Chad

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National name: République du Tchad

Languages: French, Arabic (both official); Sara; more than 120 languages and dialects

Ethnicity/race: 200 distinct groups. North and center, mostly Muslim: Arabs, Gorane (Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba. South, mostly Christian or animist: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang, Moussei, Massa

National Holiday: Independence Day, August 11

Religions: Islam 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%

Literacy rate: 25.7% (2011 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2011 est.):$19.69 billion; per capita $1,900. Real growth rate: 2.5%. Inflation: -2%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 2.8%. Agriculture: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels. Labor force: 4.293 million (2011); agriculture 80%; industry and services 20% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing). Industries: oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials. Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt. Exports: $4.088 billion (2011 est.): cotton, cattle, gum arabic, oil. Imports: $3.546 billion (2011 est.): machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles. Major trading partners: U.S., China, France, Cameroon, Italy, Ukraine (2009).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 51,200 (2011); mobile cellular: 2.614 million (2011). Radio broadcast stations: 11 (2007). Television broadcast stations: 1 (2007). Internet hosts: 5 (2011) . Internet users: 168,100 (2011).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 40,000 km; paved: (2011). Waterways: Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2010). Ports and harbors: none. Airports: 56 (2011.).

International disputes: since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military have driven about 200,000 Darfur region refugees into eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict; 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 Chad and Niger.

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