiber, however, reduced
by half
the number of ginning mills, with raw cotton production
limited to
about 100,000 tons. Production of edible oils by
Cotontchad was
also affected by the program of cost savings.
Other industries were affected directly by the fall of
cotton
prices. STT textile production slowed, as did the
production of
agricultural equipment by SIMAT, which made plowing
equipment for
use in cotton planting. Furthermore, the drop in revenues
to
farmers in the soudanian zone for their cotton and
peanut
production affected their ability to buy equipment. Lost
revenues
to farmers, along with the reduction in the numbers of
workers
needed in ginning operations, took a toll on cash earnings
and
therefore on buying power. By 1986 the ripple effect of
these lost
revenues in the cotton sector was widespread. The downturn
in
production in all industries left Chad with considerable
unused
capacity, ranging from 15 to 50 percent.
A number of other factors resulted in the slump in
Chadian
industry. Commercial sale of goods was low in a largely
cash poor
or nonmonetary economy. The decline in the cotton sector,
which had
provided the largest infusion of cash into the economy,
further
reduced consumer demand. Another impediment to industry
was the
high local cost of production compared with the cost of
production
in neighboring countries. Factors that raised local
production
costs included high transportation costs, overdependence
on
imports, and restricted economies of scale for small
operations.
Imported inputs were equivalent to about 30 percent of
industrial
turnover for Cotontchad, the BdL, and the STT and to about
60
percent for the MCT. Local substitutes for inputs were
often more
expensive than imported equivalents. Imports were often
marketed to
subsidize local production by a given industry. An example
was
SONASUT's importing refined sugar at less than local
production
costs, selling it locally, and using the proceeds to
subsidize
sugarcane production on SONASUT plantations. Interlocking
relationships of production among companies also kept
production
costs high. For example, the BGT used SONASUT's refined
sugar in
its production of soft drinks, according to a convention
with the
government to use local inputs, even though imported
refined sugar
was cheaper.
Before the warfare of the 1979-82 period, Chad's
industrial
sector included between 80 and 100 small- to medium-sized
enterprises, in addition to the major manufacturing
industries.
Most processed agricultural products or competed in the
importexport trade. About half were local subsidiaries of
foreign-owned
firms or were Chadian firms with significant foreign
capital. The
foreign-owned distributorships sold agricultural
equipment,
construction materials, and petroleum products.
Since 1983 the return of foreign investment has been
slow
because of the high costs of rebuilding and a continuing
perception
of political uncertainty. Of the approximately twenty
enterprises
that had reopened by the late 1980s, most were
import-export
enterprises that lacked a formal relationship with the
banking
sector. Most Chadian-owned enterprises had managed to
reestablish
themselves. Yet by 1986, small enterprises that had
assembled
bicycles, motorcycles, and radios remained closed.
The lack of access to credit was another impediment to
business
expansion in Chad. Despite the reopening in 1983 of the
Bank of
Central African States (Banque des Etats d'Afrique
Centrale--BEAC)
and of two commercial banks, the International Bank for
Africa in
Chad (Banque Internationale pour l'Afrique au Tchad--BIAT)
and the
Chadian Credit and Deposit Bank (Banque Tchadienne de
Crédit et de
Dépôt--BTCD), the high proportion of available credit
going to
Chad's major industries limited credit available to
smaller
enterprises
(see Banking and Finance
, this ch.). Moreover,
the
banks invoked strict criteria for loan eligibility because
of the
high risk of lending in Chad. Few owners of small
businesses knew
sufficient accounting and technical skills to meet bank
information
requirements for loans.
Data as of December 1988
- Chad-Southern Dominance, 1960-1978
- Chad-Islam in Chad
- Chad-Constitutional System STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT
- Chad-Central Saharan Languages
- Chad-HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES
- Chad-Defense Expenditures
- Chad-Production Factors
- Chad-LANGUAGES AND ETHNIC GROUPS
- Chad-Equipment
- Chad-Judicial System
- Chad-INTRODUCTION
- Chad-President
- Chad-Direction of Trade
- Chad-Boua
- Chad-Chapter 1 - Historical Setting
- Chad-FOREIGN MILITARY COOPERATION
- Chad-Protestantism in Chad
- Chad-Regional Government
- Chad-Banking and Finance
- Chad-ECONOMY
- Chad-Manufacturing MANUFACTURING, MINING, AND UTILITIES
- Chad-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Chad-Government Finances
- Chad-The French Military Role in Chad
- Chad -COUNTRY PROFILE
- Chad-TOMBALBAYE ERA, 1960-75
- Chad-Secondary Education
- Chad-Arabs: Semisedentary Peoples of the Sahel
- Chad-Relations with Nigeria and Sudan
- Chad-ERA OF EMPIRES, A.D - 900-1900
- Chad-Internal Security Conditions
- Chad-Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment
- Chad-CHAD
- Chad-Repelling Libya's Occupying Force, 1985-87
- Chad-Classical African Religions
- Chad-Chapter 3 - The Economy
- Chad-ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH AND COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION
- Chad-Relations with Other African States
- Chad-SOCIETY
- Chad-Roman Catholicism in Chad
- Chad-Primary Education
- Chad-PREHISTORY
- Chad-Exports
- Chad-Police Services
- Chad-Civil War and Multilateral Mediation, 1979-82
- Chad-Organization of the National Security Establishment
- Chad-National Debt THE NATIONAL DEBT AND FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
- Chad-Relations with France
- Chad-Congo-Kordofanian Languages
- Chad-Subsistence Farming
- Chad-The Air Force
- Chad-Chapter 4 - Government and Politics
- Chad-Nilo-Saharan Languages
- Chad-Land Transport
- Chad-TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Chad-GROWTH AND STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY
- Chad-United States Military Aid
- Chad-Balance of Payments BALANCE OF PAYMENTS AND FINANCE
- Chad-GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Chad-Council of Ministers
- Chad-Foreign Assistance
- Chad-Administrative Structure
- Chad-Wheat
- Chad-Air Transport
- Chad-ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Chad-Forestry
- Chad-Factionalism POLITICAL DYNAMICS
- Chad-Rice and Corn
- Chad-The Land
- Chad-Sahelian Region
- Chad-Communications
- Chad-Restructuring the System
- Chad-Training
- Chad-Vocational Education
- Chad-Chapter 5 - National Security
- Chad-Cotton
- Chad-The Chadian National Armed Forces
- Chad-Fall of the Tombalbaye Government
- Chad-Fulani
- Chad-Mass Media
- Chad-Mabang Languages
- Chad-RELIGION
- Chad
- Chad-INTERNAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC ORDER
- Chad-The FROLINAT Rebellion, 1965-79
- Chad-POPULATION
- Chad-Relations with Libya
- Chad
- Chad-National Union for Independence and Revolution
- Chad
- Chad-Relations with Arab States
- Chad-Sara: Sedentary Peoples of the Soudanian Zone
- Chad-AGRICULTURE
- Chad
- Chad-Tombalbaye's Governance: Policies and Methods
- Chad-Sara-Bongo-Baguirmi Languages
- Chad-Soudanian Region
- Chad-Rebellion in Eastern and Northern Chad
- Chad-THE ARMED FORCES
- Chad-Mining
- Chad-PREFACE
- Chad-SOCIAL STRUCTURE
- Chad-Saharan Region
- Chad
- Chad-Relations with the United States
- Chad-Fishing
- Chad-Kanem-Borno
- Chad-Afro-Asiatic Languages
- Chad-Toubou and Daza: Nomads of the Sahara
- Chad
- Chad-PHYSICAL SETTING
- Chad-Christianity
- Chad-Sorghum and Millet
- Chad-FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Chad-Pricing Mechanisms
- Chad
- Chad-DECOLONIZATION POLITICS
- Chad-Tubers
- Chad-Water Systems
- Chad-Political Style
- Chad-Peanuts
- Chad-TRADE AND COMMERCE
- Chad-Imports
- Chad-The Criminal Justice System
- Chad-Ouaddaïan Languages
- Chad-CIVIL CONFLICT AND LIBYAN INTERVENTION
- Chad-Origins and Early Development
- Chad-Banda-Ngbaka
- Chad-TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Chad-GEOGRAPHY
- Chad
- Chad-ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
- Chad-Preindependence Factions POLITICAL BACKGROUND
- Chad-Higher Education
- Chad-Malloum's Military Government, 1975-78 CIVIL WAR AND NORTHERN DOMINANCE, 1975-82
- Chad-Livestock
- Chad-Arabic
- Chad-Water and Electricity
- Chad
Background | | 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 rebels. 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. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. 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, and the capital experienced a significant rebel threat in early 2008.
|
Location | | Central Africa, south of Libya
|
Area(sq km) | | total: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km
|
Geographic coordinates | | 15 00 N, 19 00 E
|
Land boundaries(km) | | 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(km) | | 0 km (landlocked)
|
Climate | | tropical in south, desert in north
|
Elevation extremes(m) | | lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
|
Natural resources | | petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
|
Land use(%) | | arable land: 2.8% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.18% (2005)
|
Irrigated land(sq km) | | 300 sq km (2003)
|
Total renewable water resources(cu km) | | 43 cu km (1987)
|
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) | | total: 0.23 cu km/yr (17%/0%/83%) per capita: 24 cu m/yr (2000)
|
Natural hazards | | hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues
|
Environment - current issues | | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification
|
Environment - international agreements | | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
|
Geography - note | | landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel
|
Population | | 10,329,208 (July 2009 est.)
|
Age structure(%) | | 0-14 years: 46.7% (male 2,445,841/female 2,381,319) 15-64 years: 50.4% (male 2,386,428/female 2,816,050) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 126,351/female 173,219) (2009 est.)
|
Median age(years) | | total: 16.5 years male: 15.3 years female: 17.7 years (2009 est.)
|
Population growth rate(%) | | 2.069% (2009 est.)
|
Birth rate(births/1,000 population) | | 40.86 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
|
Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) | | 16.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
|
Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population) | | -4.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
|
Urbanization(%) | | urban population: 27% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
|
Sex ratio(male(s)/female) | | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
|
Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births) | | total: 98.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 104.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 92.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
|
Life expectancy at birth(years) | | total population: 47.7 years male: 46.67 years female: 48.77 years (2009 est.)
|
Total fertility rate(children born/woman) | | 5.31 children born/woman (2009 est.)
|
Nationality | | noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian
|
Ethnic groups(%) | | 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)
|
Religions(%) | | Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)
|
Languages(%) | | French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects
|
Country name | | conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad local short form: Tchad/Tshad
|
Government type | | republic
|
Capital | | name: N'Djamena geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
|
Administrative divisions | | 18 regions (regions, singular - region); Batha, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile, Ville de N'Djamena, Wadi Fira
|
Constitution | | passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed constitutional term limits
|
Legal system | | based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
Suffrage | | 18 years of age; universal
|
Executive branch | | chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4 December 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Youssof Saleh ABBAS (since 16 April 2008) 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 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire KOUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%, Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection
|
Legislative branch | | unicameral National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the 1996 constitution called for a Senate that has never been formed elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held by 2009); 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 - MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, UNDR 5, URD 3, other 11
|
Judicial branch | | Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts
|
Political pressure groups and leaders | | rebel groups
|
International organization participation | | ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|
Flag description | | three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red 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
|
Economy - overview | | Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. At least 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. 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. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and plan to build a 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.
|
GDP (purchasing power parity) | | $15.82 billion (2008 est.) $15.85 billion (2007 est.) $15.82 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
|
GDP (official exchange rate) | | $8.4 billion (2008 est.)
|
GDP - real growth rate(%) | | -0.2% (2008 est.) 0.2% (2007 est.) 0.2% (2006 est.)
|
GDP - per capita (PPP) | | $1,600 (2008 est.) $1,600 (2007 est.) $1,600 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
|
GDP - composition by sector(%) | | agriculture: 20.5% industry: 48% services: 31.5% (2008 est.)
|
Labor force | | 4.293 million (2007)
|
Labor force - by occupation(%) | | agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) industry and services: 20% (2006 est.)
|
Unemployment rate(%) | | NA%
|
Population below poverty line(%) | | 80% (2001 est.)
