(1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 23,738 km paved: 427 km unpaved: 23,311 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
Ports: Bangui, Nola
Airports:
total: 48
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 11
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 24 (1995 est.)
Communications———————
Telephones: 16,867 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 7,500 (1993 est.)
Defense———
Branches: Central African Army (includes Republican Guard), Air
Force, National Gendarmerie, Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15–49: 737,330 males fit for military service: 384,134 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 2.3% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Chad——
Map—
Location: 15 00 N, 19 00 E—Central Africa, south of Libya
Flag——
Description: 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
Geography————
Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 1.284 million sq km
land area: 1,259,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of
California
Land boundaries:
total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197
km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May 1994; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains part of the airfield and a small military presence at the airfield's water supply located in Chad; demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south lowest point: Djourab Depression 175 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under
way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 36%
forest and woodland: 11%
other: 51%
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste
disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
desertification
natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
periodic droughts; locust plagues
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping
Geographic note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant
water body in the Sahel
People———
Population: 6,976,845 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 44% (male 1,543,688; female 1,535,729)
15–64 years: 53% (male 1,807,361; female 1,881,930)
65 years and over: 3% (male 91,998; female 116,139) (July 1996 est.)
