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."Chad", The World Factbook."Rank Order – Area"  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."Chad",Encyclopædia Britannica."Chad". United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Due to this distance from the sea and the country's largely desert climate, Chad is sometimes called the "Dead Heart of Africa".D. Botha, "S.H. Frankel"

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.

 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


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

Other websites




Category:French-speaking countries
Category:Least developed countries
Category:Members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
Category:1960 establishments in Africa
Category:Current dictatorships