Economy (Chad)
==============


     Overview:
         The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural
         resources potential make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in
         the world. Its economy is burdened by the ravages of civil war, conflict
         with Libya, drought, and food shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its
         1977 level, with cotton, the major cash crop, accounting for 48% of exports.
         Over 80% of the work force is employed in subsistence farming and fishing.
         Industry is based almost entirely on the processing of agricultural
         products, including cotton, sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is highly dependent
         on foreign aid, with its economy in trouble and many regions suffering from
         shortages. Oil companies are exploring areas north of Lake Chad and in the
         Doba basin in the south. Since coming to power in December 1990, the Deby
         government has experienced a year of economic chaos.
     GDP:
         exchange rate conversion - $1.0 billion, per capita $205; real growth rate
         0.9% (1989 est.)
     Inflation rate (consumer prices):
         --4.9% (1989)
     Unemployment rate:
         NA
     Budget:
         entirely funded by outside donors
     Exports:
         $174 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
       commodities:
         cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish
       partners:
         France, Nigeria, Cameroon
     Imports:
         $264 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
       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:
         $530 million (December 1990 est.)
     Industrial production:
         growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP
     Electricity:
         40,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 15 kWh per capita (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,
         potatoes, manioc; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, camels; self-sufficient
         in food in years of adequate rainfall
     Economic aid:
         US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198 million; Western (non-US)
         countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC
         bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $80
         million
     Currency:
         Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural - francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF)
         = 100 centimes