Located in the north of the African continent, Chad is bordered by Niger, Nigeria, Libya and Sudan, with a population of almost 12 million people. After having been colonized by France, Chad gained independence in 1960, becoming an oil producing nation by 2003.
The geography of Chad includes a desert zone in the north, a dry belt in the centre and a more fertile zone in the south. Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the largest wetland in Chad and the second-largest in Africa. The capital is N’Djamena which is also the largest city. Official languages are Arabic and French and most people identify as Muslim (at 55%), followed by Christianity (at 40%).