NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Republic of Chad
Republique du Tchad
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic 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. A peace agreement, signed in January 2002 between the government and the rebels, provides for the demobilization of the rebels and their reintegration into the political system. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic oligarchy. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Central Africa, south of Libya |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 00 N, 19 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 1.284 million sq km
water: 24,800 sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than three times the size of California |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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tropical in south, desert in north |
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Terrain:
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broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad) |
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.78%
permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.2% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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200 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues |
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Environment - current issues:
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inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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8,997,237 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 47.8% (male 2,162,732; female 2,135,354)
15-64 years: 49.4% (male 2,108,134; female 2,340,189) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 103,683; female 147,145) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.27% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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47.74 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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15.06 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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93.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 51.27 years
female: 53.4 years (2002 est.) male: 49.22 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.5 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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5%-7% (2001) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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300,000 (2001) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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14,000 (confirmed AIDS cases, actual number far higher but difficult to estimate) (2001) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian |
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Ethnic groups:
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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 |
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Religions:
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Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7% |
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Languages:
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French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 40% male: 49% female: 31% (1998) |