Economy of Chad


The economy of Chad suffers from the landlocked country's geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure, and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on agriculture, including the herding of livestock. Of Africa's Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and other sources is directed largely at the improvement of agriculture, especially livestock production. Because of lack of financing, the development of oil fields near Doba, originally due to finish in 2000, was delayed until 2003. It was finally developed and is now operated by Exxon Mobil Corporation.

Macro-economic trend

The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017.
Year198019851990199520002005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017
GDP in $
1.90 Bln.3.04 Bln.4.41 Bln.5.77 Bln.7.12 Bln.16.09 Bln.16.69 Bln.17.70 Bln.18.60 Bln.19.51 Bln.22.44 Bln.22.93 Bln.25.41 Bln.27.30 Bln.29.71 Bln.30.56 Bln.28.96 Bln.28.55 Bln.
GDP per capita in $
4336107818749521,7811,8021,8641,9111,9562,1952,1882,3662,4802,6332,6422,4432,344
GDP Growth
−6.0%7.9%3.2%−0.8%−0.9%28.5%0.6%3.3%3.1%4.1%13.6%0.1%8.8%5.8%6.9%1.8%−6.4%−3.1%
Government debt
............68%28%26%22%20%32%30%31%29%31%42%44%52%53%

Other statistics

GDP:
purchasing power parity – $28.62 billion
GDP – real growth rate:
-3.1%
GDP – per capita:
$2,300
Gross national saving:
15.5% of GDP
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture:
52.3%

industry:
14.7%

services:
33.1%
Population below poverty line::
46.7%
Distribution of family income – Gini index:
43.3
Inflation rate :
-0.9%
Labor force:
5.654 million
Labor force – by occupation:
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%
Budget:

revenues:
1.337 billion

expenditures:
1.481 billion
Budget surplus or deficit :
-1.5%
Public debt:
52.5% of GDP
Industries:
oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron, soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
-4%
electrification: total population: 4%
electrification: urban areas: 14%
electrification: rural areas: 1%
Electricity – production:
224.3 million kWh
Electricity – production by source:
fossil fuel:
98%
hydro:
0%
nuclear:
0%
other renewable:
3%
Electricity – consumption:
208.6 million kWh
Electricity – exports:
0 kWh
Electricity – imports:
0 kWh
Agriculture – products:
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, sesame, corn, rice, potatoes, onions, cassava, cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports:
$2.464 billion
Exports – commodities:
oil, livestock, cotton, sesame, gum arabic, shea butter
Exports – partners:
US 38.7%, China 16.6%, Netherlands 15.7%, UAE 12.2%, India 6.3%
Imports:
$2.16 billion
Imports – commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports – partners:
China 19.9%, Cameroon 17.2%, France 17%, US 5.4%, India 4.9%, Senegal 4.5%
Debt – external:
$1.724 billion
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$22.9 million