Chad Population
Chad has an estimated population of about 20.3 million, which makes it the 64th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing very rapidly, at 4.95% a year.
The capital is N'Djamena.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2015–2024 (World Bank)
How Chad's population is changing
Chad records about 2,404 births and 616 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 1,788 people per day, or about 653,067 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 204,040 over the reported period, with more people arriving than leaving. That is equivalent to about 31% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Chad would take roughly 14 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2015 to 2024, the population rose from 14.6 million to 20.3 million — a gain of 5.65 million, or 38.6%.
Where people live in Chad
With about 15 people per square kilometre, Chad is sparsely populated, well below the world average of 62. That ranks 108th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Norway and Saudi Arabia.
Chad covers about 1,259,200 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 20.3 million into that density figure.
About 26.9% of people live in urban areas, making Chad predominantly rural, below the world average of 57.6%. That works out to roughly 5.47 million town and city dwellers and 14.8 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Chad
Chad has a very young population: about 46.1% are under 15 and 2.1% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 21.9 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 6.03 births per woman, above the ~2.1 replacement level, which is what sustains growth from births alone. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 55.2 years, roughly 18.2 years below the global average of 73.5.
Chad at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20.3 million | 2024 |
| World rank by population | #64 | 2024 |
| Annual growth rate | 4.95% | 2024 |
| Population density | 15 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 1,259,200 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 26.9% | 2024 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 55.2 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 6.03 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 46.1% | 2024 |
| Population 65 and over | 2.1% | 2024 |
| Net migration | 204,040 | 2024 |
| Births per day | 2,404 | 2024 |
| Deaths per day | 616 | 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
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Is Chad's population growing or shrinking?
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Where do these Chad figures come from?
Current local time in Chad
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2024. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank