Region: Central Africa

Capital: N'Djamena

Population: 10,111,337 (July 2008 est.)

Surface area: 1.284 million sq km

Currency: CFA franc (XAF)

GDP per capita: Purchasing power parity US $1,700 (2007 est.)

Background:

Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally 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 the rebels. In 2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and made probing attacks into eastern Chad, despite signing peace agreements in December 2006 and October 2007. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. 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, and the capital experienced a significant rebel threat in early 2008.
Economy – Overview:

Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. At least 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion barrels - in southern Chad. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and plan to build a refinery. The nation's total oil reserves have been estimated to be 1.5 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.
Major Export Commodities: oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic

Remittances: Not available

Human Development Index 2007/2008 ranking: 170 out of 177

Official Development Assistance and Major Development Partners: Net ODA in 2006 was US $152.52 million. Major development partners include the European Community, the IDA, France, and the United States.

Total External Debt: US $1.6 billion (2005 est.)

United Nations membership date: 20 September 1960

New York Mission:

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Chad to the United Nations
211 East 43rd Street, Suite 1703

New York, N.Y. 10017
Telephone: 212-986-0980 / 0262
Fax: 212-986-0152

Sources:

CIA World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov 

World Development Indicators. World Bank www.worldbank.org

Development, Recipient Aid Charts. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. www.oecd.org

Human Development Report 2007/2008.United Nations Development Programme. www.undp.org

Updated June 2008