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The people of Chad, who number 16.43 million (2020), are made up from a number of ethnic groups with the Sara making up 27.7% of the population, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%,
Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%,
Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%, other 6.4%, and an 'unknown'
0.3%. The country is predominantly (moderate) Muslim.
Daily life in Chad, where life expectancy at birth is just 54.24 years (2019), is one of abject poverty with the country in 187th place out of 189 countries and territories in 2019 when ranked in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards. Close to 63% of Chadians live in poverty with most of this poverty concentrated in rural areas, where 87% of the country's population live. Acccording to UNICEF, only 43% of the population has access to basic drinking water services while just 10% have access to proper santitation facilities. Many who do have some access to water are normally reliant on water wells, many of which were built in the 1960s.
Others, despite living close to rivers, report, "the primary need
that we have, it's the need for wells in the villages. Although
we live along the Chari River, we find that the water we draw
from the river makes us sick. Especially between the months of
March and May, when the river dries up a bit, diarrhoea spreads
in the region, and causes many deaths. Water is essential to
life, but if the water source is polluted, this puts our entire
population in danger, especially the children." Indeed healthcare provision is almost non existent for the
people of Chad, along with an absence of any social security
program in the country. As one Chadian noted, "the most common
medical problems that the people of my region experience are
these: snake and scorpion bites, malaria, diarrhoea and
dysentery, meningitis, conjunctivitis, bronchitis and pneumonia,
and hernias." Health outcomes for children in Chad are poor, with one out of every six children dying before the age of five because of disease and malnutrition impeded further by limited accessibility to child healthcare services such as immunisation, ante and post-natal care.
Very
few people in Chad have access to electricity; running at an estimated 10%, dropping to just 1% in rural areas, meaning Chad has one of the lowest rates of electricity access in the world. Most Chadians burn
wood and animal manure for power. People, especially in rural
areas, live with their extended families in 'compounds'
comprising many traditional huts although, more recently, some
brick buildings are being developed. A typical Chad rural scene would comprise an unpaved road full
of animals, motos, bicycles and people mixed together with
little shacks by the 'roadside' operating as 'corner' stores ~
Chad has 20,753 miles of roads of which only 166 miles are
paved. Educational outcomes are also poor for the people of Chad
with four out of every five people in Chad are illiterate, with
those children who do go to school having around seventy
children per teacher and classroom. As another Chadian remarked,
"The primary need that we would like to mention [ ... ] is the
need for schools that are accessible to the entire rural
population. There are not any schools on the north bank of the Chari River. Only those who live in Kokaga or in Sarh can send
their children to school. This situation leads to the
displacement of the Tounia to urban centres." And it is to those urban centre's like the country's capital
N'Djamena, that many people in Chad turn, if nothing else, than
for safety.
Agriculture is the main economy of Chad, although
oil is now becoming an export. The country is heavily reliant of
foreign aid for survival. In additional to ongoing conflict,
particularly in the Islamic leaning north of the country the
people of Chad also face natural hazards;including hot, dry,
dusty harmattan
winds, again in the north and regular droughts along with
locust invasions. The video of Chad (below)shows its people at work, play and going
about their daily lives. It is not shown to demonstrate that
maybe life in Chad isn't so bad after all for it is, but to
exemplify how people, however poor and facing limited life
opportunities can smile in the face of adversity and make the
most of what they have.
Life in Chad: Volunteer in Chad
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Life in Chad: Children in Chad
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Life in Chad: Child Sponsor Chad
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Life in Chad: Chad Country Profile
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