World Factbook
Chad
République du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), gold, and red meaning: combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow Pan-African colors; blue stands for the sky, hope, and the south of the country; gold for the sun and the desert in the north; red for progress, unity, and sacrifice
note: almost identical to the flag of Romania, but with a darker shade of blue; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design based on France's flag
Capital
name
N'Djamena
etymology
said to derive its name from a local word meaning "place of rest"
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
12 06 N, 15 02 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
both parents must be citizens of Chad
dual citizenship recognized
Chadian law does not address dual citizenship
residency requirement for naturalization
15 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted by National Transitional Council 27 June 2023, approved by referendum 17 December, verified by Chad Supreme Court 28 December, promulgated 1 January 2024
amendment process
previous process: proposed as a revision by the president of the republic after a Council of Ministers (cabinet) decision or by the National Assembly; approval for consideration of a revision requires at least three-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval by referendum or at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly
Country name
note
note: the only country whose name is composed of a single syllable with a single vowel
etymology
named for Lake Chad, which lies along the country's western border; taken from a local word meaning "large body of water" or "lake"
local long form
République du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
local short form
Tchad/Tshad
conventional long form
Republic of Chad
conventional short form
Chad
Independence
11 August 1960 (from France)
Legal system
mixed system of civil and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 3 chamber presidents, and 12 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Supreme Council of the Judiciary (consists of the Judiciary president, vice president and 13 members)
subordinate courts
High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court chief justice selected by the president; councilors - 8 designated by the president and 7 by the speaker of the National Assembly; chief justice and councilors appointed for life; Supreme Council of the Judiciary - with the exception of the Judiciary president and vice president, members are elected for single renewable 4-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers
chief of state
President Mahamat Idriss DÉBY (since 6 May 2024)
election results
2024: Mahamat Idriss DÉBY elected president; percent of vote - Mahamat Idriss DÉBY (MPS) 61%, Succes MASRA (Transformers) 18.5%, Albert PADACKE 16.9%, other 3.6%
head of government
Prime Minister Allamaye HALINA (since 23 May 2024)
most recent election date
6 May 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits)
expected date of next election
TBD
National holiday
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
National color(s)
blue, yellow, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Lakes of Ounianga (n); Ennedi Massif: Natural and Cultural Landscape (m)
Political parties
Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD Federation Action for the Republic or FAR National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR Party for Unity and Reconstruction or PUR Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening or RNDT/Le Reveil Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA Union for Democracy and the Republic or UDR Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD Transformers
note 1: 19 additional parties each contributed one member
note 2: on 5 October 2021, Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY appointed 93 members to the interim National Transitional Council (NTC); 30% of the NTC members were retained from parties previously represented in the National Assembly
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"La Tchadienne" (The Chadian)
history
adopted 1960
lyrics/music
Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD
National symbol(s)
goat (north), lion (south)
Administrative divisions
23 provinces; Barh-El-Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi-Est, Mayo-Kebbi-Ouest, Moyen-Chari, N'Djamena, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Wadi-Fira
Legislative branch - lower chamber
note
note: the initial term of the National Assembly was previously established as five years; however the term length will be changed to six years in accordance with constitutional amendments adopted by a joint session of parliament and promulgated by the President of the Republic in October 2025; the date from which the new term is to apply will be decided at a later stage; if the new term of six years is applied to the National Assembly elected in 2024, the next elections will be held in 2030
chamber name
National Assembly (National Assembly)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
188 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
12/29/2024
expected date of next election
December 2029
percentage of women in chamber
33.5%
parties elected and seats per party
Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (124); Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening (RNDT/ Le Réveil) (12); Others (27); Other (25)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
note
note: 46 of the Senate's 69 seats are determined by election, and the remaining 23 seats are appointed by the President
chamber name
Senate (Senate)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
69 (46 indirectly elected; 23 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/25/2025
expected date of next election
February 2031
percentage of women in chamber
36.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (66); Other (3)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 578-0431
chancery
2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 652-1312
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires ANWAR SADAT Fatahalbab (since 30 July 2025)
email address and website
info@chadembassy.us https://chadembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[235] 2253-9102
embassy
Rond-Point Chagoua, B.P. 413, N’Djamena
telephone
[235] 6885-1065
mailing address
2410 N'Djamena Place, Washington DC 20521-2410
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires William FLENS (since July 2025)
email address and website
NdjamenaACS@state.gov https://td.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction