, 40-09, or 62-11
FAX:
[235] (51) 33-72
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra,
which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield
centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Overview:
Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of
infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in
the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, conflict with
Libya, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown
little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought
on by civil war in the late 1980s. Over 80% of the work force is
involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash
crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly
dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic
shortages in several regions. The government hopes that discovery of
several oil deposits near Lake Chad will lead to economic revival and
a windfall in government revenues by 2000.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
8.4% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2%-3% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$115 million
expenditures:
$412 million, including capital expenditures of $218 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$193.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish
partners:
France, Nigeria, Cameroon
Imports:
$294.1 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%,
petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note - excludes military
equipment
partners:
US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon
External debt:
$492 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
40,000 kW
production:
70 million kWh
consumption per capita:
15 kWh (1991)
Industries:
cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron (sodium
carbonate), soap, cigarettes
Agriculture:
accounts for about 45% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; cotton
most important cash crop; food crops include sorghum, millet, peanuts,
rice, potat