Explore the heart of Africa with key facts about Chad. Learn about its diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, significant Lake Chad, and vibrant wildlife. A journey into Chad’s unique blend of nature and culture awaits.
Chad is a big and exciting country right in the heart of Africa. It’s home to the amazing Lake Chad, which is like a giant bowl of water that many animals and people depend on. Imagine a place where you can find tall mountains, sandy deserts, and lots of different animals like elephants and lions! In Chad, there are more than 200 groups of people, each with their own special stories, dances, and music. It’s like a patchwork quilt of cultures and colors, making Chad a super exciting place to learn about!
To learn more about other interesting facts be sure to check out our Facts About Bacon as well as our 25 Remarkable Facts about James Madison.
Facts about Chad
- Lake Chad used to be the world’s largest freshwater lake.
- Chad is one of the three countries (the Central African Republic and Madagascar are the others) whose natives are least affected by light pollution.
- Chad is a landlocked country: a country surrounded by land with no access to the sea.
- Chad attained independence in 1960.
- The national flag of Chad and that of Romania are very similar.
- Chad is part home to the world’s largest hot desert.
- Chad is the only country in the world whose name is composed of a single syllable with a sing vowel.
- The night sky conditions in Chad are pristine and the Mily Way can clearly be seen at night.
- Chad is a former French colony.
- The Sahara Desert covers much of northern Chad and occupies roughly one-third of the country’s total area. It is the largest hot desert and the third largest desert in the world.
- Only one-third of Chad’s adult population is literate, making it a challenge to promote education and literacy among the population.
- Chad’s national symbols are the goat and the lion.
- The economy of Chad relies heavily on agriculture.
- Chad is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world.
- Chad has three climatic regions.
- Chad has one of the world’s lowest life expectancies. As of 2020, it had the third lowest at just 54 years.
- Daylight savings has never been observed in Chad.
- Zakouma national Park in Chad is home to the “Big five” game animals of rhino, lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo.
- Chad has never participated in the winter olympics.
- The capital city of Chad is called N’Djamena and it is situated in the western part of the country.
- The people of Chad are called Chadian.
- Chad is the largest landlocked country in Africa and shares a land border with six countries.
- Chad has often been called the “Dead Heart of Africa” due to its harsh climatic conditions and isolated landlocked location.
- Chad abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 2020.
- In 2020, Chad was named the world’s hungriest country; one of three countries suffering from alarming levels of hunger.
- Bili bili (millet beer) and fruit juices are Chad’s traditional drinks.
- 80% of the Chadian people live under the poverty line.
- People of Chad use Kakaki, a long metal trumpet of about three to four meters long in traditional ceremonial music – The instrument signifies power.
- Crude oil has been the primary source of the country’s economy since 2023.
- Chadian music is characterized by a fusion of traditional rhythms, Islamic influences, and modern styles, creating a unique sound that represents the country’s cultural identity.
- Islam is the most popular religion in Chad.
- Chad has only one television station (Tele-Tchad) which is owned by the state. Radio is the main source of media coverage in the country.
- The country has never been able to make it to the FIFA World Championships; however, they have had some popular soccer players.
- Chad has a shortage of doctors. For every 23,600 people in Chad, there is only one Chadian doctor available.
- Chad is known for its vibrant traditional clothing.
- Rice, sorghum, and millet are among the basic foods in Chad.
- Chad has ample reserves of gold and uranium.
- The Toubou tribe, who live in the tibesti Mountains, are known as the world’s best camel racers.
- The site is also home to a population of desert-adapted West African crocodiles, herds of Barbary sheep, as many as 525 plant species, and at least 18 bird species.
- In Chad, people speak more than 100 different languages and dialects.
- The Tubu people are one of the indigenous groups in Chad.
- Chadians have a strong sense of community and hospitality.
- Earlier, cotton played a significant role in bringing wealth to the nation.
- Chad’s staple food are grains.
- Chad, by land area, is the world’s 21st largest country.
- One of the main dishes of the Chadians is the boule, a thick grain porridge.
- About ninety-four thousand barrels of crude oil are produced in a day in the country.
- The second-largest lake in Africa and the largest wetland are in Chad.
- Cars in Chad drive on the right side of the road.
- Chad is home to several national parks and protected areas.
- Chad has over 200 ethnic groups and 100 languages spoken in the country.
- The country is named after Lake Chad.
- French and Arabic are the official languages of Chad.
- In Chad, French scientists discovered a human skull thought to be 6-7 million years old, names Toumai, it is believed to be the oldest fossil from a member of the human family.
- Lake Chad is a freshwater lake that touches base with Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger. It has shrunk by as much as 95% since 1963.
- Chad has the world’s fifth-highest fertility rate.
- The Tibesti mountains are home to some of the best camel racing in the world. Tibesti literally means “the place where mountain people live”.
- Chad is known as “The Babel Tower of the World” because of its cultural diversity.
