Chad Guide

January 31, 2021 findjobdescriptions

Chad – country information

Country name	Chad
Official name	Republic of Chad
Capital	N’Djamena
continent	Africa
Area	1,284,000 km
Population	12 825 000 (2013)
Foundation of a state	11. 8. 1960
The highest mountains	Emi Koussi 3415 m
Longest rivers	Chari (Šari) 1200 km
State system	a transitional government with one consultative assembly
The biggest cities	N’Djamena (capital) 740,000, Sarh 145,000, Moundou 135,000
Official language	Arabic, French
Ethnicity/National Composition	Sar/Bagirm/Kresh 32%, Sudanese Arab 26.5%, Ted 7.2%, Mbum 6.5%, Masalite/Mab/Mana 6.2%, Tam 6%, Mubi 4%, Kanuri 2.1%, Hausa 2%, Masa 2%, Kotok 2%, others 3.5%
Religious affiliation	Sunni Muslim 44%, Christian 33%, traditional faiths 22.8%, other 0.2%
Currency	1 CFA franc (XOF) = 100 centimes
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$2,474 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	47.52 let (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 41%, mining 0.5%, industry 16.5%, construction 1.5%, services 40.5%

Chad – neighboring states

State	Capital	Area	Populace
Cameroon	Yaounde	475 442 km	20 386 799
Libya	Tripoli	1,759,540 km	6 202 000
Niger	Niamey	1,267,000 km	17 129 076
Nigeria	Abuja	923,768 km²	173 615 000
Central African Republic	Bangui	622,984 km	4 616 000
Sudan	Khartoum	2,505,810 km	37 964 000

Country overview

The Republic of Chad is located in the drought-stricken Sahel region. Since the mid-1960s, it has been affected by civil wars, and the situation was made even worse by the conflict with its powerful neighbor – Libya.

According to Abbreviationfinder, Chad is a state in Central Africa. Common borders in the west – with Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, in the south – with the Central African Republic, in the east – with Sudan, in the north – with Libya.

The capital is N’Djamena. The official language is French, Arabic. Currency – CFA franc. Religion – Islam.

The climate of the northern part of the country is tropical desert and equatorial monsoon.

Most of the territory is occupied by plains and plateaus, which alternate with flat depressions. The northern part of the country is covered with rocky and sandy deserts with a few oases. In the northwest is the Tibesti highland with the highest point of the country – the Emi-Kusi volcano (3415 m). In the south, semi-desert and savanna. Swamps cover large areas in the southern and southeastern regions.

Almost inanimate, sun-scorched slopes of the highlands are composed of metamorphic rocks of the Precambrian basement, heavily dissected volcano cones, gorges and temporary streams. The highest point in the country is the dormant volcano Emi-Kushi (3415 m), which is located in the northern part of the highlands. At the top there is a crater with a diameter of 15 km and a depth of about 700 m, with a dried-up lake at the bottom.

Interesting Facts

Earth has been inhabited for over 6,000 years.

Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is named after Lake Chad, the fourth largest in Africa.

Country data

Location: Central Africa

Time zone: CET (during summer time: CET – 1)

Total area: 1,284,000 km²

Land area: 1,259,200 km²

Water area: 24,800 km²

Length of the state border: 6,406 km

Bordering countries:
Cameroon: 1,116 km
Libya: 1,050 km
Niger: 1,196 km
Nigeria: 85 km
Sudan: 1,403 km
Central African Republic: 1,556 km

Coastline: 0 km

Capital: N’Djamena

Prefectures: 23
Barh el Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Quest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Ville de N’Djamena, Wadi Fira

Telephone code: 00 235 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Population

Population: approx. 11.4 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.9% per year

Population density (inh. Per km²): 9

Life expectancy: 48 (male), 51 (female)

Official language: Arabic, French

Religions:

53% Muslim
20% Christians
14% Protestants
13% other

Climate

northern regions:

dry and hot desert climate
Rainy season from July to September
frequent sandstorms in the dry season

southern regions:

warm steppes and savanna climate
Rainy season from May to October

The annual amount of rain that falls is very different. In some years, even in the rainy season, there is hardly any rain, but the humidity is high.

The average daily temperature is around 30 ° C. Shortly before a rainy season begins, the temperature occasionally rises up to 40 ° C.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: CFA franc (XAF)

ATMs: not available

International credit cards: These are very rarely accepted.

Regulations: National and foreign currencies can be introduced indefinitely. There is an obligation to declare.

Foreign currencies can be exported up to the amount declared on entry. The export of the local currency is limited to 25,000 XAF

Since it is not possible to exchange the local currency outside of the countries in the CFA franc zone, you should only exchange your actual needs.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

240 cigarettes or 125 cigars or 500 g tobacco
1 liter of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

Warnings are given against traveling to the capital Najamena, the Lake Chad region, the border area between Chad and Cameroon and the border area with the Central African Republic.

Furthermore, travel to the areas of the Sahara, including peripheral areas, and the Sahel zone is urgently advised against.

The terrorist organization -Boko Haram- has already carried out suicide attacks several times. Public spaces, restaurants and large gatherings of people are particularly at risk.

Since both the political and the economic situation are not particularly stable, travel to Chad, which is not absolutely necessary, is not recommended for the time being.

If you want to move freely outside the capital, you need a travel permit from the Ministry of the Interior.

There are many minefields, especially in the north of the country. It is mandatory to bring a local guide with you when driving.

If there is an armed attack, it is safer not to offer any resistance!

Behavioral advice

Since the use of video cameras and cameras is only permitted with official approval, you should apply for them when you enter the country.

The fee is calculated based on the camera size and equipment.

Medical care in the country is either not available or only to a very limited extent.

Before starting your trip, you should definitely take out travel insurance with repatriation in the event of a medical emergency.

Economy

As one of the poorest countries in the world, large parts of the population have to survive on an annual income that is below the monthly subsistence level of an EU citizen.

Since there are hardly any natural resources and the necessary infrastructure, an economic upswing is not in sight.

Due to the long-lasting civil wars and constant civil unrest, there are almost no foreign investors.

Although the land is not very fertile, around 75 percent of the population work in agriculture to grow food for their own use.

Industries: building materials, brewing, agriculture, food production, household goods production, textiles

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, uranium

Land use:

Usable land: 3%
Grain cultivation: 0%
Pasture area: 36%
Forests: 26%
other: 35%

Plants

The northern regions consist of extensive dry and thorn savannahs. There are also sections that only consist of stony desert and have a few isolated green oases.

To the south it turns into wet savannahs and large forest areas, as the climate here is more rainy.