Chad

Profiled in N'Djamena · Central Africa

3fit /10

A landlocked country stretching from the Sahara to the Sahel, with the Ennedi rock arches in the north and one of Africa's great wildlife recoveries at Zakouma.

CapitalN'Djamena
LanguageFrench and Arabic
CurrencyCentral African CFA franc (XAF)
Population18.3M

Cost of living

What a month costs

$900Comfortable single
$2,000Family of four
$5001-bed, central
$6Casual meal

N'Djamena is expensive for the region, with almost all goods trucked in from Cameroon. Fuel and security dominate foreign budgets.

The scores

How it rates for a moving family

Safety3
Infrastructure2
English3
Kids’ schools3
Integration4
Healthcare2
Residency path4
Tax4
Climate5

See and do

Top 10 in N'Djamena

  1. Ennedi MassifNatural arches, guelta pools and Neolithic rock art.
  2. Lakes of OuniangaEighteen interconnected desert lakes in the Sahara.
  3. Zakouma National ParkElephant, buffalo and Kordofan giraffe in the south-east.
  4. Musée NationalSao terracotta and the Toumaï hominid cast in N'Djamena.
  5. Grande MosquéeThe main mosque of the capital.
  6. Guelta d'ArcheiDesert waterhole with a relict crocodile population.
  7. Chari RiverThe riverfront separating N'Djamena from Cameroon.
  8. Marché CentralN'Djamena's main market.

Where to go

Weekend escapes

  1. Zakouma National ParkOne of Africa's great conservation turnarounds, with large elephant herds.
  2. Ennedi MassifSandstone arches and rock art, a UNESCO site.
  3. Lakes of OuniangaSaharan lake system, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  4. Lake ChadThe shrinking lake north-west of the capital.
  5. GaouiPottery village and former Sao capital near N'Djamena.

Residency

Residence follows work or business permits, with oil operations governed by production-sharing contracts. There is no investor route.

Tax

Personal rates reach 30% and the corporate rate is 35%, among the highest in the CFA zone, with 18% VAT. There is no wealth or inheritance tax.

Curious what you would actually pay? See the Chad tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →

Nearby

More of Central Africa

Democratic Republic of the CongoKinshasa · Overall fit 3/10Central African RepublicBangui · Overall fit 2/10CameroonYaoundé · Overall fit 4/10Republic of the CongoBrazzaville · Overall fit 4/10Equatorial GuineaMalabo · Overall fit 4/10GabonLibreville · Overall fit 4/10

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to live in Chad?

About $900 a month for one person and $2,000 for a family. A one-bedroom flat rents for around $500, and a casual meal costs about $6. N'Djamena is expensive for the region, with almost all goods trucked in from Cameroon. Fuel and security dominate foreign budgets.

Is Chad safe, and what is healthcare like?

In our index safety scores 3 out of 10 and healthcare 2 out of 10, where 10 is best.

What language and currency are used in Chad?

French and Arabic. The currency is Central African CFA franc (XAF).

What is the capital of Chad?

N'Djamena.

How can a foreigner get residency in Chad?

Residence follows work or business permits, with oil operations governed by production-sharing contracts. There is no investor route.

What taxes does Chad charge?

Personal rates reach 30% and the corporate rate is 35%, among the highest in the CFA zone, with 18% VAT. There is no wealth or inheritance tax.