56 Most Interesting & Fun Facts about Chad | What is Known for?
Very few people have knowledge about Chad. Are you also in that group? If yes, then congratulation since you has already landed in the correct place. This central African country has many amazing things to know that will tackle or blow your mind after learning about it.
Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about Chad so that we can gain a better understanding of the country.
Quick Fact | Information about Chad
Official Name: Republic of Chad
Population: 16,877,357
Area: 1.284 million sq km
Capital City: N’Djamena
Languages: French, Arabic, Sara
Major Religions: Muslim, Christian
Time Zone: UTC+1 (West Africa Time)
– Source: CIA World Fact Book
Interesting Facts about Chad to Touch You
What is Chad Known for?
No#1: Named after Lake Chad
Chad’s name is inspired by Lake Chad, which is the second-biggest lake in Africa after Victoria Nyanza.
No#2: The Sahara Desert and Chad
One-third area of Chad is covered by the Sahara Desert, located in the Northern area of this country.
No#3: No FIFA World Cup match
Though the country has never played the final round of the FIFA World Cup match, they have some popular football players.
No#4: World’s best camel racers
In the Tibesti Mountains, there is an ethnic group named Toubou, the champion of camel racers. Every year, different completions are arranged.
No#5: Shortage of Physicians
For every 100,000 citizens of Chad, there are only four physicians. They also have limited medical resources too.
No#6: 200 ethnic groups
Around 200 ethnic groups live in Chad; that’s what makes them called “The Babel Tower of the World” due to such diversity.
Fun Facts about Chad Africa
No#7: Largest ethnic groups
Sara is the largest ethnic group in Chad, covering 28% of the country’s population. However, other ethnic groups also cover a significant percentage like Arab (12%), Daza (11%), Mayo-Kebbi (10%), etc.
No#8: A poor and corrupted country
In 2008, unfortunately, Chad stood 7th position as the poorest country by Forbes.com —also, in 2020, Chad ranked 160th position as one of the world’s most corrupt countries.
No#9: 80% are poor
According to WFP, around 80% population lives on the poverty line; they also face one of the highest levels of hunger globally.
No#10: Natural resources
Though Chad is a poor country, it has many natural resources, including petroleum, gold, oil, sand, salt, natron, limestone, kaolin, gravel, uranium, etc.
No#11: Only one television station
Only one television station is available in Chad, which the government owns.
No#12: 120 indigenous languages
There are around 120 indigenous languages in Chad, but Modern Standard Arabic and French are their two official languages.
No#13: Largest landlocked country in Africa
In Africa, Chad is the largest landlocked country out of the 16 landlocked countries; it is also the 21st biggest country globally.
No#14: Independency
On November 28, 1958, Chad got the title of a freedom country from France.
No#15: A dangerous country
Chad is one of the world’s dangerous countries, as kidnapping, terrorism, and many other violent crimes are common in this state.
No#16: Inhabitation
The inhabitation of Chad has started since a minimum of 500 B.C.
No#17: Traditional ceremonial music
In traditional ceremonial music, Chad men use a long metal trumpet named Kakaki, which portrays power.
No#18: Staple foods of Chad
Rice, sorghum, and millet are the primary foods of the country.
No#19: 22.31% literacy rate
In 2016, Chad’s literacy rate was 22.31%; the nation has one of the lowest literacy rates globally.
Chad Culture Facts
No#20: Religion
In Chad, 50% of people are Muslims; around one-third is Christian, and the rest adhere to indigenous religious traditions or have no faith.
No#21: Conflict between Muslims and Christians
There has been a long-running conflict between Muslims and Christians for several decades.
No#22: A high maternal mortality rate
Around 1,100 mothers die per 100,000 births in Chad that makes the country one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally.
No#23: Flag of Chad
Both Chad and Romania have the same flag with three vertical stripes of nearly the same color.
No#24: National symbols of Chad
Chad’s national symbols are the lion and the goat, which shows the reflection of their community.
Cool Things to do in Chad
No#25: 3 Decades civil war
Three decades of civil war have also taken place in Chad.
