Africa :: Chad

- Introduction :: Chad
- Background:
  Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare, as well as invasions by Libya, before peace was 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 insurgents. 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. In late 2015, the government imposed a state of emergency in the Lake Chad region following multiple attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram throughout the year; Boko Haram also launched several bombings in N'Djamena in mid-2015. DEBY in 2016 was reelected to his fifth term in an election that was peaceful but flawed. In December 2015, Chad completed a two-year rotation on the UN Security Council. In January 2017, DEBY completed a one-year term as Chairperson of the African Union Assembly.
- Geography :: Chad
- Location:
  Central Africa, south of Libya
  Geographic coordinates:
  15 00 N, 19 00 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 1.284 million sq km
  land: 1,259,200 sq km
  water: 24,800 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Area - comparative:
  almost nine times the size of New York state; slightly more than three times the size of California
  Land boundaries:
  total: 6,406 km
  border countries (6): Cameroon 1116 km, Central African Republic 1556 km, Libya 1050 km, Niger 1196 km, Nigeria 85 km, Sudan 1403 km
  Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
  Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)
  Climate:
  tropical in south, desert in north
  Terrain:
  broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
  Elevation:
  mean elevation: 543 m
  elevation extremes: 160 m lowest point: Djourab
  3445 highest point: Emi Koussi
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 39.6% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 3.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 35.7% (2011 est.)
  forest: 9.1% (2011 est.)
  other: 51.3% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  300 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated
  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 and poor farming practices contribute 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:

  note 1: Chad is the largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries

  note 2: not long ago - geologically speaking - what is today the Sahara was green savannah teeming with wildlife; during the African Humid Period, roughly 11,000 to 5,000 years ago, a vibrant animal community, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelope lived there; the last remnant of the "Green Sahara" exists in the Lakes of Ounianga (oo-nee-ahn-ga) in northern Chad, a series of 18 interconnected freshwater, saline, and hypersaline lakes now protected as a World Heritage site

  note 3: Lake Chad, the most significant water body in the Sahel, is a remnant of a former inland sea, paleolake Mega-Chad; at its greatest extent, sometime before 5000 B.C., Lake Mega-Chad was the largest of four Saharan paleolakes that existed during the African Humid Period; it covered an area of about 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq mi), roughly the size of today's Caspian Sea

- People and Society :: Chad
- Population:
  15,833,116 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Nationality:
  noun: Chadian(s)
  adjective: Chadian
  Ethnic groups:
  Sara (Ngambaye/Sara/Madjingaye/Mbaye) 30.5%, Kanembu/Bornu/Buduma 9.8%, Arab 9.7%, Wadai/Maba/Masalit/Mimi 7%, Gorane 5.8%, Masa/Musseye/Musgum 4.9%, Bulala/Medogo/Kuka 3.7%, Marba/Lele/Mesme 3.5%, Mundang 2.7%, Bidiyo/Migaama/Kenga/Dangleat 2.5%, Dadjo/Kibet/Muro 2.4%, Tupuri/Kera 2%, Gabri/Kabalaye/Nanchere/Somrai 2%, Fulani/Fulbe/Bodore 1.8%, Karo/Zime/Peve 1.3%, Baguirmi/Barma 1.2%, Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe 1.1%, Tama/Assongori/Mararit 1.1%, Mesmedje/Massalat/Kadjakse 0.8%, other Chadian ethnicities 3.4%, Chadians of foreign ethnicities 0.9%, foreign nationals 0.3%, unspecified 1.7% (2014-15 est.)
  Languages:
  French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects
  Religions:
  Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2014-15 est.)
  Demographic profile:

  Despite the start of oil production in 2003, 40% of Chad’s population lives below the poverty line. The population will continue to grow rapidly because of the country’s very high fertility rate and large youth cohort – more than 65% of the populace is under the age of 25 – although the mortality rate is high and life expectancy is low. Chad has the world’s third highest maternal mortality rate. Among the primary risk factors are poverty, anemia, rural habitation, high fertility, poor education, and a lack of access to family planning and obstetric care. Impoverished, uneducated adolescents living in rural areas are most affected. To improve women’s reproductive health and reduce fertility, Chad will need to increase women’s educational attainment, job participation, and knowledge of and access to family planning. Only about a quarter of women are literate, less than 5% use contraceptives, and more than 40% undergo genital cutting.

  As of October 2017, more than 320,000 refugees from Sudan and more than 75,000 from the Central African Republic strain Chad’s limited resources and create tensions in host communities. Thousands of new refugees fled to Chad in 2013 to escape worsening violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. The large refugee populations are hesitant to return to their home countries because of continued instability. Chad was relatively stable in 2012 in comparison to other states in the region, but past fighting between government forces and opposition groups and inter-communal violence have left nearly 60,000 of its citizens displaced in the eastern part of the country.

  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 48.12% (male 3,856,001 /female 3,763,622)
  15-24 years: 19.27% (male 1,532,687 /female 1,518,940)
  25-54 years: 26.95% (male 2,044,795 /female 2,222,751)
  55-64 years: 3.25% (male 228,930 /female 286,379)
  65 years and over: 2.39% (male 164,257 /female 214,754) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Africa :: Chad Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Chad. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 100.2 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 95.2 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 20.3 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 15.8 years
  male: 15.3 years
  female: 16.3 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 226
  Population growth rate:
  3.23% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Birth rate:
  43 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Death rate:
  10.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Net migration rate:
  -3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Population distribution:
  the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 23.1% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 3.88% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  1.323 million N'DJAMENA (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.83 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  17.9 years (2014/15 est.)

  note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

  Maternal mortality rate:
  856 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 71.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 77.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 65.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 57.5 years (2018 est.)
  male: 55.7 years (2018 est.)
  female: 59.3 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Total fertility rate:
  5.9 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  5.7% (2014/15)
  Health expenditures:
  3.6% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Physicians density:
  0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 71.8% of population
  rural: 44.8% of population
  total: 50.8% of population
  unimproved: urban: 28.2% of population
  rural: 55.2% of population
  total: 49.2% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 31.4% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 6.5% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 12.1% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 68.6% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 93.5% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 87.9% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  1.3% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  110,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  3,100 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high (2016)
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever (2016)
  vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2016)
  water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
  animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
  respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis (2016)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  6.1% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  28.8% (2015)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Education expenditures:
  2.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic (2016 est.)
  total population: 22.3% (2016 est.)
  male: 31.3% (2016 est.)
  female: 14% (2016 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 7 years (2011)
  male: 9 years (2011)
  female: 6 years (2011)
- Government :: Chad
- 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
  etymology: named for Lake Chad, which lies along the country's western border; the word "tsade" means "large body of water" or "lake" in several local native languages
  note: the only country whose name is composed of a single syllable with a single vowel
  Government type:
  presidential 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:
  23 regions (regions, singular - region); Barh el Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, 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
  Independence:
  11 August 1960 (from France)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
  Constitution:
  history: several previous; latest approved 30 April 2018 by the National Assembly, entered into force 4 May 2018 (2018)
  amendments: proposed as a revision by the president of the republic after a Council of Ministers (cabinet) decision or by the National Assembly; approval for consideration of a revision requires at least three-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval by referendum or at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended 2005, 2013 (2018)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of civil and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Chad
  dual citizenship recognized: Chadian law does not address dual citizenship
  residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 3 chamber presidents, and 12 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 appointed for 9-year terms
  subordinate courts: High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. (since 4 December 1990)
  head of government: President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. (since 4 December 1990); prime minister position eliminated under the 2018 constitution
  cabinet: Council of Ministers; members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 10 April 2016 (next to be held in April 2021); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 61.6%, Saleh KEBZABO (UNDR) 12.8%, Laokein Kourayo MEDAR (CTPD) 10.7%, Djimrangar DADNADJI (CAP-SUR) 5.1%, other 9.8%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly (188 seats; 163 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 25 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 13 February and 6 May 2011 (next to be held in 2019)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 117, UNDR 10, RDP 9, RNDT/Le Reveil 8, URD 8, Viva-RNDP 5, FAR 4, CTPD 2, PDSA 2, PUR 2, UDR 2, other 19; composition - men 164, women 24, percent of women 12.8%

  note: the National Assembly mandate was extended to 2019, reportedly due to a lack of funding for the scheduled 2015 election

