Population of Chad

As of August 2026, the population of Chad is 21.6 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 562 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.65%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 14.6 years in 2016 to 15.7 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 55.6 years and population density is 17.1 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Chad peaked in 1982, reaching around 7.1% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.6% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 1.1 million in 2023 to nearly 561.54 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Chad, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 48.7 years in 2006 to 55.6 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 7 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Chad

The cities of Chad are mostly small, but 4 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is N'Djamena, N’Djaména, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 1.4 million inhabitants. It is followed by Moundou, Logone Occidental with 196.1 thousand and Abéché, Ouadaï with 140 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Chad: