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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 President of the African Union.

Location

Central Africa, south of Libya

Natural Resources

petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

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

10543464
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects
N'DJAMENA (capital) 1.26 million (2015)
Conventional long form
Republic of Chad
Conventional short form
Chad
Local long form
Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
Local short form
Tchad/Tshad
presidential republic
Name
N'Djamena
Geographic coordinates
12 06 N, 15 02 E
Time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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 about one-third of GDP and has attracted foreign investment mostly through telecommunications and banking.
Inflation
3.67%
External debt stocks
US$ 1,617,003,000
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
63.5%
Real Interest Rate
11.324%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
3.207%
Current Account Balance
US$ -37,744,638
Labor Force, Total
5,443,815
Employment in Agriculture
83%
Employment in Industry
2.10%
Employment in Services
14.50%
Unemployment Rate
5.79%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 3,651,511,384
Exports of goods and services
US$ 2,877,700,233
Total Merchandise Trade
39.58%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 600,219,799
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 23,405,782
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, sesame, corn, rice, potatoes, onions, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cattle, sheep, goats, camels
oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Commodities
oil, livestock, cotton, sesame, gum arabic, shea butter
Partners
US 56.7%, India 16%, Japan 11% (2015)
Commodities
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Partners
France 16.5%, China 14.2%, Cameroon 11%, US 6.4%, India 6%, Belgium 5.7%, Italy 4.8% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
D
A high-risk political and economic situation and an often very difficult business environment can have a very significant impact on corporate payment behavior. Corporate default probability is very high.
Business Climate Rating
D
The business environment is very difficult. Corporate financial information is rarely available and when available usually unreliable. The legal system makes debt collection very unpredictable. The institutional framework has very serious weaknesses. Intercompany transactions can thus be very difficult to manage in the highly risky environments rated D.
  • Exploitation of new oilfields
  • Development potential of agricultural sector
  • Return of internal political climate more conducive to reforms
  • Excessive reliance on oil
  • Business climate not conducive to thriving private sector and high level of corruption
  • Geographic isolation
  • Worsening security conditions at both national and regional level (role of Boko Haram)

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