The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      Geography - note:

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

       Sahel

      People Chad

      Population:

       9,253,493 (July 2003 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 47.9% (male 2,228,605; female 2,201,368)

       15–64 years: 49.3% (male 2,171,169; female 2,393,184)

       65 years and over: 2.8% (male 105,686; female 153,481) (2003 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 16 years

       male: 15.2 years

       female: 16.8 years (2002)

      Population growth rate:

       3.07% (2003 est.)

      Birth rate:

       47.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Death rate:

       16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

       total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 95.74 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 86.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

       male: 105 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 48.51 years

       male: 46.97 years

       female: 50.1 years (2003 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       6.44 children born/woman (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       3.6% 5%-7% (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       150,000 (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       14,000 (confirmed AIDS cases, actual number far higher but

       difficult to estimate) (2001 est.)

      Nationality:

       noun: Chadian(s)

       adjective: Chadian

      Ethnic groups:

       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

      Religions:

       Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%

      Languages:

       French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than

       120 different languages and dialects

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic

       total population: 47.5%

       male: 56%

       female: 39.3% (2003 est.)

      Government Chad

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Republic of Chad

       conventional short form: Chad

       local long form: Republique du Tchad

       local short form: Tchad

      Government 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

       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

      Independence:

       11 August 1960 (from France)

      National holiday:

       Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

      Constitution:

       passed by referendum 31 March 1996

      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 (since 4 December

       1990)

       head of government: Prime Minister Moussa Faki MAHAMAT (since NA

       July 2003)

       cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the

       recommendation of the prime minister

       election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected president; percent

       of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh

       KEBZABO 7%

       note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD

       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

      Legislative branch:

       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)

       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

       elections: National Assembly - last