The 1991 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
boundaries: 5,968 km total; 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: none—landlocked
_#_Maritime claims: none—landlocked
_#_Disputes: Libya claims and occupies the 100,000 km2 Aozou Strip in the far north; demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
_#_Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
_#_Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
_#_Natural resources: crude oil (unexploited but exploration beginning), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
_#_Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 36%; forest and woodland 11%; other 51%; includes irrigated NEGL%
_#_Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; drought and desertification adversely affecting south; subject to plagues of locusts
_#_Note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel
_*People #_Population: 5,122,467 (July 1991), growth rate 2.1% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 22 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 134 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 39 years male, 41 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 5.3 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun—Chadian(s); adjective—Chadian
_#_Ethnic divisions: some 200 distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba) in the north and center and non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) in the south; some 150,000 nonindigenous, of whom 1,000 are French
_#_Religion: Muslim 44%, Christian 33%, indigenous beliefs, animism 23%
_#_Language: French and Arabic (official); Sara and Sango in south; more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken
_#_Literacy: 30% (male 42%, female 18%) age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic (1990 est.)
_#_Labor force: NA; agriculture (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) 85%
_#_Organized labor: about 20% of wage labor force
_*Government #_Long-form name: Republic of Chad
_#_Type: republic
_#_Capital: N'Djamena
_#_Administrative divisions: 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
_#_Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)
_#_Constitution: 22 December 1989, suspended 3 December 1990; Provisional National Charter 1 March 1991
_#_Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
_#_National holiday: NA
_#_Executive branch: president, Council of State (cabinet)
_#_Legislative branch: the National Consultative Council (Conseil National Consultatif) was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional Council of the Republic; 30 members appointed by President DEBY on 8 March 1991
_#_Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State—Col. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990);
Head of Government—Prime Minister Jean LINGUE Bawoyeu (since 8 March 1991)
_#_Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS; former dissident group), Idriss DEBY, chairman; President DEBY has promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by September 1993; numerous dissident groups
_#_Suffrage: universal at age NA
_#_Elections:
President—last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA); results—President Hissein HABRE was elected without opposition; note—the government of then President HABRE fell on 1 December 1990 and Idriss DEBY seized power on 3 December 1990;
National Consultative Council—last held 8 July 1990; disbanded 3 December 1990
_#_Communists: no front organizations or underground party; probably a few Communists and some sympathizers
_#_Other political or pressure groups: NA
_#_Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77,
GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Mahamat Ali ADOUM; Chancery at 2002 R Steet NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 462–4009;
US—Ambassador Richard W. BOGOSIAN; Embassy at Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena (mailing address is B. P. 413, N'Djamena); telephone [235] (51) 62–18, 40–09
_#_Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
_*Economy #_Overview: The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural resources potential make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is burdened by the ravages of civil war, conflict with Libya, drought, and food shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its 1977 level, with cotton, the major cash crop, accounting for 48% of exports. Over 80% of the work force is employed in subsistence farming and fishing. Industry is based almost entirely on the processing of agricultural products, including cotton, sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, with its economy in trouble and many regions suffering from shortages. Oil companies are exploring areas north of Lake Chad and in the Doba basin in the south.
_#_GDP: $1,015 million, per capita $205; real growth rate 0.9% (1989 est.)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 4.9% (1989)
_#_Unemployment rate: NA
_#_Budget: revenues $78 million; expenditures $127 million, not including capital expenditures that are mostly financed by foreign aid donors (1989 est.)
_#_Exports: $174 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities—cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish;
partners—France, Nigeria, Cameroon
_#_Imports: $264 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.);
commodities—machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note—excludes military equipment;
partners—US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon
_#_External debt: $530 million (December 1990 est.)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP
_#_Electricity: 38,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 14 kWh per capita (1989)
_#_Industries: cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery,