Chad at its true size

Chad covers 1,284,000 km², number 22 of 235 by area. Home to 21,003,705 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.

Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
Area1,284,000 km² Wikidata
Population21,003,705 World Bank, 2025
Density16 per km²
CapitalN'Djamena
RegionMiddle Africa, Africa
StatusIndependent state
CoastLandlocked
CodesTD · TCD · 148

Countries of a similar size

How many times does Chad fit into…

Neighbours

Questions about Chad

How big is Chad?
Chad covers 1,284,000 km², which makes it number 22 of 235 countries and territories by area. About 21,003,705 people live there (2025), 16 per km².
Is Chad bigger than Peru?
Chad and Peru are almost exactly the same size. Chad: 1,284,000 km²; Peru: 1,285,216 km².
How much does the Mercator map distort Chad?
Chad lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
Which countries border Chad?
Chad shares a land border with Sudan, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Cameroon.