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share(%) | | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
|
Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP) | | 13.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
|
Budget | | revenues: $2.324 billion expenditures: $1.91 billion (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%) | | 10.3% (2008 est.) 4% (2007 est.)
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Stock of money | | $NA (31 December 2008) $874.5 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money | | $NA (31 December 2008) $55.23 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit | | $NA (31 December 2008) $82.81 million (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares | | $NA
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Economic aid - recipient | | ODA, $379.8 million (2005)
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Agriculture - products | | cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
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Industries | | oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
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Industrial production growth rate(%) | | 2% (2008 est.)
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Current account balance | | -$1.019 billion (2008 est.) -$737.8 million (2007 est.)
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Exports | | $4.342 billion (2008 est.) $3.674 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities(%) | | oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic
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Exports - partners(%) | | US 92.8%, Japan 2.2%, France 1.5% (2008)
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Imports | | $1.927 billion (2008 est.) $1.541 billion (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities(%) | | machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles
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Imports - partners(%) | | France 17.5%, Cameroon 14.8%, China 9.8%, Ukraine 9.5%, US 7.7%, Germany 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%, Netherlands 4% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | | $1.347 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $964.4 million (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external | | $1.6 billion (2005 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | | $4.5 billion (2006 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | | $NA
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Exchange rates | | Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 480.1 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; Central African CFA franc (XAF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using West African CFA francs (XOF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par
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Currency (code) | | Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
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Telephones - main lines in use | | 13,000 (2008)
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Telephones - mobile cellular | | 1.809 million (2008)
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Telephone system | | general assessment: primitive system with high costs and low telephone density; fixed-line connections for only about 1 per 1000 persons coupled with mobile-cellular subscribership base of less than 20 per 100 persons domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
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Internet country code | | .td
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Internet users | | 130,000 (2008)
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Airports | | 54 (2009)
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Pipelines(km) | | oil 250 km (2008)
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Roadways(km) | | total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (2002)
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Military branches | | Armed Forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT), Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT), Gendarmerie (2008)
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Military service age and obligation(years of age) | | 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; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)
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Manpower available for military service | | males age 16-49: 1,906,545 females age 16-49: 2,258,758 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service | | males age 16-49: 1,103,006 females age 16-49: 1,315,620 (2009 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually | | male: 121,080 female: 121,585 (2009 est.)
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Military expenditures(% of GDP) | | 4.2% of GDP (2006)
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Disputes - international | | since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from cross-border banditry; 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 the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
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Refugees and internally displaced persons | | refugees (country of origin): 234,000 (Sudan); 54,200 (Central African Republic) IDPs: 178,918 (2007)
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Trafficking in persons | | current situation: Chad is a source, transit, and destination country for children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; the majority of children are trafficked within Chad for involuntary domestic servitude, forced cattle herding, forced begging, forced labor in petty commerce or the fishing industry, or for commercial sexual exploitation; to a lesser extent, Chadian children are also trafficked to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Nigeria for cattle herding; children may also be trafficked from Cameroon and the Central African Republic to Chad's oil producing regions for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Chad is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007; Chad was destabilized during 2007 by civil conflict leading to a declared state of emergency in February 2008, and a steady influx of refugees fleeing Sudan and the Central African Republic; the government demonstrated insufficient overall efforts to combat trafficking; Chad has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
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Electricity - production(kWh) | | 100 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production by source(%) | | fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption(kWh) | | 93 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - exports(kWh) | | 0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - imports(kWh) | | 0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production(bbl/day) | | 127,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - consumption(bbl/day) | | 1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - exports(bbl/day) | | 157,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - imports(bbl/day) | | 1,571 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves(bbl) | | 1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural gas - production(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - exports(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008)
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Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m) | | 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%) | | 3.5% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | | 200,000 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths | | 14,000 (2007 est.)
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Major infectious diseases | | 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 animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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Literacy(%) | | definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 25.7% male: 40.8% female: 12.8% (2000 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years) | | total: 6 years male: 7 years female: 4 years (2005)
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Education expenditures(% of GDP) | | 1.9% of GDP (2005)
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