Chad — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Chad: capital N'Djamena, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Chad is in Africa. Its capital is N'Djamena.

Population

17,720,000

Area

1,284,000 km²

Currency

Central African CFA Franc (XAF)

Languages

French, Arabic

Climate

Tropical in south, desert in north; rainy season from May to October in the south

Terrain

Broad arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

Facts

Chad has the largest lake in the Sahel region, though Lake Chad is shrinking.

The Sahara Desert covers the entire northern third of Chad.

Chad is sometimes called the "Dead Heart of Africa" due to its distance from the sea and desert climate.

History

900: Kanem Empire established around Lake Chad

1900: French conquest of Chad begins

1960: Independence from France

1979: Civil war erupts between northern and southern factions

1990: Idriss Déby seizes power

2021: President Déby killed; son Mahamat takes power

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