Chad Economy

Is Chad a wealthy country?

Chad’s landlocked location results in high transportation costs for imported goods and dependence on neighboring countries. Oil and agriculture are the mainstays of Chad’s economy. Oil provides about 60% of export revenues, while cotton, cattle, livestock, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. The services sector contributes less than one-third of GDP and has attracted foreign investment mostly through telecommunications and banking.

Nearly all of Chad’s fuel is provided by one domestic refinery, and unanticipated shutdowns occasionally result in shortages. The country regulates the price of domestic fuel, providing an incentive for black market sales.

Although high oil prices and strong local harvests supported the economy in the past, low oil prices now stress Chad’s fiscal position and have resulted in significant government cutbacks. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most of its public and private sector investment. Investment in Chad is difficult due to its limited infrastructure, lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption. Chad obtained a three-year extended credit facility from the IMF in 2014 and was granted debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in April 2015.

In 2018, economic policy will be driven by efforts that started in 2016 to reverse the recession and repair damage to public finances and exports. The government is implementing an emergency action plan to counterbalance the drop in oil revenue and diversify the economy. Chad’s national development plan (NDP) cost just over $9 billion with a financing gap of $6.7 billion. The NDP emphasized the importance of private sector participation in Chad’s development, as well as the need to improve the business environment, particularly in priority sectors such as mining and agriculture.

The Government of Chad reached a deal with Glencore and four other banks on the restructuring of a $1.45 billion oil-backed loan in February 2018, after a long negotiation. The new terms include an extension of the maturity to 2030 from 2022, a two-year grace period on principal repayments, and a lower interest rate of the London Inter-bank Offer Rate (Libor) plus 2% - down from Libor plus 7.5%. The original Glencore loan was to be repaid with crude oil assets, however, Chad's oil sales were hit by the downturn in the price of oil. Chad had secured a $312 million credit from the IMF in June 2017, but the release of those funds hinged on restructuring the Glencore debt. Chad had already cut public spending to try to meet the terms of the IMF program, but that prompted strikes and protests in a country where nearly 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. Multinational partners, such as the African Development Bank, the EU, and the World Bank are likely to continue budget support in 2018, but Chad will remain at high debt risk, given its dependence on oil revenue and pressure to spend on subsidies and security.

Chad Economy Data

What is the GDP of Chad?

Currency Name and Code Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF)
GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP) $24,970,000,000 (USD)
GDP - official exchange rate $10,440,000,000 (USD)
GDP - real growth rate -1.1%
GDP Per Capita $2,600.00 (USD)
GDP by Sector- agriculture 53%
GDP by Sector- Industry 12.8%
GDP by Sector- services 34.2%
GDP - composition, by end use Household consumption: 71.4%

Government consumption: 4.4%

Investment in fixed capital: 30.8%

Investment in inventories: 0.4%

Exports of goods and services: 25.3%

Imports of goods and services: -32.3%
Population Below Poverty Line 46.7%
Inflation Rate 3.8%
Labor Force 5,457,000
Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture 80%
Fiscal Year Calendar Year
Annual Budget $1,626,000,000 (USD)
Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP -5.1%
Public Debt (% of GDP) 35.4%
Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP 15.6%
Major Industries Oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial Growth Rate -5%
Agriculture Products Cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, sesame, corn, rice, potatoes, onions, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exchange Rate per US Dollar 605.7
Labor Force By Occupation - industry and services 20%
Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14 48%
Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14 1,475,960
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate 15.5%

Labor Force by Occupation- As reported by Chad

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