01
Physical geography
Broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south.
Local timeN'Djamena ·
Africa / Middle Africa · Card 011
Chad
Chad is a country in Middle Africa. Its capital is N'Djamena.
Find Chad
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- N'Djamena
- Languages
- Arabic & French
- Currency
- Central African CFA franc (XAF)
- Population
- 21.0 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 1,284,000 km²495,755 square miles
- Independence
- 1960from France
Chad in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks N'Djamena; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Arabic, French.
03
Location
Central Africa, south of Libya.
Flag
Three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), gold, and red
History & independence
Chad became independent from France on 11 August 1960. The following decades brought civil war and repeated changes of government. Oil exports began in 2003, changing the country’s economic base.
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Independence from France
-
Idriss Déby takes power
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Oil exports begin through a pipeline to Cameroon
Economy
Main activities
Oil is a major export and revenue source. Livestock, cotton and food crops remain important for livelihoods. As a landlocked Sahel country, Chad depends on regional transport routes and is vulnerable to drought.
Industry and production
oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people21.02025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,727,828 | 3.728 |
| 1980 | 4,515,453 | 4.515 |
| 1990 | 5,982,833 | 5.983 |
| 2000 | 8,512,093 | 8.512 |
| 2010 | 12,312,575 | 12.313 |
| 2020 | 17,224,679 | 17.225 |
| 2025 | 21,003,705 | 21.004 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars18.32025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,605,678,067 | 3.606 |
| 1991 | 3,913,427,636 | 3.913 |
| 1992 | 4,226,558,331 | 4.227 |
| 1993 | 3,562,572,905 | 3.563 |
| 1994 | 3,923,706,917 | 3.924 |
| 1995 | 3,972,225,488 | 3.972 |
| 1996 | 4,060,189,350 | 4.060 |
| 1997 | 4,289,727,783 | 4.290 |
| 1998 | 4,587,931,638 | 4.588 |
| 1999 | 4,556,602,937 | 4.557 |
| 2000 | 4,516,519,366 | 4.517 |
| 2001 | 5,043,061,275 | 5.043 |
| 2002 | 5,471,278,189 | 5.471 |
| 2003 | 6,276,741,545 | 6.277 |
| 2004 | 8,387,570,300 | 8.388 |
| 2005 | 9,841,348,752 | 9.841 |
| 2006 | 9,787,927,000 | 9.788 |
| 2007 | 10,199,036,983 | 10.199 |
| 2008 | 10,513,288,726 | 10.513 |
| 2009 | 10,365,231,907 | 10.365 |
| 2010 | 11,782,555,814 | 11.783 |
| 2011 | 12,312,232,324 | 12.312 |
| 2012 | 13,427,942,676 | 13.428 |
| 2013 | 13,809,056,592 | 13.809 |
| 2014 | 14,093,914,057 | 14.094 |
| 2015 | 14,559,599,500 | 14.560 |
| 2016 | 13,959,379,526 | 13.959 |
| 2017 | 13,733,590,858 | 13.734 |
| 2018 | 14,522,052,213 | 14.522 |
| 2019 | 15,303,748,439 | 15.304 |
| 2020 | 15,243,505,756 | 15.244 |
| 2021 | 15,288,236,703 | 15.288 |
| 2022 | 15,919,594,858 | 15.920 |
| 2023 | 16,556,157,862 | 16.556 |
| 2024 | 17,376,036,158 | 17.376 |
| 2025 | 18,347,335,766 | 18.347 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.416Low human developmentRank 190 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20000.303
20100.375
20200.408
20230.416
55.1 yearsLife expectancy at birth
2.3 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. Parliament has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Chad.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which city is identified as the capital of Chad?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.