had is a country in north central Africa, south of Libya and west of Sudan. The total area is 495,800 sq. mi. The capital and largest city is N'djamena. Chad's main physical feature is the low-lying Lake Chad Basin, which rises gradually to mountains and plateaus. 

The lake doubles in size during the rainy season. Chad's northern region, part of the Sahara Desert, is hot and dry; the remainder has three seasons: hot, rainy, and cool. Natural resources include scarce farmland, lake fish, and mineral deposits.

The population of Chad is 7,166,023 (1997 estimate). Muslims live in the northern and eastern portions of the country, and non-Muslims of black African origin live in the southern regions. The official languages are French and Arabic, but African languages are commonly spoken. Muslims make up about 40 percent of the population and Christians about 33 percent.

Chad's economy is largely one of subsistence agriculture; more than fourth-fifths of the workers farm or raise livestock. Cotton and livestock are the most important exports. Industries include the manufacture of cottonseed and peanut oils, meat packing, and fish processing. The currency is the CFA franc.

Political instability plagued Chad throughout the 1970s and 1980s. A democratic constitution was approved by public referendum in 1996, providing for an elected president and parliament.