The 2001 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

constitution, and held multiparty presidential and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997 respectively. In 1998 a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which continued to escalate throughout 2000. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic oligarchy.

      Chad Geography

      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

      Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of

       California

      Land boundaries: 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: 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 extremes: lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m

      highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

      Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)

      Land use: arable land: 3%

      permanent crops: 0%

      permanent pastures: 36%

      forests and woodland: 26%

      other: 35% (1993 est.)

      Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.)

      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, Nuclear Test

       Ban, 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

      Chad People

      Population: 8,707,078 (July 2001 est.)

      Age structure: 0–14 years: 47.73% (male 2,091,724; female 2,064,514)

      15–64 years: 49.46% (male 2,035,099; female 2,271,389)

      65 years and over: 2.81% (male 101,579; female 142,773) (2001 est.)

      Population growth rate: 3.29% (2001 est.)

      Birth rate: 48.28 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Death rate: 15.4 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

      under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

      15–64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

      65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

      total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 95.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.88 years

      male: 48.86 years

      female: 52.98 years (2001 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 6.56 children born/woman (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.69% (1999 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 92,000 (1999 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths: 10,000 (1999 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Chadian(s)

      adjective: Chadian

      Ethnic groups: Muslims, commonly referred to as "northerners" or "gorane" (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba); non-Muslims, commonly referred to as "southerners" (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) including nonindigenous 150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French)

      note: ethnicity and regional background more commonly used to identify Chadians than religious affiliation

      Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly animism) 25%

      Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects

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

       Arabic

      total population: 48.1%

      male: 62.1%

      female: 34.7% (1995 est.)

      Chad Government

      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

      Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)

      National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

      Constitution: passed by referendum 31 March 1995

      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 Nagoum YAMASSOUM (since 13 December 1999)

      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 elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7%

      note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD

      Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); replaces the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de Transition

      elections: National Assembly - last held in two rounds on 5 January and 23 February 1997 (next to be held in late 2001); in the first round of voting some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% or more of the vote; where that did not happen, the