Chad People - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Population:5,231,000(July 1986), average annual growth rate 3.8%

Nationality: noun—Chadian(s); adjective— Chadian

Ethnic divisions: some 200 distinct ethnic groups, most of whom are Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, and Maba) in the north and center and non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moudang, Moussei, Massa) in the south; some 150,000 nonindigenous, of whom 1,000 are French

Religion: 52% Muslim, 43% indigenous beliefs, 5% Christian

Language: French and Arabic (official); Sara and Sango in south; more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken

Infant mortality rate 142/1,000(1983)

Life expectancy, men 41.5, women 43.9

Literacy: about 20%

Labor force: 85% agriculture (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)

Organized labor: about 20% of wage labor force

NOTE: The information regarding Chad on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Chad 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Chad 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.