Chad is a vast landlocked country in north-central Africa, stretching from the Saharan north to the Sahel and the wetlands surrounding the rapidly shrinking Lake Chad.
Geography & landscape
Chad sits in Middle Africa, in the northern hemisphere of Africa. With an area of approximately 1,284,000 km², it is a continental-scale country, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, N'Djamena, lies near coordinates 15°, 19°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Africa, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Middle Africa region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Chad.
People & society
The population of Chad is around 18M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Chad recognises multiple official languages — Arabic and French — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Chad is structured as a presidential republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in N'Djamena, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Chad is the Central African CFA Franc (XAF). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around N'Djamena and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Chad shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Chad through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, N'Djamena, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +235, and clocks are set to the WAT (UTC+1) time zone. ISO standards identify Chad as TD (alpha-2) and TCD (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇹🇩, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | N'Djamena | — |
| Continent | Africa | — |
| Sub-region | Middle Africa | — |
| Population | 18M | people |
| Area | 1,284,000 | km² |
| Currency | Central African CFA Franc (XAF) | — |
| Calling code | +235 | international dialling |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) | standard time |
| Government type | Presidential republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | TD | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | TCD | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 15 | degrees |
| Longitude | 19 | degrees |
Did you know?
Lake Chad has shrunk by approximately 90% since the 1960s due to overuse and climate change, dropping from 25,000 km² to under 2,000 km².
