# Chad

| Republic of Chad*République du Tchad* جمهورية تشاد *Ǧumhūriyyat Tšād* |
| --- |
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Flag

Coat of arms

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| **Motto:Unité, Travail, Progrès*  (French) Unity, Work, Progress |
| **Anthem:La Tchadienne* The Chadian Hymn |
|  |
| Capitaland largest city | N'Djamena ﻿ / ﻿ |
| Official languages | French Arabic |
| Ethnic groups (1993) | Sara 27.7% Arab 12.3% Mayo-Kebbi 11.5% Kanem-Bornou 9% Ouaddai 8.7% Hadjarai 6.7% Tandjile 6.5% Gorane 6.3% Fitri-Batha 4.7% other 6.4% unknown 0.3% |
| Demonym(s) | Chadian |
| Government | Presidential republic |
|  |
| • President  | Mahamat Déby
 |
| • Prime Minister  | Allamaye Halina |
|  |
| Independence |
|  |
| • from France  | August 11, 1960 |
|  |
| Area |
| • Total | 1,284,000 km2 (496,000 sq mi) (21st) |
| • Water (%) | 1.9 |
| Population |
| • 2009 estimate | 10,329,208 (74th) |
| • 1993 census | 6,279,921 |
| • Density | 8.0/km2 (20.7/sq mi) (212th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2011 estimate |
| • Total | $18.261 billion (123rd) |
| • Per capita | $1,743 (150th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2011 estimate |
| • Total | $9.535 billion (130th) |
| • Per capita | $910 (151st) |
| HDI (2011) |  0.328 low · 183rd |
| Currency | Central African CFA franc (XAF) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (Not observed) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | 235 |
| ISO 3166 code | TD |
| Internet TLD | .td |

**Chad** (French: *Tchad*; Arabic: تشاد, officially called the **Republic of Chad**), is a landlocked country in Central Africa. The capital is N'Djamena.

It was a French colony until 1960. It suffers from poverty, illness, drought, and armed conflicts. In 2011, the population of Chad was 11,535,000.

Arabic and French are the official languages. Islam and Christianity are the most widely practiced religions.

Chad has one of the highest levels of hunger in the world. Food insecurity is common in the country. 80% live in total poverty on less than a dollar a day, and 90% are unemployed in Chad. Chad has a low life expectancy. Life expectancy is 54 years old in Chad.

Chad is home to 134 kinds of mammals, 141 bird species, 52 kinds of reptiles, 30 amphibians and 130 kinds of fish. Many animals such as elephants, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, warthogs, giraffes, antelopes, lions, leopards, and cheetahs live in Chad.

## Geography

View of Chari River
Chad is the world's 21st-largest country. It is slightly smaller than Peru and slightly larger than South Africa. To the north is Libya, to the south is the Central African Republic, to the east is Sudan, and to the west are Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger.

The country's capital is 1,060 kilometres (660 mi) from the nearest seaport Douala, Cameroon. Due to this distance from the sea and the country's largely desert climate, Chad is sometimes called the "Dead Heart of Africa".

Lake Chad is the largest wetland in Chad and the second largest in Africa. Lake Chad was 330,000 square kilometres (130,000 sq mi) 7000 years ago. Now it is 17,806 square kilometres (6,875 sq mi). Chad's highest peak is the Emi Koussi in the Sahara.

The region's tall grasses and large amount of marshes make it good for birds, reptiles, and large mammals. Chad's major rivers are the Chari and Logone.

## Regions

Since 2002, the Republic of Chad has been divided into regions. It was previously divided into prefectures, and then departments.

Below is a list of the 23 regions as of 2012.

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| No. | Region | Pop. (2009) | Capital | Departments |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Batha | 488,458 | Ati | Batha Est, Batha Ouest, Fitri |
| 22 | Chari-Baguirmi | 578,425 | Massenya | Baguirmi, Chari, Loug Chari |
| 23 | Hadjer-Lamis | 566,858 | Massakory | Dababa, Dagana , Haraze Al Biar |
| 5 | Wadi Fira | 508,383 | Biltine | Biltine, Dar Tama, Kobé |
| 2 | Bahr el Gazel | 257,267 | Moussoro | Barh El Gazel Nord, Barh El Gazel Sud |
| 3 | Borkou | 93,584 | Faya-Largeau | Borkou, Borkou Yala |
| 8 | Ennedi-Est | 107,302 | Am-Djarass | Am-Djarass, Wadi Hawar |
| 12 | Ennedi-Ouest | 60,617 | Fada | Fada, Mourtcha |
| 9 | Guéra | 538,359 | Mongo | Abtouyour, Barh Signaka, Guéra, Mangalmé |
| 13 | Kanem | 333,387 | Mao | Kanem, Nord Kanem, Wadi Bissam |
| 14 | Lac | 433,790 | Bol | Mamdi, Wayi |
| 11 | Logone Occidental | 689,044 | Moundou | Dodjé, Guéni, Lac Wey, Ngourkosso |
| 7 | Logone Oriental | 779,339 | Doba | La Nya, La Nya Pendé, La Pendé, Kouh-Est, Kouh-Ouest, Monts de Lam |
| 15 | Mandoul | 628,065 | Koumra | Barh Sara, Mandoul Occidental, Mandoul Oriental |
| 6 | Mayo-Kebbi Est | 774,782 | Bongor | Kabbia, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Lémié, Mont d'Illi |
| 10 | Mayo-Kebbi Ouest | 564,470 | Pala | Lac Léré, Mayo-Dallah |
| 19 | Moyen-Chari | 588,008 | Sarh | Barh Kôh, Grande Sido, Lac Iro |
| 4 | Ouaddaï | 721,166 | Abéché | Abdi, Assoungha, Ouara |
| 17 | Salamat | 302,301 | Am Timan | Aboudeïa, Barh Azoum, Haraze-Mangueigne |
| 18 | Sila | 387,461 | Goz Beïda | Djourf Al Ahmar, Kimiti |
| 20 | Tandjilé | 661,906 | Laï | Tandjilé Est, Tandjilé Ouest |
| 21 | Tibesti | 25,483 | Bardaï | Tibesti Est, Tibesti Ouest |
| 16 | N'Djamena (capital) | 951,418 | N'Djamena | 10 *dawāʾir* or *arrondissements* |

  | Administrative regions of Chad since 2012 |

ad since 2012

## Cities

The largest cities in Chad are:

1. N'Djamena - 704,200
2. Moundou - 136,900
3. Sarh - 100,100
4. Abéché - 72,500
5. Kélo - 41,500
6. Koumra - 35,400
7. Pala - 34,600
8. Am Timan - 28,200
9. Bongor - 27,100
10. Mongo - 27,100

## Languages

Chad's official languages are Arabic and French, but over 100 languages and dialects are spoken. Due to the important role of Arab traders and merchants, Chadian Arabic has become a lingua franca, a language for all to use.

## Education

Attending primary school is required in Chad, though only about 50% of children attend school. Adult literacy is only 35%.

The University of N'Djamena gives higher education.

## Other websites

* Media related to Chad at Wikimedia Commons
* Chad travel guide from Wikivoyage