Chad ( Republique du Tchad) is a country in Central Africa, south of Libya. Chad geographic coordinates 15 00 N, 19 00 E; area 1,259,200 sq km; area comparative slightly more than three times the size of California; land boundaries 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 Emi Koussi 3,415 m; natural resources petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt; land use 97.12% (2001); irrigated land 200 sq km (1998 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 Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping; geography note landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel;

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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 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 elections in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite two peace agreements signed in 2002 and 2003 between the government and the rebels. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. 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 instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department), and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera, Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam, N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile Occidental, Tibesti; independence 11 August 1960 (from France); national holiday Independence Day, 11 August (1960); constitution passed by referendum 31 March 1996; legal system based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Chad population 9,826,419 (July 2005 est.); age structure 2.8% (male 109,535/female 163,023) (2005 est.); median age 16.71 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 2.95% (2005 est.); birth rate 45.98 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 16.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate -0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 103.03 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 49.09 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 6.32 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 4.8% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 200,000 (2003 est.); hiv deaths 18,000 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases <; nationality Chadian; ethnic groups 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, M; religions Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%; languages French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects; literacy 39.3% (2003 est.);

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