CapitalN'Djamena
Population19,674,004
GDP per capita$2,600
LanguagesFrench , Arabic , Sara , and over 120 languages and dialects
CurrencyCooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs
Life Expectancy60.0 yr
Governmentpresidential republic.
Introduction
Background
Chad originated from a series of dominant states that governed the Sahel region beginning around the 9th century. These states aimed to dominate trans-Saharan trade routes, gaining significant profits, particularly from the slave trade. The Kanem-Bornu Empire, which was based around the Lake Chad Basin, thrived from the 9th to the 19th centuries, and at its zenith, the empire encompassed lands from southern Chad to southern Libya, including parts of present-day Algeria, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan. In the late 19th century, the Sudanese warlord Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR utilized an army mainly composed of slaves to seize control of the Kanem-Bornu Empire. In the southeastern region of Chad, the Bagirmi and Ouaddai (Wadai) kingdoms emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries, enduring until the French colonial presence established itself in the 19th and 20th centuries. France began its incursion into the area in the late 1880s, defeating the Bagirmi kingdom in 1897, Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR in 1900, and the Ouaddai kingdom in 1909. In the dry northern areas of Chad and southern Libya, an Islamic order known as the Sanusiyya (Sanusi) heavily depended on the trans-Saharan slave trade, boasting more than 3 million adherents by the 1880s. The French forces vanquished the Sanusiyya in 1910 following years of sporadic conflict. By 1910, France had integrated the northern dry region, the Lake Chad Basin, and southeastern Chad into French Equatorial Africa.
Chad attained its independence in 1960, subsequently enduring three decades marked by instability, oppressive governance, civil conflict, and a Libyan invasion. With assistance from the French military and several African nations, Chadian leaders successfully ousted Libyan troops during the 1987 "Toyota War," named for the use of Toyota pickup trucks as combat vehicles. In 1990, Chadian general Idriss DEBY orchestrated a revolt against President Hissene HABRE. Under DEBY's leadership, Chad adopted a constitution and conducted elections in 1996. Shortly after DEBY's death during a rebel attack in 2021, a cadre of military officials, spearheaded by DEBY’s son, Mahamat Idriss DEBY, assumed control of the government. These military leaders dissolved the National Assembly, suspended the Constitution, and established a Transitional Military Council (TMC), vowing to conduct democratic elections by October 2022. A national dialogue held from August to October 2022 resulted in agreements to prolong the transition for up to two years, disband the TMC, and appoint Mahamat DEBY as Transitional President; the transitional authorities organized a constitutional referendum in December 2023, claiming that 86 percent of voters supported the new constitution. Plans have been announced by the transitional authorities to hold elections by October 2024.
Chad has struggled with widespread poverty, an economy severely affected by fluctuating international oil prices, insurgencies led by terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin, and multiple revolts in northern and eastern Chad. In 2015, the government declared a state of emergency in the Lake Chad Basin following a series of attacks by the terrorist organization Boko Haram, now referred to as ISIS-West Africa. That same year, Boko Haram executed bombings in N'Djamena. In 2019, the Chadian government also proclaimed a state of emergency in the Sila and Ouaddai regions adjacent to Sudan and in the Tibesti area bordering Niger, where competing ethnic factions continue to engage in conflict. The military has incurred significant casualties due to Islamic terror groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
Geography
Area
land
1,259,200 sq km
water
24,800 sq km
total
1.284 million sq km
Climate
tropical climate in the southern region, arid desert in the northern region
Terrain
vast, dry plains in the central area, desert in the north, mountainous terrain in the northwest, and lowlands in the south
Land use
other
57% (2023 est.)
