Since achieving independence from France in August 1960, Chad has experienced ongoing instability and violence, most recently owing to unrest in neighbouring Sudan's Darfur region, which has spilled across the border, along with hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees. The country suffers from inadequate infrastructure, poverty is rife, and health and social conditions are unfavourable. However, Chad is rich in gold and uranium and stands to benefit from its recently-acquired status as an oil-exporting state. The most commonly spoken languages are French and Arabic.

Leader: President Idriss Deby
Capital city: N'Djamena

Economic profile

Monetary unit: CFA franc (Communaute Financiere Africaine)
GDP per capita: $1 600 (2010) (CIA)
GDP composition by sector:
Agriculture: 50.5% (2010) (World Bank)
Industry: 7% (2010) (World Bank)
Services: 42.5% (2010) (World Bank)
GDP growth rate: 5.1% (2008) (World Bank)
Budget:
Government revenue, excluding grants: $1.972-billion (2010) (CIA)
Government expenditure: $2.859-billion (2010) (CIA)
Consumer price inflation: 4% (2010) (CIA)
Industries: Oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, and construction materials.
Exports of goods and services: $3.036-billion (2010) (World Bank)
Imports of goods and services: $2.631-billion (2010) (World Bank)
Export commodities: Cotton, cattle, gum arabic, and oil.
Import commodities: Machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, and textiles.
Trade balance: -$2.6-billion (2010) (IMF)
Reserves: $868-million (2010) (IMF)
Total investment: 14.8% of GDP (2010) (CIA)
Market capitalisation of listed companies: Figures not available

Social profile

Population: 111.2-million (2010) (World Bank)
Population growth: 2.6% (2008) (World Bank)
Life expectancy at birth: 48,9 years (2008) (World Bank)
Adult literacy: 34% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment primary: 90% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment secondary: 24% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment tertiary: 2% (2009) (World Bank)
Number of people living with HIV/Aids: 210 000 (2007) (Unicef)

Election profile

Postelection report