Chad: flag, capital, currency and history
Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a country in Middle Africa, Africa. Its capital is N'Djamena. The currency is the Central African CFA franc. Languages spoken include Arabic and French.
Quick facts about Chad
- Official name
- Republic of Chad
- Capital
- N'Djamena
- Region
- Africa, Middle Africa
- Currency
- Central African CFA franc (XAF, Fr)
- Languages
- Arabic, French
- Calling code
- +235
- Internet domain
- .td
- Area
- 1,284,000 km² (495,755 sq mi)
- Demonym
- Chadian
- National day
- Independence Day, August 11
Flag of Chad
Download the flag of Chad as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇹🇩.
History of Chad
The Lake Chad basin hosted early states, notably the Kanem Empire from around the 9th century, followed by Bornu, Bagirmi and Ouaddai. Islam spread across the north and centre over the centuries. France conquered the region in the early 1900s and made it part of French Equatorial Africa. Chad became independent in 1960. Civil conflict between north and south began in the mid-1960s, and conflict with Libya over the Aouzou Strip continued into the 1980s. Hissene Habre ruled from 1982 until 1990, when Idriss Deby took power. Chad is a landlocked republic.
Key dates
- c. 9th centuryThe Kanem Empire emerges east of Lake Chad.
- 1900French forces defeat Rabih az-Zubayr at the Battle of Kousseri.
- 1910Chad becomes part of French Equatorial Africa.
- 1960Chad gains independence from France.
- 1965Civil war begins between the government and northern rebels.
- 1982Hissene Habre takes power in N'Djamena.
- 1990Idriss Deby overthrows Habre.
A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.
Currency of Chad
Chad uses the Central African CFA franc (XAF, Fr). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Chad?
The capital of Chad is N'Djamena.
What currency does Chad use?
Chad uses the Central African CFA franc (XAF, symbol Fr).
What languages are spoken in Chad?
Languages used in Chad include Arabic and French.
What is the calling code of Chad?
The international calling code of Chad is +235. Its internet domain is .td.
Which countries border Chad?
Chad shares land borders with Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan.
On which continent is Chad?
Chad is in Africa, in the region of Middle Africa.
What is the national day of Chad?
Chad marks Independence Day on August 11.
Neighbours of Chad
More countries in Middle Africa
Country data from the open mledoze/countries dataset (ODbL), with corrections. Flags from flag-icons (MIT).