What You Need to Know About Chad
The Chadian state is an African state, it has the status of a unitary presidential constitutional republic. Its metropolis and largest urban area is N’Djamena, and the official languages spoken in the country are French and Arabic.
Furthermore, the total area of the Chadian territory is 1,284,000 km2 and the total population of the country is 16,877,357 inhabitants. Chad is part of several international organizations including the UN, the AU, the ECCAS, the CEMAC, and OHADA, and the country’s telephone code is 235.
Colors of Chad
The flag of Chad is a rectangular flag composed of 3 vertical stripes blue, yellow, and red from left to right. The blue color represents the blue of the sky and the sea. The yellow symbolizes the sun and the beach, and the red color symbolizes the blood shed during the struggle for independence.
Best Places to Visit in Chad
N’Djamena: It is the largest urban area in the country and features both modern and old layouts and constructions. This contrast fully reveals that the country is developing. You will also see lively bars and the national museum which tells the history of Chad.
Sarh: Formerly known as the main site of the French colonial force, the city is one of the few that has textile industries and cotton fields. There is also an international airport.
Faya-Largeau: It is a large urban area located in the northwest section and on the edge of the Sahara. It is a very hot city with low rainfall. You can organize a guided tour of the Sahara.
Where is Chad Located
On the world map, the Chadian state is located in Africa, more precisely, it is situated in the center of the continent and is landlocked between Libya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.
Climate in Chad
The Chadian territory is subject to a hot continental climate. This translates into varying rainfall from 100mm to 1,200mm. Saharan zone: this part of the territory experiences less frequent rainfalls, between 50 and 200 mm per year.
The central zone or Sahelian belt experiences higher rainfall ranging between 400 and 800mm. Finally, there is the Sudanian zone which is the rainiest part of the Chadian territory, with rainfall between 800 and 1200 mm per year.
Administrative Division of Chad
The territory of Chad is divided into 23 provinces, which are further subdivided into 107 departments. Here are the 23 provinces of the country:
- Barh el Gazel
- Batha
- Borkou
- Chari-Baguirmi
- Ennedi East
- Ennedi West
- Guéra
- Hadjer-Lamis
- Kanem
- Lac
- Logone Occidental
- Logone Oriental
- Mandoul
- Mayo-Kebbi East
- Mayo-Kebbi West
- Moyen-Chari
- Ouaddaï
- Salamat
- Sila
- Tandjilé
- Tibesti
- Wadi Fira
- Region of N’Djamena
Economy of Chad
About one-third of the country’s active population is rural, their main activity being livestock farming and subsistence agriculture. The country’s industrial sector has recently developed as oil fields have been put into production. Now oil represents 80% of the country’s trade. Here is some economic information:
- Current currency: Central African CFA franc
- Nominal GDP: 11.051 billion USD
- GDP at purchasing power parity: 30.507 billion USD
- Annual GDP growth rate: 2.6% (Nominal) and 5.5% at Purchasing Power Parity
- GDP per capita at nominal parity: $885
- GDP per capita at PPP: $2,442
- Population below the poverty line: 66.2%
- Inflation rate: 4.037%
Population and linguistic data of Chad
Recent censuses indicate that the population of Chad is 16,877,357 inhabitants and its annual demographic growth rate is 3.23%. The fertility rate in the country is 5.9 children per woman and the birth and death rates are respectively 43‰ and 10.5‰.
The life expectancy of a Chadian at birth is 57.5 years, with 55.7 years for men and 59.3 years for women. The median age of the population is 15.8 years, indicating a very young population. The sex ratio is 98 men to 100 women.
The languages spoken in the country are: French and Arabic as official languages and Sara. The ethnic groups composing the population are: Saras (6%), Arabs (12.3%), Mayo-Kebbi (11.5%), Kanem-Bornou (9%), Zaghawa and Ouaddai (8.7%), Hadjarai (6.7%), Tandjile (6.5%), Gorane (6.3%), Firei-Batha (6.3%). The dominant religions in the country are: Islam (53.1%), Catholicism (20.1%), Protestantism (14.2%), Animism (7.3%), Others and Atheism (5.5%).
