Chad: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

News •

Boko Haram flee Chadian offensive in Lake Chad - The Korea Herald • May 12, 2026, 9:58 PM ET (Korea Herald)

Boko Haram militants kill 23 soldiers in an attack on a military post, Chad says • May 5, 2026, 10:34 AM ET (AP)

Clashes over water access kill at least 42 people in Chad • Apr. 27, 2026, 11:48 AM ET (AP)

Haiti's new UN-backed gang-fighting force exceeds funding expectations • Apr. 23, 2026, 5:50 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Republic of Chad
Head Of State And Government	President: Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, assisted by Prime Minister: Allamaye Halina¹
Capital	N’Djamena
Population	(2026 est.) 20,024,000
Form Of Government	unitary republic¹
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: (2022) 57.3 years • Female: (2022) 61.1 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2022) 36% • Female: (2022) 19%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 13,000
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 670
¹On April 20, 2021, the military reported that Pres. Idriss Déby Itno had been killed in battle with rebels. The military dissolved the government and National Assembly and established the National Council of Transition, a military council, to govern the country for 18 months, with new elections planned thereafter. Déby’s son Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno was named interim president by the military council. On October 1, 2022, the transition period was extended for two more years, with a transitional civilian government of national unity planned to replace the transitional military council. Déby Itno was sworn in as transitional president on October 10. A presidential election, meant to herald the return to civilian rule, was held on May 6, 2024, of which Déby Itno was declared the winner; he was inaugurated on May 23. Legislative elections were due to be held in late 2024.