Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa, bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. Chad is one of the 47 landlocked countries in the world.
Chad has a population of 19 million, of which 1.6 million live in the capital and largest city of N'Djamena. The people are known as Chadians.
Chad may be one of Africa’s most underexplored countries, but it is full of potential for those who seek adventure, culture, and natural beauty. From its deserts and national parks to its rich ethnic diversity and cultural heritage, Chad offers an exciting, though challenging, destination for travelers.
Geography and Climate
Chad spans north-central Africa, covering an area of 1,284,000 square kilometers (496,000 sq mi), making it the twentieth-largest country in the world. Its dominant physical structure is a wide basin bounded to the north and east by the Ennedi Plateau and Tibesti Mountains, which include Emi Koussi, a dormant volcano that reaches 3,414 meters (11,201 ft) above sea level.
Chad has four bioclimatic zones:
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- Saharan Zone: The northernmost zone averages less than 200 mm (8") of rainfall annually. The sparse human population is largely nomadic, with some livestock, mostly small ruminants and camels.
- Sahelian Zone: The central zone receives between 200 and 600 mm (24") rainfall and has vegetation ranging from grass/shrub steppe to thorny, open savanna.
- Sudanian Zone: The southern zone receives between 600 and 1,000 mm (39"), with woodland savanna and deciduous forests for vegetation.
- Guinea Zone: Located in Chad's southwestern tip, rainfall ranges between 1,000 and 1,200 mm (47").
The country's topography is generally flat, with the elevation gradually rising as one moves north and east away from Lake Chad. The Ennedi Plateau and the Ouaddaï highlands in the east complete the image of a gradually sloping basin, which descends toward Lake Chad.
Lake Chad is the second-largest lake in West Africa and is one of the most important wetlands on the continent. Home to 120 species of fish and at least that many species of birds, the lake has shrunk dramatically in the last four decades due to the increased water use and low rainfall. Bordered by Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon, Lake Chad currently covers only 1,350 square kilometers, down from 25,000 square kilometers in 1963.
The Chari and Logone Rivers, both of which originate in the Central African Republic and flow northward, provide most of the surface water entering Lake Chad.
People and Culture
There are more than 200 ethnic groups in Chad, creating diverse social structures. The colonial administration and independent governments have attempted to impose a national society, but for most Chadians the local or regional society remains the most important influence outside the immediate family.
Chad has more than 200 distinct ethnic groups. The peoples of Chad carry significant ancestry from Eastern, Central, Western, and Northern Africa. The Sara people, who live sedentary lifestyles and are predominantly Christian, primarily settle the southern fifth of the country--which contains half of the nation’s population. The northern region of the country is inhabited primarily by nomadic tribal groups, who are mostly Muslim.
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Chad's official languages are Arabic and French, with over a 100 regional languages being spoken in the country.
Chad is a religiously diverse country. The majority of the population in Chad identifies as Muslim, although Islam in Chad draws heavily from pre-Islamic indigenous religion. Likewise, roughly 35 percent of Chadian Christians integrate aspects of animism and other indigenous beliefs in their practice. A full 10 percent of the population continues to practice their indigenous religion exclusively, primarily in the southern part of the country.
The diversity of cultures and lifestyles in Chad is reflected in the national diet. Unlike neighboring African countries, Chad has no uniform national cuisine. Millet porridge is widely eaten, although in the north it is less common. Southern Chadians tend to eat more agricultural products, with rice, potatoes, millet, red beans, spices, and fruits found alongside domesticated meats.
Polygamy is common, with 39% of women living in such unions. This is sanctioned by law, which automatically permits polygamy unless spouses specify that this is unacceptable upon marriage.
Although violence against women is prohibited, domestic violence is common. Female genital mutilation is also prohibited, but the practice is widespread and deeply rooted in tradition; 45% of Chadian women undergo the procedure, with the highest rates among Arabs, Hadjarai, and Ouaddaians (90% or more).
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Exploring the Rich Culture and Natural Beauty of Chad
History
Chad has a long and rich history. A humanoid skull found in Borkou was dated to be more than 3 million years old. Because in ancient times the Saharan area was not totally arid, Chad's population was more evenly distributed than it is today.
For example, 7,000 years ago, the north central basin, now in the Sahara, was still filled with water, and people lived and farmed around its shores. Cliff paintings in Borkou and Ennedi depict elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, cattle, and camels; only camels survive there today.
The region has been known to traders and geographers since the late Middle Ages. Since then, Chad has served as a crossroads for the Muslim peoples of the desert and savanna regions, and the animist Bantu tribes of the tropical forests.
From 1500 to 1900, Arab slave raids were widespread. The French first penetrated Chad in 1891, establishing their authority through military expeditions primarily against the Muslim kingdoms. The first major colonial battle for Chad was fought in 1900 between the French Major Lamy and the African leader Rabah, both of whom were killed in the battle.
On August 11, 1960 Chad became an independent nation under its first president, Francois Tombalbaye. A long civil war began as a tax revolt in 1965 and soon set the Muslim north and east against the southern-led government.
In December 1990, with Libyan assistance and no opposition from French troops stationed in Chad, Deby's forces successfully marched on N'Djamena. After 3 months of provisional government, Deby's Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) approved a national charter on February 28, 1991, with Deby as president.
Economy
Chad is one of Africa’s poorest nations. Its developing economy is highly dependent on foreign aid. In 2000, the country began expanding its oil pipelines; this effort was expected to boost the economy significantly. Despite these efforts, most of the population relies on subsistence farming. In 2023, the gross domestic product (GDP) was an estimated US$32.446 billion, with GDP per capita estimated at roughly $1,700. About 42.3 percent of Chad's population lives below the poverty line (2018 estimate).
The leading export in Chad is oil, which provided approximately 86 percent of the country’s export revenues in 2018, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).
Nearly 80 percent of the Chadian labor force are subsistence farmers (2006 estimate); most farming consists of livestock herding. The most common livestock are sheep, goats and camels.
Chad’s major cash crops include cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, sesame, corn, rice, potatoes, and manioc, much of which is consumed domestically.
Here's a table summarizing key economic indicators:
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| GDP (2023 est.) | US$32.446 billion |
| GDP per capita (2023 est.) | US$1,700 |
| Population below poverty line (2018 est.) | 42.3% |
Government
Chad is a presidential republic. The president, elected by popular vote, is the head of state and highest executive authority. The Council of Ministers is the president’s appointed cabinet.
A 188-member elected parliament, which is known as the National Assembly, comprises the legislative branch. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court.
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