GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

A white bus stops at a rural village with a tribal hut and local restaurant.Stunning desert scene with a rocky arch and yellow jeep under a clear blue sky.

Chad

Africa · Middle Africa

Low safetyLow development

It is less peaceful than most countries.

Safety

144th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.769lower is more peacefulLow safety
#144 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$970national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 13% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 4% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$1.5K$3.0K$2,903 PPP$1,022Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $907 a person, $2,079 at PPP, inflation 8%2007, $980 a person, $2,149 at PPP, inflation -9%2008, $1,166 a person, $2,181 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2009, $1,036 a person, $2,087 at PPP, inflation 10%2010, $1,142 a person, $2,320 at PPP, inflation -2.1%2011, $1,308 a person, $2,388 at PPP, inflation 2%2012, $1,354 a person, $2,435 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2013, $1,305 a person, $2,110 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2014, $1,279 a person, $2,133 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2015, $994 a person, $2,378 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2016, $862 a person, $2,120 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $854 a person, $2,097 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2018, $949 a person, $2,228 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2019, $893 a person, $2,352 at PPP, inflation -1%2020, $867 a person, $2,186 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2021, $946 a person, $2,435 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2022, $966 a person, $2,624 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2023, $950 a person, $2,703 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2024, $981 a person, $2,767 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2025, $1,022 a person, $2,903 at PPP, inflation -3.9%$0$1.5K$3.0KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $907 a person, $2,079 at PPP, inflation 8%2007, $980 a person, $2,149 at PPP, inflation -9%2008, $1,166 a person, $2,181 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2009, $1,036 a person, $2,087 at PPP, inflation 10%2010, $1,142 a person, $2,320 at PPP, inflation -2.1%2011, $1,308 a person, $2,388 at PPP, inflation 2%2012, $1,354 a person, $2,435 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2013, $1,305 a person, $2,110 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2014, $1,279 a person, $2,133 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2015, $994 a person, $2,378 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2016, $862 a person, $2,120 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $854 a person, $2,097 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2018, $949 a person, $2,228 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2019, $893 a person, $2,352 at PPP, inflation -1%2020, $867 a person, $2,186 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2021, $946 a person, $2,435 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2022, $966 a person, $2,624 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2023, $950 a person, $2,703 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2024, $981 a person, $2,767 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2025, $1,022 a person, $2,903 at PPP, inflation -3.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
55.2years, at birthVery low
#194 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
26WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
48.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
1.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Stunning desert scene with a rocky arch and yellow jeep under a clear blue sky.
How it changed

Chad's Human Development Index

0.416Low human development

190th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 51st of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #188Mali0.419
  2. #188Niger0.419
  3. #190Chad0.416
  4. #191Central African Republic0.414
  5. #192Somalia0.404
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2000

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.303 in 2000 to 0.416 in 2023.

0.250.350.450.4162000201020232000: 0.3032001: 0.3132002: 0.3202003: 0.3202004: 0.3382005: 0.3392006: 0.3392007: 0.3502008: 0.3542009: 0.3692010: 0.3752011: 0.3842012: 0.3912013: 0.3962014: 0.4012015: 0.3962016: 0.3962017: 0.3972018: 0.4022019: 0.4062020: 0.4082021: 0.4082022: 0.4142023: 0.4160.250.350.452000201020232000: 0.3032001: 0.3132002: 0.3202003: 0.3202004: 0.3382005: 0.3392006: 0.3392007: 0.3502008: 0.3542009: 0.3692010: 0.3752011: 0.3842012: 0.3912013: 0.3962014: 0.4012015: 0.3962016: 0.3962017: 0.3972018: 0.4022019: 0.4062020: 0.4082021: 0.4082022: 0.4142023: 0.416

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 24 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
55.2 years2024at birthUp 6.4 years from 48.9 years in 2005
Internet users
13%2024of people onlineUp 12 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
28%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 6 points from 22% in 2006
Births per woman
6.032024births per womanDown 1.10 from 7.13 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
70%2022of energy usedDown 14 points from 84% in 2004
Access to electricity
13%2024of people with electricityUp 9 points from 5% in 2005
Infant mortality
562024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 36 from 92 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
3%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 5% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Landlocked and oil-dependent, with chronic conflict and extremely low development. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and short lives.

About Chad

Chad is a vast, landlocked country in the heart of Africa where the Sahara desert in the north gives way to the Sahel and then to the wetlands around Lake Chad in the south. The landscape around the Ennedi Plateau, with its extraordinary sandstone formations and prehistoric rock art, is among the most spectacular on the continent. It is a destination for seasoned adventurers who come for the raw landscape rather than conventional comforts.

Practical facts

  • CapitalN'Djamena
  • LanguagesArabic, French
  • CurrencyCentral African CFA franc (XAF)
  • Area1,259,200 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E/F
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Chad against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Chad

Compare Chad

Borders

CameroonCentral African RepublicLibyaNigerNigeriaSudan

Side by side

Compare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Chad's Human Development Index?

Chad's Human Development Index is 0.416 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #190 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Chad safe?

Chad scores 2.77 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #144 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Chad?

Life expectancy at birth in Chad is 55.2 yrs (World Bank), ranked #194 of 195 countries.