Located in the Center-North of the African continent, in the transition area between Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa, Chad has 75% of its territory covered by the Sahara desert. Having no outlet to the sea, the country borders Libya (to the north), Niger (to the west), Nigeria (to the west), Cameroon (to the southwest), Central African Republic (to the south), Sudan (to the East).
Chad is a former French colony, its independence was won on August 11, 1960. Its territory is home to more than 200 different ethnic groups. This great diversity is one of the main factors responsible for the internal conflicts that worsened in the 1960s. Despite being home to gold and oil reserves, its population is one of the poorest in the world.
The main economic activity developed in the country is subsistence cattle raising (practiced by more than 70% of the local population). Also noteworthy are the production of cotton, peanuts and tobacco. The country has oil and gold reserves that are being explored by US companies.
Chad has major socioeconomic problems, among which, illiteracy affects 70% of the population, 39% of the inhabitants are undernourished and the Human Development Index (HDI) is one of the smallest in the world - of the 169 countries analyzed, Chad ranks 163rd, with an average of 0.295, according to data released in 2010 by the United Nations (UN).
Coat of Arms of Chad
Data from Chad:
Territorial extension: 1,284,000 km².
Location: Africa.
Capital: Ndjamena.
Climate: Tropical (to the south) and arid tropical (to the north).
Government: Republic with mixed form of government.
Administrative division: 28 departments.
Language: Arabic and French.
Religion: Islam 59%, Christianity 22.8% (10.2% Protestants, 6.6% Catholics, other 6%), traditional beliefs 17%, 1.1% Bahaism, no religion and 0.1% atheism.
Population: 11,206,152 inhabitants. (Men: 5,569,532; Women: 5,636,620).
Ethnic Composition: Saras 58%, hauçã 29%, tubus 13%.
Demographic density: 8.7 inhab/km².
Average annual population growth rate: 2.7%.
Population residing in urban areas: 27.11%.
Population residing in rural areas: 72.89%.
Undernourished population: 39%.
Life expectancy at birth: 50.4 years.
Households with access to drinking water: 48%.
Households with access to a health network: 9%.
Human Development Index (HDI): 0.295.
Currency: CFA Franc.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US$7,464 million.
GDP per capita: US$692.
External relations: World Bank, IMF, WTO, UN, AU.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
countries - geography - Brazil School
