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Chad
Chad
Population
20.3M
Rank #64Source: World Bank
Capital
N'Djamena
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$19.52B
Rank #129Source: World Bank
Land Area
1.3M km²
Rank #21Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
55.069 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 1,284,000 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
Elevation: mean elevation: 543 m lowest point: Djourab 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,445 m
Natural Hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues
Environmental Issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas and poor farming practices contribute to soil and water pollution; desertification
Land Use: agricultural land: 39.6% (2011 est.) forest: 9.1% (2011 est.) other: 51.3% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: note 1: Chad is the largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries note 2: not long ago - geologically speaking - what is today the Sahara was green savannah teeming with wildlife; during the African...
Natural Resources
petroleumuraniumnatronkaolinfish (Lake Chad)goldlimestonesand and gravelsalt
People & Society
Fertility Rate
6.12
Population
20.3M
Ethnic Groups
Sara (Ngambaye/Sara/Madjingaye/Mbaye) (30.5%)Kanembu/Bornu/Buduma (9.8%)Arab (9.7%)Wadai/Maba/Masalit/Mimi (7%)Gorane (5.8%)Masa/Musseye/Musgum (4.9%)Bulala/Medogo/Kuka (3.7%)Marba/Lele/Mesme (3.5%)Mundang (2.7%)Bidiyo/Migaama/Kenga/Dangleat (2.5%)Dadjo/Kibet/Muro (2.4%)Tupuri/Kera (2%)Gabri/Kabalaye/Nanchere/Somrai (2%)Fulani/Fulbe/Bodore (1.8%)Karo/Zime/Peve (1.3%)Baguirmi/Barma (1.2%)Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe (1.1%)Tama/Assongori/Mararit (1.1%)Mesmedje/Massalat/Kadjakse (0.8%)other Chadian ethnicities (3.4%)Chadians of foreign ethnicities (0.9%)foreign nationals (0.3%)unspecified (1.7%)
Religions
Muslim (52.1%)Protestant (23.9%)Roman Catholic (20%)animist (0.3%)other Christian (0.2%)none (2.8%)unspecified (0.7%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$961.56
GDP per Capita PPP
2,742.66
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
940
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
37.4
(2022)
(2022)
Unemployment
1.053%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
8.9%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
12%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
70%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
2.893 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
4.2 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
4.643%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
3.161% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
13.183%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
70.187%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
Not Available
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
0.472 M ton-km
(2014)
(2014)
Container Port Traffic
Not Available
Airports
72
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
23,695 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT): Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), General Direction of the Security Services of State...
Personnel Strength
the Chadian National Army (ANT) has approximately 34,000 active personnel (29,000 Ground Forces; 300 Air Force; 4,500 General Direction of the Security Services of State Institutions); 5,000 National...
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.56B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
2.98%
Military Expenditure History
2.2% of GDP (2019) 2.3% of GDP (2018) 2.2% of GDP (2017) 1.8% of GDP (2016) 2% of GDP (2015)
Deployments
1,450 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)
Equipment & Inventories
the ANT is mostly armed with older or second-hand equipment from Belgium, France, Russia, and the former Soviet Union; since 2010, the leading suppliers are China, Italy, and Ukraine; the US has also...
Service Age & Obligation
20 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service, with a 3-year service obligation; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with...
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
1.271%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
88.465%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
23.493%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
4.397%
(2020)
(2020)
Education Spending
3.201% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
30.63%
(2019)
(2019)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
56.888:1
(2016)
(2016)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.085
(2023)
(2023)
Safe Water Access
52.209%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
6.341%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
Not Available
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
14.756 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
57.535
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
26
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
68%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
39.5%
(2022)
(2022)
Food Insecurity
32%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
1.529%
(2018)
(2018)
Governance
Women in Government
26.108%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-1.44
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Political Stability
-1.56
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-1.48
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-1.16
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-1.35
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.48
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
mixed legal system of civil and customary law
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. (since 4 December 1990) head of government: President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. (since 4 December 1990); prime minister position eliminated under...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly (188 seats; 163 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 25 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 3 chamber presidents, and 12 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 3 judges and 6...
National Symbols
Flag Description
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and red; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow (gold) of the Pan-African colors; blue...
National Symbols
goat (north), lion (south); national colors: blue, yellow, red
National Anthem
name: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian) lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD note: adopted 1960
Travel Information
Language(s): Arabic, French
Currency: XAF (Fr)
Timezone(s): UTC+01:00
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +235
Car Sign: TCH, TD
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
CIA World Factbook • 2020
Aorounga Impact Crater, located in the Sahara Desert of north-central Chad, is one of the best-preserved impact structures in the world. The crater is thought to be about 345-370 million years old, based on the age of the sedimentary rocks deformed by the impact. Radar data suggests that Aorounga is one of a set of three craters formed by the same impact event. The other two suggested impact structures are buried by sand deposits. Image courtesy of NASA.
Aorounga Impact Crater, located in the Sahara Desert of north-central Chad, is one of the best-preserved impact structures in the world. The crater is thought to be about 345-370 million years old, based on the age of the sedimentary rocks deformed by the impact. Radar data suggests that Aorounga is one of a set of three craters formed by the same impact event. The other two suggested impact structures are buried by sand deposits. Image courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Only 10,000 years ago grasses covered the Sahara Desert and mammals such as lions and elephants roamed the land. Now only two percent of the Sahara hosts oases, patches of land usually centered on natural water springs where crops will grow and where nearly two million people live. In this enhanced satellite image, a series of dark rocky outcroppings contrast with colorful windblown rivers of sand near the Terkezi Oasis in Chad. Image courtesy of USGS.
Only 10,000 years ago grasses covered the Sahara Desert and mammals such as lions and elephants roamed the land. Now only two percent of the Sahara hosts oases, patches of land usually centered on natural water springs where crops will grow and where nearly two million people live. In this enhanced satellite image, a series of dark rocky outcroppings contrast with colorful windblown rivers of sand near the Terkezi Oasis in Chad. Image courtesy of USGS. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
4 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data