The economy of Chad is based largely on subsistence agriculture; some 83 % of the labor force is engaged in farming, animal husbandry, forestry, and fishing. In 1992 national budget figures showed revenues of $121 million and expenditures of $365 million. The currency is the CFA franc, consisting of 100 centimes. An exchange rate of 50 CFA francs equal to 1 French franc was in force until 1994, when the CFA franc was devalued by 50 %. In 1999 imports were $270 million, and exports were $277 million. Chad's principal mineral resource is natron -a complex of sodium carbonate, which is dug up in the Lake Chad and Borkou areas and is used as salt and in the preparation of soap and medicines. Annual production is a few thousand tons. There are indications of deposits of gold in the Ouaddaï area, uranium in the Ennedi Plateau area, uranium and wolframite in the Aozou Strip in the far north, and bauxite near Laï. Oil has been found north of Lake Chad.

Landlocked Chad's economic development suffers from its geographic remoteness, drought, deficiency of infrastructure, and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on agriculture, including the herding of farm animal. Of Africa's Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World Bank, the African Development Fund, and other sources is directed largely at the improvement of agriculture, particularly farm animal production. The World Bank's decision to back the Doba oil field development and the Chad-Cameroon pipeline will add Chad to the group of already booming West African oil exporters. the rank and file may not benefit much from the oil development projects.