25+ Interesting Facts About Chad

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  1. Chad is a landlocked country in north-central Africa. Its area is the fifth largest in Africa.
  2. Chad is the largest landlocked country in Africa and the 3rd largest in the world after Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
  3. Chad is named after Lake Chad, one of the most prominent wetlands in Africa. Some part of this lake is also present in Chad’s neighboring countries. Climate change and the increase in population have reduced 90% area of the lake since the 1960s.
  4. Lakes of Ounianga, a UNESCO world heritage site, are a combination of 18 permanent lakes in two groups, present inside the desert. There are both saline and freshwater lakes that support varying organisms. They display green, blue, and red colors due to the reflection of various chemicals.
  5. Chad was the place of discovery for the oldest skull of a hominid (member of the human family) in 2002. According to estimates, this skull is more than 6 million years old. (Source)
  6. The quality of roads in Chad is the worst among 141 countries in the world. It is the only country with road quality of less than 2. (Source)
  7. The Sahara desert covers a vast northern part of Chad. The central plain area favors cattle herding, while cotton and other crops grow in the southern lowland.
    Satellite image of Chad's geography
    Chad has three different geographical features

  8. Chad’s capital N’Djamena is the most polluted capital in Africa and the third most polluted in the world. Its air quality is only better than New Delhi (India) and Dhaka (Bangladesh).
  9. Chad has the least light pollution in the world. More than 75% population of Chad (and a few other African countries) lives under the natural night sky. (Source)
  10. Arabic and French are the two official languages of Chad. However, people from several ethnicities speak more than 100 local languages and dialects.
  11. Islam (52%) and Christianity (44%) are the main religions in Chad. Most Muslims reside in the northern part of the country, while Christians are predominant in the southern area.
  12. France occupied Chad in 1913 after defeating Rabih al-Zubayr, a Sudanese adventurer controlling a large part of the country.
  13. Chad gained independence from France in 1960. Francois Tombalbaye, a Christian from southern Chad, became its first president.
  14. The relations between the Muslim-majority north and Christian-majority south remained strained since independence. It resulted in an internal military conflict from the mid-1960s between the government, dominated by Christians, and separate Muslim rebel groups of north and east-center.
  15. The political situation in Chad continuously remained violent. Most of the heads of state were either killed or deposed.
  16. Chad fought a war against Libya (and Libyan-allied Chad’s groups) from 1978 to 1987 due to Libyan involvement in its internal affairs. Chad defeated Libya with assistance from France and regained control of its northern part. It managed to liberate the Aouzou strip, annexed by Libya, in 1994 after the UN interference.
  17. The flags of Chad and Romania are the most identical in the world. They have the same size and design and differ only in shades. However, both countries do not have embassies in each other country. (Source)
  18. Chad has the 3rd lowest HDI (Human Development Index) in the world, only above Niger and the Central African Republic. (Source)
  19. Chad is commonly known as the “Dead heart of Africa” due to its harsh climate and distance from the sea.
  20. Chad has the fourth-lowest secondary school enrolment rate in the world. Less than 23% of children in Chad attend secondary school. (Source)
  21. Mount Koussi in Chad is the highest point in the Sahara desert. The summit of this extinct volcano is 11,204 feet. (Source) 
    Mount Koussi in Chad
    The highest point of Sahara desert is in Chad

  22. Network Readiness Index (NRI) measures the preparedness of countries regarding information and communication technology. Chad has the last (131) position in NRI. (Source)
  23. Chad has the world’s second-lowest life expectancy, around 55 years for both genders. It is only above the Central African Republic. (Source)
  24. Crude petroleum and gold are the main exports of Chad. China is the top importing and exporting partner of this African country. (Source)
  25. Cotton is a major agricultural export of Chad. It was the main export before the discovery of oil in 2003.
  26. Chad is the 3rd largest exporter of Gum Arabic after France and Sudan. (Source)
  27. Chad has the 5th highest fertility rate. On average, more than five children are born to a woman in Chad.
  28. Chad has two UNESCO world heritage sites. Lakes of Ounianga is a natural site, while Ennedi Massif is a mixed cultural and natural landscape. (Source)

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