The landlocked Republic of Chad is a former French colony comprised of 23 provinces. It is located in Central Africa. Sudan shares borders with the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger, and Libya. The major provinces are Ville de N'Djamena, Logone-Oriental, and Mayo-Kebbi Est. Chad is Africa's sixth largest country, covering an area of 1.2 million square kilometers. Its geography is divided by plains in the center, deserts in the north, and mountains in the northwest. The southern climate is tropical, whereas the northern climate is desert. The overall population is approximately 15.4 million. N'Djamena, the country's capital and largest city, has 1.3 million people. Moundou and Abéché are the county's two major cities. N'Djamena International Airport (NDJ) is the country's largest and only international airport. It connects the city to several African destinations as well as France. Its culture is largely shaped by French history and indigenous traditions. More over half of the population is Muslim. Other significant religions are Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The official languages are French and Arabic, but tribal dialects and languages are still popular. The legal system combines civil and customary law. The government is a presidential republic, with President Mahamat Déby as the elected head of state and administration. The official currency of the country is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which has a current exchange rate of XAF 594 to the USD. The country has an open economy, with a GDP of approximately $13.5 billion, making it Africa's 29th largest. The per capita income is $755. The GDP is mostly composed of two primary sectors: services and agriculture. Crude petroleum (40%) is its largest export and economic contributor, followed by gold, cotton, and building materials. Chad is a growing tourism destination with few tourist attractions and places.It's known for its diverse wildlife, safari tours, and national parks. Trekking safaris and hunting are common outdoor pursuits. Popular tourist destinations include the capital, N'Djamena, Zakouma National Park, Am Timan, the Tibesti Mountains, and Aouk National Park. Tourism is still in its early stages and not extensively diffused. The majority of the 87,000 annual tourism visitors are from nearby African nations and France.