forest
3.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
40% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 35.7% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Central Africa, to the south of Libya
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
Djourab 160 m
highest point
Emi Koussi 3,445 m
mean elevation
543 m
Irrigated land
300 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Lake Chad Basin, Nubian Aquifer System
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
6,406 km
border countries
Cameroon 1,116 km; Central African Republic 1,556 km; Libya 1,050 km; Niger 1,196 km; Nigeria 85 km; Sudan 1,403 km
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
the northern region experiences hot, dry harmattan winds, along with occasional droughts and locust infestations
Geography - note
note 1: Chad stands as the largest landlocked nation among Africa's 16 countries
note 2: During the African Humid Period, a diverse array of wildlife inhabited present-day Chad, such as elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelopes; the last remnant of this "Green Sahara" can be found in the Lakes of Ounianga in northern Chad, which consists of 18 interconnected lakes featuring freshwater, saline, and hypersaline waters
note 3: Lake Chad, the principal water body in the Sahel region, is a remnant of the ancient inland sea known as paleolake Mega-Chad; at its largest, prior to 5000 B.C., Lake Mega-Chad was the most extensive of the four Saharan paleolakes present during the African Humid Period, spanning approximately 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq mi), comparable to the current size of the Caspian Sea
Natural resources
petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (from Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Area - comparative
nearly nine times larger than New York state; just over three times bigger than California
Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 19 00 E
Population distribution
the population is distributed unevenly due to variations in climate and physical geography; the highest population density occurs in the southwest, especially near Lake Chad and further south; conversely, the dry Saharan area to the north is the least populated, as illustrated by the accompanying population distribution map
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s)
Lake Chad (an endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km
note - area fluctuates with the seasons and from year to year
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
People & Society
Literacy
male
44.5% (2019 est.)
female
18.6% (2019 est.)
total population
30.6% (2019 est.)
Languages
Languages
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (predominantly in the south), and over 120 languages and dialects
major-language sample(s)
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (estimates for 2014-15)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.75 male(s)/female
Birth rate
38.62 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
16.3 years
total
16.9 years (2025 est.)
female
17.2 years
Population
male
9,756,129
total
19,674,004 (2025 est.)
female
9,917,875
Nationality
noun
Chadian(s)
adjective
Chadian
Tobacco use
male
11.8% (2025 est.)
total
6.5% (2025 est.)
female
1.3% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
24.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
45.8% (male 4,428,132/female 4,323,398)
15-64 years
51.7% (male 4,831,744/female 5,031,383)
65 years and over
2.5% (2024 est.) (male 204,823/female 274,115)
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 4.6%, unspecified 1.7% (2014-15 est.)
Child marriage
men married by age 18
8.1% (2019)
women married by age 15
24.2% (2019)
women married by age 18
60.6% (2019)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
92.1 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
87.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
20.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
4.9 (2025 est.)
Physician density
0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
7.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.13 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 43.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 52% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 77.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 56.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 48% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 22.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
16.5% national budget (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
68.1 deaths/1,000 live births
total
61.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
56.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
2.98% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
2.51 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The distribution of the population is irregular, influenced by variations in climate and physical geography; the southwest region, especially near Lake Chad and further south, exhibits the highest population density, while the arid Saharan area to the north is the least populated, as illustrated in this population distribution map
Life expectancy at birth
male
58.1 years
female
62 years
total population
60 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
748 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 6.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 56.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 93.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 43.6% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.592 million N'DJAMENA (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
6.1% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
18.1 years (2014/15 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
72.6% (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
18.2% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
9 years (2015 est.)
total
7 years (2015 est.)
female
6 years (2015 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical climate in the southern region, arid conditions in the northern region
Land use
other
57% (2023 est.)
forest
3.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
40% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 35.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
24.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
12 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
60.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
101.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
1,282.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.359 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
11.1% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
insufficient access to drinkable water; contamination of soil and water due to improper waste management in rural communities and substandard agricultural methods; desertification
Total water withdrawal
municipal
103.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
103.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
672.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
2.054 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
2 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
2.054 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
41.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
45.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
Marine Dumping-London Convention
Government
Flag
description: comprised of three vertical bands of equal width in blue (left), gold, and red
meaning: merges the blue and red colors of France (historically colonial) with the red and yellow hues of Pan-Africanism; blue symbolizes the sky, hope, and the southern region of the nation; gold represents the sun and the northern desert; red signifies progress, unity, and sacrifice.
