Chad

Chad is a landlocked, low-income country in Central Africa, located on the southern edge of the Sahara, and faces significant socioeconomic, environmental, and governance challenges. With a population of approximately 21 million, a life expectancy of 55 years, a GDP per capita of around US$1,022, and high levels of poverty and debt, Chad remains one of the world’s least developed countries. The country is particularly vulnerable to climate change, including accelerating desertification and the drying of Lake Chad, while conflicts in neighbouring countries contribute to ongoing security concerns. Civic and political space also remains constrained, with the CIVICUS Monitor rating Chad as “Repressed” in 2025, citing restrictions on peaceful assembly, arrests and prosecution of political activists and journalists, intimidation of media actors, and limitations on independent civil society activity. These interconnected challenges of poverty, insecurity, climate vulnerability, and restricted civic space significantly shape development practice, civil society participation, and inclusive governance in Chad. Sources: CIVICUS Monitor, World Data.info , World Bank Group.