Chad flag
Official name: Republic of Chad
Capital: N’Djamena
Area: 1,284,000 sq km, 495,755 sq mi
Population: 10,111,337 (2008 estimate)
Population growth rate: 2.19 percent (2008 estimate)
Population density: 8 persons per sq km, 21 persons per sq mi (2008 estimate)
Urban/rural distribution:
Share urban 26 percent (2005 estimate)
Share rural 74 percent (2005 estimate)
Largest cities: N’Djamena, Moundou, Sarh, Abeche.
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official); more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken.
Religious affiliations:
Muslim 59 percent
Indigenous beliefs 17 percent
Roman Catholic 10 percent
Protestant 7 percent
Other 7 percent
Life expectancy:
Total 47.4 years (2008 estimate)
Female 48.5 years (2008 estimate)
Male 46.4 years (2008 estimate)
Literacy rate:
Total 53.6 percent (2000)
Female 40.8 percent (2000)
Male 66.9 percent (2000)
Total number of military personnel: 30,350 (2004)
Introduction:
Chad, republic in north central Africa. Chad is bounded on the north by Libya; on the east by Sudan; on the south by the Central African Republic; and on the west by Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. The landlocked country has an area of 1,284,000 sq km (495,755 sq mi). N’Djamena is the capital and largest city.
Chad’s terrain is dominated by the low-lying Chad Basin (elevation about 250 m/820 ft), which rises gradually to mountains and plateaus on the north, east, and south. In the east heights of more than 900 m (more than 3,000 ft) are attained in the Ennedi and Ouaddaï plateaus. The greatest elevations are reached in the Tibesti massif in the north, with a maximum height of 3,415 m (11,204 ft) at Emi Koussi. The northern half of the republic lies in the Sahara. The only important rivers, the Logone and Chari (Shari), are located in the southwest and flow into Lake Chad. The lake doubles in size during the rainy season.
Ndjamena,Chad
The capital and largest city of Chad; located in the southwestern on the Shari river.
Salt Mining in Lake Chad
Residents of Chad mine natron, a form of sodium carbonate used to make soap, glass, paper, and medicines. Lake Chad provides an abundant supply of natron, the main mineral resource of Chad.