Total population (thousands) in Chad
Chad: Total population (thousands) was 20,728 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
20,728 thousands
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
63rd
of 233 countries
All-time high
20,728 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
3,688 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Chad, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Chad recorded 20,728 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Chad peaked at 20,728 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,688 thousands, in 1970.
Chad ranks 63rd of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total population (thousands) in Chad, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,688 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 3,767 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 3,847 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 3,939 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 4,033 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 4,124 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 4,211 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 4,292 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 4,371 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 4,451 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 4,559 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 4,472 thousands | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 4,570 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 4,907 thousands | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 5,052 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 5,039 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 5,154 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 5,348 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 5,528 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 5,723 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 5,916 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 6,049 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 6,362 thousands | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 6,587 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 6,671 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 6,896 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 7,282 thousands | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 7,538 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 7,803 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 8,075 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 8,370 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 8,654 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 8,954 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 9,278 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 9,698 thousands | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 10,142 thousands | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 10,514 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 10,899 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 11,264 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 11,688 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 12,099 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 12,526 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 12,984 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 13,438 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 13,944 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 14,433 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 14,862 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 15,367 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 15,878 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 16,435 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 16,936 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 17,514 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 18,143 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 18,768 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 19,870 thousands | +5.9% |
| 2025 | 20,728 thousands | +4.3% |
Chad compared with similar countries
- Chad's 20,728 thousands is below the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 87% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Chad's 20,728 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,072 thousands | 3,688 thousands | 4,451 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,035 thousands | 4,472 thousands | 5,723 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,918 thousands | 5,916 thousands | 8,075 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,946 thousands | 8,370 thousands | 11,688 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,197 thousands | 12,099 thousands | 16,435 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,660 thousands | 16,936 thousands | 20,728 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Chad
More population data for Chad
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4609 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.608 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4609 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.4414 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 36,452 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.87 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3799 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 55.23 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.48 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Chad?
- Total population in Chad was 20,728 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Chad?
- The highest recorded value was 20,728 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Chad?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,688 thousands in 1970.
- How does Chad rank for total population?
- Chad ranks 63rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Chad?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Chad data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release