No#26: Lake Chad
Lake Chad is one of the primary sources of water for Chad’s people, along with the other three neighboring countries.
No#27: 250,000 Sudanese refugees
According to the UN, approximately 250,000 Sudanese refugees took shelter in Chad during 2003.
No#28: Crude Oil
Crude oil has a significant contribution to Chad’s economy since 2003.
No#29: Largest investor in Chad
The USA is one of Chad’s biggest investors; many famous American international oil companies invested their money here.
No#30: Traditional drinks
The traditional drinks of Chad are fruit juices and Bili bili (millet beer).
No#31: Increased transportation costs
The landlocked position of Chad leads to high shipping costs for products imported.
No#32: Supply of fuel
A single local refinery supplies the majority of Chad’s fuel.
Important Fact for Chad
No#33: More than one wife
According to Chad culture, it is not surprising to see a male having more than one wife.
No#34: Marriage of women
Before young women become 18, more than two-thirds of them would have been married.
No#35: Official Currency
Chad’s official currency is Central African Franc (XAF), which was first used in 1945.
No#36: Highest peak
The highest peak of Chad is located Emi Koussi; it is 3,415 meters away from sea level.
No#37: First national park
The first national park of Chad is Zakouma National Park. It got international reorganization by nominating it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
No#38: Boule
Boule is the national dish of Chad. Most Chadians eat this food almost every day.
What is Famous for Chad
No#39: Most popular places
- N’Djamena
- Sarh
- Faya-Largeau
- Am Timan
- Bol
- Ennedi
No#40: Awkward belief
Many Chadians of rural believe that they can see demons if they put some dirt in their eyes from the corner of a dog’s eye.
Weird Fact of Chad
No#41: Working in father-in-law’s fields
According to Chad culture, a male will work in the future father-in-law’s fields for three years.
No#42: Friendly people
Chad’s people are friendly and warm, but they want non-citizens to honor their traditions and values.
No#43: Traditional dress
Jalabiya is the traditional cloth of Chad for men, but Muslim males also wear boubous or complets. Like other African countries, Chadian women a special cloth named pagne. Women can wear any informal cloth, but they need to conservative and decent enough to cover most of the body parts.
No#44: Must shake hands
According to the Chad tradition, when a person meets other people, they will shake hands as part of the tradition.
No#45: No to left Hands
It is unacceptable to use left hands for receiving any food items or gifts from others.
No#46: Carrying ID card
Whether you are a citizen or non-citizen, you need to carry your ID card or other Identification stuff to prevent police detention.
No#47: Take permission for photography
Both citizens and non-citizens need to take the Ministry of Information’s permission before taking any photo of sensitive places or natural places.
No#48: Third-lowest life expectancy
The life expectancy of Chadian is the third-lowest globally, which was just 54.0 years in 2020.
Historical Fact about Chad
No#49: Festivals
Chad celebrates several festivals every year, including national day, labor day, independence day, Liberation of Africa, Proclamation of the Republic, Muslim events, and so forth.
No#50: 40% agriculture land
Major parts of Chad’s lands are not suitable for cultivating any foods; it has only 40% agricultural land.
No#51: N’Djamena
N’Djamena is the capital of Chap, which covers a 1,600 km area in the country.
No#52: No tax on goods and services
Chadians don’t need to pay any tax for buying goods and services, but income tax for individuals and companies is applicable.
No#53: 1.94% unemployment rate
Though Chad is one of the world’s poorest countries, it has only a 1.94% unemployment rate.
No#54: 1,527 people died in traffic accidents
In 2013, traffic accidents caused around 1527 inhabitants death.
No#55: Earning less than $3
Around 65% of Chadians earn only $3 every day.
No#56: Motto of the nation
“Unity, work, progress” is the motto of Chad, which means working together to build the country.
Conclusion
Which astonishing fact about Chad makes you short of words? The more you read about Chad, the more curious you are about the country. After reading all the interesting facts about Chad, you have surely enriched your knowledge of this country. Thanks for reading!