Capital
name
N'Djamena
etymology
said to derive its name from a local word meaning "place of rest"
time difference
UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
12 06 N, 15 02 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
both parents must be citizens of Chad
dual citizenship recognized
Chadian law does not address dual citizenship
residency requirement for naturalization
15 years
Constitution
history
multiple previous versions; the most recent was adopted by the National Transitional Council on 27 June 2023, ratified by referendum on 17 December, validated by the Chad Supreme Court on 28 December, and formally enacted on 1 January 2024.
amendment process
the prior process involved a proposal for revision by the president of the republic following a decision by the Council of Ministers (cabinet) or by the National Assembly; for a revision to be considered, it requires a minimum three-fifths majority vote from the Assembly; final approval is contingent on a referendum or a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly.
Country name
etymology
named after Lake Chad, which is situated along the country's western frontier; derived from a local term meaning "large body of water" or "lake."
local long form
République du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
local short form
Tchad/Tshad
conventional long form
Republic of Chad
conventional short form
Chad
Independence
11 August 1960 (from France)
Legal system
a hybrid legal system that incorporates both civil law and customary law.
Government type
presidential republic.
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (composed of the chief justice, three chamber presidents, and twelve judges or councilors, organized into three chambers); Supreme Council of the Judiciary (includes the Judiciary president, vice president, and thirteen members).
subordinate courts
High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace.
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the president; councilors - eight appointed by the president and seven by the speaker of the National Assembly; both the chief justice and councilors serve for life; members of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, aside from the Judiciary president and vice president, are elected for renewable four-year terms.
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers
chief of state
President Mahamat Idriss DÉBY (since 6 May 2024).
election results
2024: Mahamat Idriss DÉBY was elected president; percentage of votes - Mahamat Idriss DÉBY (MPS) 61%, Succes MASRA (Transformers) 18.5%, Albert PADACKE 16.9%, others 3.6%
head of government
Prime Minister Allamaye HALINA (since 23 May 2024)
most recent election date
6 May 2024
election/appointment process
the president is elected directly by an absolute-majority popular vote in two rounds, if necessary, for a term of five years (there are no term limits).
expected date of next election
TBD
National holiday
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
National color(s)
blue, yellow, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Lakes of Ounianga (n); Ennedi Massif: Natural and Cultural Landscape (m).
Political parties
Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR
National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP
National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR
Party for Unity and Reconstruction or PUR
Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS
Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP
Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening or RNDT/Le Reveil
Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA
Union for Democracy and the Republic or UDR
Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD
Transformers
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"La Tchadienne" (The Chadian)
history
adopted 1960
lyrics/music
Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD
National symbol(s)
goat (north), lion (south)
Administrative divisions
23 provinces; Barh-El-Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi-Est, Mayo-Kebbi-Ouest, Moyen-Chari, N'Djamena, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Wadi-Fira.
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly (National Assembly)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
188 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
12/29/2024
expected date of next election
December 2029
percentage of women in chamber
33.5%
parties elected and seats per party
Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (124); Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening (RNDT/ Le Réveil) (12); Others (27); Other (25).
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senate)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
69 (46 indirectly elected; 23 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/25/2025
expected date of next election
February 2031
percentage of women in chamber
36.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (66); Other (3)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 578-0431
chancery
2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 652-1312
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires ANWAR SADAT Fatahalbab (since 30 July 2025).
email address and website
[email protected]
https://chadembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[235] 2253-9102
embassy
Rond-Point Chagoua, B.P. 413, N’Djamena
telephone
[235] 6885-1065
mailing address
2410 N'Djamena Place, Washington DC 20521-2410.
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires William FLENS (since July 2025).
email address and website
[email protected]
https://td.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not provided a declaration regarding ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction.
