Indicator	Value
Total population	20,300,000 peopleUN DESA WPP [2024] 20,300,000 people·World Bank WDI [2024] 20,300,000 people
Median age	15.7 yearsUN DESA WPP [2024]
Life expectancy	55.1–55.2 yearsWorld Bank WDI [2024] 55.24 years·UNDP HDI [2023] 55.07 years
Ethnic groups	Sara (Ngambaye/Sara/Madjingaye/Mbaye) 30.5%, Kanembu/Bornu/Buduma 9.8%, Arab 9.7%, Wadai/Maba/Masalit/Mimi 7%, Gorane 5.8%, Masa/Musseye/Musgum 4.9%, Bulala/Medogo/Kuka 3.7%, Marba/Lele/Mesme 3.5%, Mundang 2.7%, Bidiyo/Migaama/Kenga/Dangleat 2.5%, Dadjo/Kibet/Muro 2.4%, Tupuri/Kera 2%, Gabri/Kabalaye/Nanchere/Somrai 2%, Fulani/Fulbe/Bodore 1.8%, Karo/Zime/Peve 1.3%, Baguirmi/Barma 1.2%, Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe 1.1%, Tama/Assongori/Mararit 1.1%, Mesmedje/Massalat/Kadjakse 0.8%, other  4.6%, unspecified 1.7% (2014-15 est.)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Languages	French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 languages and dialectsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Religions	Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2014-15 est.)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Urbanization	24.4% of total population (2023)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Population growth	4.95 %World Bank WDI [2024]
Birth rate	43.3 per 1,000World Bank WDI [2024]
Death rate	11.1 per 1,000World Bank WDI [2024]
Urban population	26.9 %World Bank WDI [2024]
Languages (structured)	Adamawa Fulfulde Amdang American Sign Language Assangori Babalia Creole Arabic Bagirmi Bagirmi Fulfulde Barain Berakou Beria Besme Bidiyo Birgit Bolgo Bon Gula Boor Bua Buduma Buso Central Kanuri Central-Eastern Niger Fulfulde Chadian Arabic Chadian Sign Language Dagba Dangaleat Dar Daju Daju Dar Sila Daju Day Dazaga Dissa-Canton Mufa Fania Fur Gabri Gadang Gidar Gizey Gor Goundo Gula (Chad) Gula Iro Gulay Ham Hausa Hausa States Fulfulde Herde Horo Jalking Jaya Jina Jonkor Bourmataguil Kaba Kabalai Kajakse Kanembu Karang Karanga Kawaway Kendeje Kenga Kera Kibet Kim Kimre Koke Kujarge Kulfa Kuo Kwang Laal Lagwan Laka (Chad) Lele (Chad) Lutos Maba (Chad) Mabire Majera Malgbe Mambai Mango Mararit Marba Marfa Masalit Masana Maslam Masmaje Massalat Mawa (Chad) Mbara (Chad) Mbay Mesme Migaama Miltu Mimi-Gaudefroy Mimi-Nachtigal Mire Mogum Morom Mpade Mser Mubi Mukulu Mundang Musey Musgu Muskum Naba Nancere Nangnda Ndam Ngam Ngambay Ngete Niellim Noy Nzakambay Pana (Central African Republic) Peve Runga Saba Sango Sar Sara Dunjo Sara Kaba Sara Kaba Deme Sara Kaba Náà Sarua Sinyar Sokoro Somrai Standard Arabic Sudanese Arabic Surbakhal Tama (Chad) Tamki Tedaga Tobanga Toram Tumak Tumari Kanuri Tunia Tupuri Turku-Bongor Pidgin Arabic Ubi Zan Gula Zirenkel Glottolog [2026]