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The '''Republic of Chad''' is a nation of sub-Saharan [[Africa]] and is the fifth-largest African country.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1068700.stm</ref> It has an area of 495,800 square miles (1,280,000 million sq km<sup>2</sup>) and a population of 9.1 million. Its [[capital]] is [[N'Djamena]]. It is bounded by [[Libya]], [[Sudan]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Cameroon]], [[Nigeria]] and [[Niger]].
==Geography==
Lake Chad is the second-largest lake in West Africa and is one of the most important wetlands on the continent. Home to 120 species of fish and at least that many species of birds, the lake has shrunk dramatically in the last four decades due to the increased water use and low rainfall. Bordered by Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon, Lake Chad currently covers only 1,350 square kilometers, down from 25,000 square kilometers in 1963. The Chari and Logone Rivers, both of which originate in the Central African Republic and flow northward, provide most of the water entering Lake Chad.
*Area: 1,284,634 sq. km<sup>2</sup>. (496,000 sq. mi.); about twice the size of Texas.
*Cities: Capital—N'Djamena (pop. 1 million est.). Other major cities—Moundou, Abeche, Sarh.
*Terrain: Desert, mountainous north, large arid central plain, fertile lowlands in extreme southern regions.
*Population (July 2009 est.): 10,329,208.
*Annual growth rate (2009 est.): 2.069%.
*Density: 6.6 per sq. km<sup>2</sup>. (17 per sq. mi.).
*Ethnic groups: 200 distinct groups. In the north and center, Gorane (Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Arabs, Baguirmi, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are Muslim. In the south, Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moudang, Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist. About 1,000 French citizens live in Chad.
*Religions: Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other indigenous beliefs 7%.