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Central Africa south of Libya. More than three times the size of California. Landlocked. Desert in the north, tropical in the south.
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
Factbook: "Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. At least 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood."
2009: -1%
2008: -0.2%
2007: 0.6%
Subsistence farming and livestock support 80 percent of Chad's population.
The Sahara desert covers much of Mali and it is steadily growing. Climate change is forcing nomadic tribes to settle near water. Farming techniques have been turning once fertile areas to dust.
Camel trains are being replaced by trucks.
Factbook (2005) "A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves estimated at 1 billion barrels in southern Chad. Oil production came on stream in late 2003."
According to the BBC in 2006, only 3 percent of the population has access to electricity.
Living in an urban area: 27% (2008)
July 2010: 10.543 million. Rate of growth: 2.038% (ranks 50th) July 2008: 10.11 million
Density per square kilometer of arable land: 273 persons.
2010: More people leaving than arriving. A net loss of 3.95 per 1,000 population
2008: More people leaving than arriving. A net loss of 3.27 per 1,000 population
2010: 97.05 (ranks 10th)
2008: 100.36
2005: 93.82
2010: 47.99 years
2008: 47.43
2005: 47.94
2003: 4.8 percent
A report published by the BBC describes a poll of 50,000 families in 28 African countries, by the UN Economic Commission for Africa. There are complaints of "corruption, poor tax systems, run-down and unaccountable public services, weak parliaments and unreformed courts." Chad is among the four lowest ranking countries regarding trust in authorities by those polled.
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
BBC News
Copyright © 2010 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.