Chad flag
Central Africa · Africa

Chad

Tchad
Capital
N'Djamena
Population
17.4M
Area
1,284,000 km²
Language
French / Arabic

Chad is a country in Central Africa, Africa. Its capital is N'Djamena, with a population of approximately 17.4M and a total area of 1,284,000 km². The official languages are French / Arabic and the currency is the Central African CFA Franc (XAF).

📊 Quick Facts about Chad

👥
Population
17.4M
total residents
📐
Total Area
1,284,000 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
14/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$11.8B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$678
per person
💱
Currency
Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
French / Arabic
official
🌊
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+1
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1960
established
🕐
Local Time in N'Djamena

Chad covers an area of 1,284,000 km² with a population density of 14/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $11.8B ($678 per capita) and gained independence in 1960. It is a landlocked country with no coastline.

Did You Know?

A 7-million-year-old skull found in Chad, named Toumaï, may be the earliest known ancestor of humans. The Ennedi Massif in northern Chad contains thousands of prehistoric rock paintings and natural rock arches.

See all 36+ facts about Chad

✈️ Travel Information for Chad

📅
Best Time to Visit
November–February
Hot desert north, tropical south
💸
Cost of Travel
Budget
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa required for most nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Chad travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Chad on the Map

Street-level photo from N'Djamena
📍 N'Djamena · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Chad World Rankings

1st
Lake Chad
Lake Chad once one of Africa's largest lakes, now 90% reduced
1st
Human Origin
Skull of earliest known human ancestor found here (7 million years old)
1st
Sahara
Northern Chad is almost entirely Sahara Desert
1st
Rock Art
Ennedi Massif has thousands of prehistoric rock paintings

🏛 Must-See Places in Chad

🗺️ Countries Bordering Chad

Libya
Libya
Tripoli
Sudan
Sudan
Khartoum
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
Bangui
Nigeria
Nigeria
Abuja
Niger
Niger
Niamey
Cameroon
Cameroon
Yaoundé

⚖️ Compare Chad with another country

See how Chad stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

ChadvsLibya
Chad vs Libya
ChadvsSudan
Chad vs Sudan
ChadvsCentral African Republic
Chad vs Central African Republic
ChadvsNigeria
Chad vs Nigeria
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Chad

What is the capital of Chad?

The capital of Chad is N'Djamena.

What continent is Chad in?

Chad is located in Africa, in the Central Africa region.

What currency does Chad use?

Chad uses the Central African CFA Franc (XAF). The international calling code is +235.

What is the GDP of Chad?

Chad has a GDP of $11.8B, with a GDP per capita of $678.

🌍 Explore More Countries in Central Africa

Cameroon
Cameroon
Yaoundé
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
Bangui
Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
Brazzaville
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Malabo

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