Chad’s population rose to 21 m people in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. A larger population can mean more workers, more customers and a bigger tax base, and it can also mean more demand for schools, food, housing and jobs. Which effect dominates depends on whether output grows at the same pace, so the direction carries no verdict on its own. The latest estimate for January 2025 is 21 million, up 0.7 million from 20.3 million a year earlier, a rise of 3.5%. Since 2016 the series has climbed from 15.1 million, and the current figure is the highest in that span.

Why it matters. A population growing at 3.5% a year adds a large cohort of people each year who need school places, health care and eventually work. Households feel this in the number of dependants each earner supports. Firms see a growing pool of customers and job seekers, and the state has to expand services and infrastructure every year to keep per-person provision from slipping.