  Political parties and leaders:
  Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD [Laoukein Kourayo MEDAR]
  Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]
  Framework of Popular Action for Solidarity and Unity of the Republic or CAP-SUR [Joseph Djimrangar DADNADJI]
  National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP [Dr. Nouradine Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]
  National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]
  Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ahmat ALHABO]
  Party for Unity and Reconciliation
  Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Idriss DEBY]Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mahamat Allahou TAHER]RNDT/Le Reveil [Albert Pahimi PADACKE]
  Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA
  Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Sande NGARYIMBE]
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ngote Gali KOUTOU (since 22 June 2018)
  chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 652-1312
  FAX: [1] (202) 758-0431
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Geeta PASI (since September 2016)
  embassy: Chagoua Round Point, N'Djamena
  mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
  telephone: [235] 2251-5017
  FAX: [235] 2253-9102
  Flag description:
  three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and red; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow (gold) of the Pan-African colors; blue symbolizes the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which is relatively well-watered; gold represents the sun, as well as the desert in the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity, and sacrifice

  note: almost identical to the flag of Romania but with a darker shade of blue; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design based on the flag of France

  National symbol(s):
  goat (north), lion (south); national colors: blue, yellow, red
  National anthem:
  name: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian)
  lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD

  note: adopted 1960

- Economy :: Chad
- Economy - overview:

  Chad’s landlocked location results in high transportation costs for imported goods and dependence on neighboring countries. Oil and agriculture are mainstays of Chad’s economy. Oil provides about 60% of export revenues, while cotton, cattle, livestock, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. The services sector contributes less than one-third of GDP and has attracted foreign investment mostly through telecommunications and banking.

  Nearly all of Chad’s fuel is provided by one domestic refinery, and unanticipated shutdowns occasionally result in shortages. The country regulates the price of domestic fuel, providing an incentive for black market sales.

  Although high oil prices and strong local harvests supported the economy in the past, low oil prices now stress Chad’s fiscal position and have resulted in significant government cutbacks. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most of its public and private sector investment. Investment in Chad is difficult due to its limited infrastructure, lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption. Chad obtained a three-year extended credit facility from the IMF in 2014 and was granted debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in April 2015.

  In 2018, economic policy will be driven by efforts that started in 2016 to reverse the recession and to repair damage to public finances and exports. The government is implementing an emergency action plan to counterbalance the drop in oil revenue and to diversify the economy. Chad’s national development plan (NDP) cost just over $9 billion with a financing gap of $6.7 billion. The NDP emphasized the importance of private sector participation in Chad’s development, as well as the need to improve the business environment, particularly in priority sectors such as mining and agriculture.

  The Government of Chad reached a deal with Glencore and four other banks on the restructuring of a $1.45 billion oil-backed loan in February 2018, after a long negotiation. The new terms include an extension of the maturity to 2030 from 2022, a two-year grace period on principal repayments, and a lower interest rate of the London Inter-bank Offer Rate (Libor) plus 2% - down from Libor plus 7.5%. The original Glencore loan was to be repaid with crude oil assets, however, Chad's oil sales were hit by the downturn in the price of oil. Chad had secured a $312 million credit from the IMF in June 2017, but release of those funds hinged on restructuring the Glencore debt. Chad had already cut public spending to try to meet the terms of the IMF program, but that prompted strikes and protests in a country where nearly 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. Multinational partners, such as the African Development Bank, the EU, and the World Bank are likely to continue budget support in 2018, but Chad will remain at high debt risk, given its dependence on oil revenue and pressure to spend on subsidies and security.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $28.62 billion (2017 est.)
  $29.55 billion (2016 est.)
  $31.58 billion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 134
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $9.872 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -3.1% (2017 est.)
  -6.4% (2016 est.)
  1.8% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $2,300 (2017 est.)
  $2,500 (2016 est.)
  $2,700 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 202
  Gross national saving:
  15.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
  7.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
  13.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 75.1% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 4.4% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 35.1% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -39.4% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 52.3% (2017 est.)
  industry: 14.7% (2017 est.)
  services: 33.1% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, sesame, corn, rice, potatoes, onions, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cattle, sheep, goats, camels
  Industries:
  oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -4% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Labor force:
  5.654 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 80%
  industry: 20% (2006 est.)
  Unemployment rate:

  NA

  Population below poverty line:
  46.7% (2011 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 30.8% (2003)
  highest 10%: 30.8% (2003)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  43.3 (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Budget:
  revenues: 1.337 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 1.481 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  13.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Public debt:
  52.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
  52.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -0.9% (2017 est.)
  -1.1% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 2
  Central bank discount rate:
  4.25% (31 December 2009)
  4.75% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  15.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
  15.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Stock of narrow money:
  $1.397 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.241 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.397 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.241 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $2.681 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $2.387 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Market value of publicly traded shares:

  NA

  Current account balance:
  -$558 million (2017 est.)
  -$926 million (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Exports:
  $2.464 billion (2017 est.)
  $2.187 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Exports - partners:
  US 38.7%, China 16.6%, Netherlands 15.7%, UAE 12.2%, India 6.3% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  oil, livestock, cotton, sesame, gum arabic, shea butter
  Imports:
  $2.16 billion (2017 est.)
  $1.997 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles
  Imports - partners:
  China 19.9%, Cameroon 17.2%, France 17%, US 5.4%, India 4.9%, Senegal 4.5% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $22.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
  $20.92 million (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Debt - external:
  $1.724 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.281 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $4.5 billion (2006 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

  NA

  Exchange rates:
  Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
  605.3 (2017 est.)
  593.01 (2016 est.)
  593.01 (2015 est.)
  591.45 (2014 est.)
  494.42 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Chad
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 10,477,071 (2013)
  electrification - total population: 4% (2013)
  electrification - urban areas: 14% (2013)
  electrification - rural areas: 1% (2013)
  Electricity - production:
  224.3 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Electricity - consumption:
  208.6 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  48,200 kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  98% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Crude oil - production:
  128,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Crude oil - exports:
  70,440 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  2,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  2,285 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  342,200 Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
- Communications :: Chad
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 14,000 (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 6,231,009 (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: inadequate system of radio telephone communication stations with high maintenance costs and low telephone density; Chad remains one of the least developed on the African continent, telecom infrastructure is particularly low, with penetration rates in all sectors - fixed, mobile and internet -well below African averages (2017)
  domestic: fixed-line connections less than 1 per 100 persons, with mobile-cellular subscribership base of about 52 per 100 persons (2017)
  international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
  Broadcast media:
  1 state-owned TV station; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state-owned radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and regional stations; over 10 private radio stations; some stations rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2017)
  Internet country code:
  .td
  Internet users:
  total: 592,623 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 5% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 10,470 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
- Transportation :: Chad
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 28,332 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: mt-km (2015)
  Airports:
  59 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 9 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 2 (2017)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017)
  under 914 m: 1 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 50 (2013)
  over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 22 (2013)
  under 914 m: 11 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  582 km oil (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 40,000 km (2011)

  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

  country comparison to the world: 88
  Waterways:
  (Chari and Legone Rivers are navigable only in wet season) (2012)
- Military and Security :: Chad
- Military expenditures:
  2.79% of GDP (2016)
  2.03% of GDP (2015)
  2.82% of GDP (2014)
  5.61% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Military branches:
  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)
  Military service age and obligation:
  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 21; while provisions for military service have not been repealed, they have never been fully implemented (2015)
- Terrorism :: Chad
- Terrorist groups - foreign based:
  Boko Haram:
  aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate across Africa
  area(s) of operation: conducts kidnappings, bombings, and assaults, including in the capital, N'Djamena
  note: violently opposes any political or social activity associated with Western society, including voting, attending secular schools, and wearing Western dress (April 2018)
  Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-West Africa:
  aim(s): implement ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia; replace the Nigerian Government with an Islamic state
  area(s) of operation: based primarily in Northeast Nigeria along the border with Niger, with its largest presence in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region; targets primarily regional military installations (April 2018)
- Transnational Issues :: Chad
- Disputes - international:
  since 2003, ad hoc armed militia groups and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into ChadChad 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 violenceonly 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 and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 336,295 (Sudan), 101,178 (Central African Republic), 11,319 (Nigeria) (2018)
  IDPs: 162,755 (majority are in the east) (2018)