Economy
Budget
revenues
$2.129 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures
$2.15 billion (2020 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$5.658 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$5.7 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$5.799 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$2.898 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$3.271 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$3.557 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Labor force
6.6 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
52.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$2.286 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
an economy reliant on oil that faces challenges from market volatility, regional unrest, an influx of refugees, and susceptibility to climate change; significant rates of extreme poverty and food insecurity; recent economic growth has been fueled by the recovery of the oil and agricultural sectors; a debt-restructuring agreement has been established under the G20 Common Framework
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
1.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
1.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
1.1% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 26%, China 19%, Germany 17%, Netherlands 13%, France 10% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 28%, UAE 23%, Turkey 10%, France 9%, India 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,700 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$2,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$2,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
12.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.7% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
sorghum, groundnuts, millet, beef, cereals, yams, sugarcane, maize, cassava, milk (2023)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, gold, oil seeds, gum resins, cotton (2023)
Imports - commodities
jewelry, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, cars, refined petroleum (2023)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$20.626 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
61.3% (2024 est.)
government consumption
8.7% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
3.4% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
14.4% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
28.1% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-17.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
44.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
10.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
8.9% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
5.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$49.012 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$51.03 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$52.895 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
2.1% (2024 est.)
total
1.5% (2024 est.)
female
0.7% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$211.591 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.013 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$1.05 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
29.7% (2024 est.)
services
31.6% (2024 est.)
agriculture
32.2% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.8% (2022 est.)
highest 10%
29.5% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
37.4 (2022 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
20 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
124,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
1.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
282.103 million kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
167,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
109.04 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
1.3%
electrification - urban areas
46.3%
electrification - total population
11.7% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
1.502 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
94.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
13% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
One television station is owned by the state, while there are two that are privately owned. The state-operated radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), runs both national and regional stations. Additionally, there are more than ten private radio stations, and certain stations retransmit content from international media outlets (2017)
Internet country code
.td
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
(2024 estimate) The telephone system is currently non-operational. No information is accessible for the year 2024.
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2024 estimate) The telephone system is currently non-operational. No information is accessible for the year 2024.
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
14.8 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
73 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
0 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
Airports
44 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TT
Military & Security
Military - note
The Chadian National Army prioritizes internal security and is actively involved in counterinsurgency efforts aimed at various terrorist and rebel factions. Key terrorist entities such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham are active in the Lake Chad Basin region. Concurrently, several anti-government militias operate in northern Chad, with some launching from bases in southern Libya, including groups like the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (CCSMR), the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD), and the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR). The former President of Chad, Idriss DEBY, was killed in April 2021 amidst clashes involving FACT and government troops (2025).
Military deployments
note: Chad has deployed around 1,000-1,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to combat Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the vicinity of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border. Although national MNJTF troop contingents are stationed within their respective territories, cross-border operations are conducted on occasion.
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
2.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security 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), Chadian National Gendarmerie; General Direction of the Security Services of State Institutions (Direction Generale des Services de Securite des Institutions de l'Etat, GDSSIE)
Ministry of Public Security and Immigration: National Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT) (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Individuals aged 18-25 can volunteer for service; men are subject to compulsory service lasting between 18 and 36 months starting at age 20, while women face a 12-month requirement for military or civic service beginning at age 21 (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The ANT possesses a combination of older, secondhand weaponry alongside some more contemporary arms sourced from various suppliers, including Brazil, China, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UAE (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The estimated number of active personnel in the Chadian National Army is between 35,000 and 40,000 (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - West Africa (ISIS-WA)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating
Tier 3 — Chad fails to fully comply with the minimum standards for the eradication of trafficking and is not making considerable efforts in this direction; consequently, Chad has been lowered to Tier 3. For additional information, visit: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/chad/
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
1,542,532 (2024 est.)
refugees
1,286,645 (2024 est.)
