Chad
Africa Β· Capital: N'Djamena
How it is run: Chad is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Chad is home to 21.0 million people in Middle Africa, where people speak Arabic, French.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
21.0 million people
That is 0.3% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
1,284,000 kmΒ²
One of the world's large countries: flying across it takes hours.
ποΈ How crowded
Only about 16 people per square kilometre β lots of wide open space between towns.
π Size in its region
23rd most people in Africa
5th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
Arabic, French
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
55.2 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$1,022
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
27.6% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
46% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+235
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.td
π§ People here are called
Chadian
π·οΈ Name at home
ΨͺΨ΄Ψ§Ψ― Β· Tchad
Also written: Tchad, Republic of Chad, RΓ©publique du Tchad.
π Coast or inland
Landlocked β no coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Chad is landlocked β it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Chad
French
Tchad
Arabic
ΨͺΨ΄Ψ§Ψ―
Chinese
δΉεΎ
Japanese
γγ£γ
Russian
Π§Π°Π΄
Portuguese
Chade
German
Tschad
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 11.3Γ as many people as Chad.
- Chad covers roughly 12,229 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Chad lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 10,502 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Chad sits in Middle Africa, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Chad
ποΈ Capital
N'Djamena
π Region
Africa Β· Middle Africa
π€ Country code
TD
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Chad π
π§ Where on the map
15.0Β° N, 19.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+1 β when it is noon in London it is about 13:00 in N'Djamena.
- Chad shares its part of the world with Republic of the Congo. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- Chad lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Chad sits in Middle Africa, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
- Chad is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- Chad is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Chad has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Chad?
- If Chad spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Chad?
N'Djamena
Which money do people spend in Chad?
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
How many countries share a land border with Chad?
6 β Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan.
Roughly how many people live in Chad?
21.0 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.