Chad

**Chad** (; , 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

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  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  7000 years ago.  Now it is . 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.
<section begin=table />

|No.||Region||Pop. (2009) || Capital || Departments|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1|Batha||Ati|Batha Est, Batha Ouest, Fitri|
|22|Chari-Baguirmi||Massenya|Baguirmi, Chari, Loug Chari|
|23|Hadjer-Lamis||Massakory|Dababa, Dagana , Haraze Al Biar|
|5|Wadi Fira||Biltine|Biltine, Dar Tama, Kobé|
|2|Bahr el Gazel||Moussoro|Barh El Gazel Nord, Barh El Gazel Sud|
|3|Borkou||Faya-Largeau|Borkou, Borkou Yala|
|8|Ennedi-Est||Am-Djarass|Am-Djarass, Wadi Hawar|
|12|Ennedi-Ouest||Fada|Fada, Mourtcha|
|9|Guéra||Mongo|Abtouyour, Barh Signaka, Guéra, Mangalmé|
|13|Kanem||Mao|Kanem, Nord Kanem, Wadi Bissam|
|14|Lac||Bol|Mamdi, Wayi|
|11|Logone Occidental||Moundou|Dodjé, Guéni, Lac Wey, Ngourkosso|
|7|Logone Oriental||Doba|La Nya, La Nya Pendé, La Pendé, Kouh-Est, Kouh-Ouest, Monts de Lam|
|15|Mandoul||Koumra|Barh Sara, Mandoul Occidental, Mandoul Oriental|
|6|Mayo-Kebbi Est||Bongor|Kabbia, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Lémié, Mont d'Illi|
|10|Mayo-Kebbi Ouest||Pala|Lac Léré, Mayo-Dallah|
|19|Moyen-Chari||Sarh|Barh Kôh, Grande Sido, Lac Iro|
|4|Ouaddaï||Abéché|Abdi, Assoungha, Ouara|
|17|Salamat||Am Timan|Aboudeïa, Barh Azoum, Haraze-Mangueigne|
|18|Sila||Goz Beïda|Djourf Al Ahmar, Kimiti|
|20|Tandjilé||Laï|Tandjilé Est, Tandjilé Ouest|
|21|Tibesti||Bardaï|Tibesti Est, Tibesti Ouest|
|16|N'Djamena (capital)||N'Djamena|10 _dawāʾir_ or _arrondissements_|

<section end=table />ad since 2012

## Cities

The largest cities in Chad are:
1. N'Djamena - 704,200
1. Moundou - 136,900
1. Sarh - 100,100
1. Abéché - 72,500
1. Kélo - 41,500
1. Koumra - 35,400
1. Pala - 34,600
1. Am Timan - 28,200
1. Bongor - 27,100
1. 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.

## Infobox (country)

- **native name**:

- **conventional long name**: Republic of Chad
- **common name**: Chad
- **image flag**: Flag of Chad.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Chad.svg
- **symbol type**: Coat of arms
- **image map**: Chad (orthographic projection).svg
- **national motto**: <small>(French language, French)
Unity, Work, Progress</small>
- **national anthem**:
The Chadian Hymn
- **official languages**: French language, French
Arabic language, Arabic
- **ethnic groups**: 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%
- **ethnic groups year**: 1993
- **demonym**: Chadian
- **capital**: N'Djamena
- **largest city**: capital
- **government type**: Presidential republic
- **leader title1**: List of heads of state of Chad, President
- **leader title2**: List of prime ministers of Chad, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Allamaye Halina
- **leader name1**: Mahamat Déby
- **area rank**: 21st
- **area km2**: 1,284,000
- **area sq mi**: 495,753
- **percent water**: 1.9
- **population estimate**: 10,329,208
- **population estimate rank**: 74th
- **population estimate year**: 2009
- **population census**: 6,279,921
- **population census year**: 1993
- **population density km2**: 8.0
- **population density sq mi**: 20.8
- **population density rank**: 212th
- **gdp ppp**: $18.261 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2011
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $1,743
- **gdp nominal**: $9.535 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2011
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $910
- **gdp ppp rank**: 123rd
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 150th
- **gdp nominal rank**: 130th
- **gdp nominal per capita rank**: 151st
- **sovereignty type**: History of Chad, Independence
- **established event1**: from France
- **established date1**: August 11, 1960
- **hdi**: 0.328
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 183rd
- **hdi year**: 2011
- **currency**: Central African CFA franc
- **currency code**: XAF
- **time zone**: West Africa Time, WAT
- **utc offset**: +1
- **time zone dst**: Not observed
- **utc offset dst**: +1
- **cctld**: .td
- **drives on**: Right
- **calling code**: 235