As of June 2026, the population of Chad is 20 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 592 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 3.02%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 14.7 years in 2016 to 15.4 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 54.5 years and population density is 15.9 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The population growth rate of Chad peaked in 1982, reaching around 7.2% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.96% in 2026. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 591.64 thousand in 2026.
In Chad, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 48.3 years in 2006 to 54.5 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 6 years over the past 2 decades.
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:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | N'Djamena, N’Djaména | 1,359,526 |
| 2 | Moundou, Logone Occidental | 196,124 |
| 3 | Abéché, Ouadaï | 139,983 |
| 4 | Sarh, Moyen-Chari | 138,928 |
| 5 | Kelo, Tandjilé | 82,677 |
| 6 | Am Timan, Salamat | 74,691 |
| 7 | Doba, Logone Oriental | 70,942 |
| 8 | Pala, Mayo-Kebbi Ouest | 70,677 |
| 9 | Bongor, Mayo-Kebbi Est | 63,699 |
| 10 | Goz Beida, Sila | 58,941 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Koumra, Mandoul | 54,109 |
| 12 | Mongo, Guéra | 53,768 |
| 13 | Bol, Lac | 51,389 |
| 14 | Mao, Kanem | 50,681 |
| 15 | Déressia, Tandjilé | 50,113 |
| 16 | Iriba, Wadi Fira | 47,972 |
| 17 | Faya-Largeau, Borkou | 44,011 |
| 18 | Bitkine, Guéra | 41,871 |
| 19 | Bébédja, Logone Oriental | 40,289 |
| 20 | Massakory, Hadjer-Lamis | 39,944 |