Chad: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 2, 2026

News •

Switzerland freezes MSF funding after reports of sexual exploitation in Chad • Oct. 29, 2026, 12:24 PM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Twenty years later, Sudan’s refugees still can’t go home after seeking safety • Oct. 26, 2026, 6:57 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Facts

Also Known As	Republic of Chad
Head Of State And Government	President: Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, assisted by Prime Minister: Allamaye Halina
Capital	N’Djamena
Population	(2026 est.) 20,024,000
Form Of Government	unitary republic with two legislative houses (Senate [69¹]; National Assembly [188])
Official Languages	Arabic; French
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Jumhūriyyah Tshad (Arabic); République du Tchad (French) (Republic of Chad)
Total Area (Sq Km)	1,284,000
Total Area (Sq Mi)	495,755
Monetary Unit	CFA franc (CFAF)
Population Rank	(2026) 66
Population Projection 2030	23,016,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 46.4
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 17.9
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 24.7% • Rural: (2024) 75.3%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 57.5 years • Female: (2021) 60.7 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 19,116
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 940
¹Two-thirds of senators are indirectly elected; one-third are appointed by the president.

Photos

Map of Chad showing its international boundaries with neighboring countries, major cities including the capital N'Djamena, and key towns. The map also features a locator inset highlighting Chad's position within Africa.

Map of northern and central Africa highlighting Chad in tan, with surrounding countries labeled, including Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. Chad's capital, N'Djamena, is marked near the southwestern border.

Map of western Sudan and eastern Chad highlighting Darfur conflict zones and refugee camps. Conflict areas within and outside Darfur are marked, with clusters of refugee camps shown along the Chad border and several camps and internally displaced person (IDP) sites within Darfur. State and international boundaries are indicated, along with major cities such as Al-Fashir, Nyala, and Abeche.

Chad: Logone River

Chad: prehistoric cave art

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Topics

Idriss Déby Africa Western Africa nation-state N’Djamena Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Abéché Sarh Borkou United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

President Idriss Deby of Chad, wearing a white traditional outfit and hat, speaks at the United Nations podium with the UN emblem visible in front of him.

Idriss Déby

president of Chad

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Émile Gentil

governor of the French Congo

A map of the continent of Africa, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities. It also shows parts of Europe and Asia and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.

Africa

continent

western Africa

Western Africa

region, Africa

N'Djamena, Chad

N’Djamena

national capital, Chad

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Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti

former prefecture, Chad

Abéché

Abéché

Chad

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Sarh

Chad

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Borkou

region, Chad

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Faya

Chad

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Bongor

Chad

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Moundou

Chad

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Ouaddaï

region, Chad

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Kingdom of Bagirmi

historical kingdom, Africa

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Aozou Strip

territory, Chad

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Wadai

historical kingdom, Africa

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Koro Toro

anthropological and archaeological site, Chad

Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)

Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz

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10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres

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Africa’s Physical Features

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