Chad is a country in Africa, with about 21 million people (2025) and an area of 1,284,000 square kilometres. Its capital is N'Djamena, and it shares land borders with 6 countries.
By Team Geography·Last reviewed
Flag of ChadChad in solid, land neighbours outlined, capital marked.
The app teaches each country through short hand written lenses: PLACE for physical geography, STORY for history and identity, NOW for the news, and THREAD for the ties between countries. Here is one of Chad's 6, in full.
PLACELens 1 of 6
Where Chad sits in Africa
Chad occupies a landlocked position in north-central Africa, bordered by six countries and stretching from the Sahara Desert in the north to wetter savannas in the south. The Tibesti Mountains in the northwest contain Emi Koussi, the highest peak in the Sahara at 3,445 meters. Lake Chad, once one of Africa's largest bodies of water, has shrunk by roughly 90 percent since the 1960s and now straddles Chad's western border with Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
More on Tibesti Mountains
A volcanic range in the northwest where Emi Koussi rises to 3,445 meters, making it the highest point in the entire Sahara. The area is home to the Toubou people, semi-nomadic pastoralists adapted to extreme aridity.
5 more lenses on Chad in the app
STORY Two halves of one country
NOW Oil wealth and persistent poverty
THREAD Chad's role as a regional anchor
PLACE The Ennedi sandstone labyrinth
PLACE A lake shallow enough to vanish and return
Titles only. The app brings each lens back on a spaced repetition schedule set by how well you knew it: New, Hazy or Clear.
Compare Chad with another country
Opens the country comparison tool with population, area, income and more side by side, every figure dated.
Common questions
What is the capital of Chad?
The capital of Chad is N'Djamena. N'Djamena lies at about 12.1 degrees north and 15.0 degrees east. Chad is in Africa. It is home to about 21 million people. The world capitals quiz on this site tests every capital, and the printable capitals sheets cover each continent.
What is the population of Chad?
About 21 million people live in Chad, according to the World Bank figures for 2025. That makes it the 63rd most populous of the 195 countries. With an area of 1,284,000 square kilometres, that is about 16 people per square kilometre.
What countries border Chad?
Chad shares land borders with 6 countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan. The map on this page outlines each of them around Chad. The count includes only borders on land, not neighbours across a sea or a lake.
How big is Chad?
Chad covers 1,284,000 square kilometres, or about 495,755 square miles. That makes it the 20th largest of the 195 countries. The figure is total surface area, which includes inland water such as lakes and rivers. Its population of about 21 million gives a density of 16 people per square kilometre.
Chad is a country in Africa, with about 21 million people (2025) and an area of 1,284,000 square kilometres. Its capital is N'Djamena, and it shares land borders with 6 countries.
Capital
N'Djamena
Continent
Africa
Population
21,003,705 2025, World Bank. 63rd of 195.
Area
1,284,000 km² (495,755 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 20th largest of 195.
Population density
16 people per km²
Land neighbours
6: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan
Official name
Republic of Chad
UN status
Member state
PLACE · from the Geography app
Where Chad sits in Africa
Chad occupies a landlocked position in north-central Africa, bordered by six countries and stretching from the Sahara Desert in the north to wetter savannas in the south. The Tibesti Mountains in the northwest contain Emi Koussi, the highest peak in the Sahara at 3,445 meters. Lake Chad, once one of Africa's largest bodies of water, has shrunk by roughly 90 percent since the 1960s and now straddles Chad's western border with Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/chad/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
Geography · Country report
Chad
NameDate
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Colour Chad on the map, then fill in what you find.
Capital
Continent
Population
Area
Languages
Currency
Neighbours
Landmarks
Rivers or mountains
Three things I learned
1
2
3
One question I still have
?
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/chad/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
