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Chad economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Chad ranked 132/197 by economy size with a GDP of $19.5B and 182/197 by GDP per capita at $962. Chad has $6.37B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 32.7%.

In 2024, Chad made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.02% in 1960.

Chad GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $19,518,819,751 4.2%
2023 $18,340,233,749 3.98%
2022 $17,828,508,290 4.13%
2021 $16,871,937,698 0.29%
2020 $14,932,897,821 -0.39%
2019 $14,905,517,743 5.38%
2018 $15,327,000,249 5.74%
2017 $13,349,041,409 -1.62%
2016 $13,026,289,836 -4.12%
2015 $14,559,599,500 3.3%
2014 $18,144,336,904 2.06%
2013 $17,865,316,886 2.84%
2012 $17,892,228,570 9.06%
2011 $16,685,349,674 4.5%
2010 $14,058,506,664 13.7%
2009 $12,317,614,054 -1.41%
2008 $13,385,593,990 3.08%
2007 $10,865,385,132 4.2%
2006 $9,709,626,596 -0.54%
2005 $8,655,892,393 17.3%
2004 $4,422,855,661 33.6%
2003 $2,742,815,072 14.7%
2002 $1,997,005,709 8.49%
2001 $1,710,843,377 11.7%
2000 $1,388,506,772 -0.88%
1999 $1,534,673,583 -0.68%
1998 $1,744,794,531 6.95%
1997 $1,544,689,577 5.65%
1996 $1,607,345,356 2.21%
1995 $1,445,919,895 1.24%
1994 $1,179,837,963 10.1%
1993 $1,463,251,164 -15.7%
1992 $1,881,847,670 8%
1991 $1,877,137,982 8.54%
1990 $1,738,605,558 -4.18%
1989 $1,433,686,312 4.88%
1988 $1,482,597,298 15.5%
1987 $1,163,426,852 -2.39%
1986 $1,067,828,246 -4.08%
1985 $1,033,069,709 21.8%
1984 $919,103,735 2.05%
1983 $832,415,806 15.7%
1982 $834,369,860 5.35%
1981 $876,937,558 1.04%
1980 $1,033,002,404 -6.05%
1979 $1,004,316,496 -21.4%
1978 $1,113,920,124 -0.47%
1977 $935,360,465 2.23%
1976 $866,044,962 2.98%
1975 $864,602,105 9.01%
1974 $652,532,795 4.96%
1973 $647,199,483 -8.38%
1972 $585,427,547 1.15%
1971 $501,866,730 -2.25%
1970 $469,266,737 1.86%
1969 $471,635,622 6.88%
1968 $453,980,096 -0.46%
1967 $449,826,323 0.77%
1966 $432,794,922 -1.81%
1965 $416,926,303 0.61%
1964 $392,247,518 -2.51%
1963 $371,767,002 -1.6%
1962 $357,635,713 5.36%
1961 $333,975,336 1.4%
1960 $313,582,728 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/chad | CC BY

Chad GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $962 $2,743
2023 $949 $2,700
2022 $966 $2,624
2021 $946 $2,435
2020 $867 $2,186
2019 $893 $2,352
2018 $949 $2,228
2017 $854 $2,097
2016 $862 $2,120
2015 $994 $2,378
2014 $1,279 $2,133
2013 $1,305 $2,110
2012 $1,354 $2,435
2011 $1,308 $2,388
2010 $1,142 $2,320
2009 $1,036 $2,087
2008 $1,166 $2,181
2007 $980 $2,149
2006 $907 $2,079
2005 $838 $2,102
2004 $446 $1,808
2003 $289.1 $1,378
2002 $219.1 $1,226
2001 $194.3 $1,152
2000 $163.1 $1,044
1999 $186.6 $1,066
1998 $219.8 $1,096
1997 $201.4 $1,049
1996 $216.9 $1,010
1995 $204 $1,014
1994 $173.9 $1,026
1993 $220.7 $933
1992 $290.6 $1,107
1991 $302 $1,046
1990 $290.6 $967
1989 $246.4 -
1988 $263.5 -
1987 $213.9 -
1986 $203.4 -
1985 $202.7 -
1984 $182.2 -
1983 $167.2 -
1982 $176.1 -
1981 $194 -
1980 $228.8 -
1979 $222.9 -
1978 $252.5 -
1977 $215.9 -
1976 $203.7 -
1975 $207.5 -
1974 $160 -
1973 $162.4 -
1972 $150.4 -
1971 $131.8 -
1970 $125.9 -
1969 $129.2 -
1968 $126.9 -
1967 $128.2 -
1966 $125.8 -
1965 $123.6 -
1964 $118.6 -
1963 $114.7 -
1962 $112.6 -
1961 $107.3 -
1960 $102.8 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/chad | CC BY

Chad has a GDP per capita of $962, ranking 182/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $2,743, ranking 182/197, and a median annual after tax income of $1,276, ranking 186/197.

Chad GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 128 171 167
2023 128 176 175
2022 127 176 176
2021 125 172 177
2020 126 172 178
2019 128 173 173
2018 128 172 173
2017 129 172 173
2016 125 173 173
2015 122 171 167
2014 118 162 172
2013 120 162 171
2012 114 156 163
2011 117 158 164
2010 117 159 163
2009 117 160 167
2008 116 153 164
2007 116 155 163
2006 117 152 163
2005 115 151 159
2004 137 168 162
2003 145 180 174
2002 146 187 176
2001 149 187 175
2000 152 189 176
1999 148 185 174
1998 146 183 169
1997 151 184 170
1996 148 181 168
1995 151 181 165
1994 148 178 162
1993 142 172 162
1992 136 161 154
1991 140 163 157
1990 139 164 156
1989 125 157 -
1988 126 155 -
1987 126 158 -
1986 124 152 -
1985 122 150 -
1984 123 151 -
1983 123 150 -
1982 124 150 -
1981 122 150 -
1980 119 146 -
1979 109 134 -
1978 99 126 -
1977 100 127 -
1976 102 121 -
1975 99 123 -
1974 100 128 -
1973 97 121 -
1972 93 121 -
1971 93 123 -
1970 93 123 -
1969 90 102 -
1968 90 100 -
1967 87 99 -
1966 86 96 -
1965 86 95 -
1964 84 93 -
1963 83 92 -
1962 83 91 -
1961 81 89 -
1960 81 86 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/chad | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Chad is ranked 128th out of 182 by GDP (up from 152nd), 171st by GDP per capita (up from 189th), and 167th by GDP per capita PPP (up from 176th).

Economic indicators

Chad Rank
Gross domestic product
$19.5B
2024
132/197
GDP growth
4.2%
2023-2024
56/194
GDP per capita
$962
2024
182/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,743
2024
182/197
Government debt
$6.37B
2024
140/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
32.7%
2024
151/185
Government debt per person
$314
2024
177/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,276
2026
186/197
Income share by richest 10%
29.5%
2022
68/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2022
82/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.8%
2024
166/195
Consumer prices inflation
5.1%
2023-2024
50/195
Unemployment rate
1.14%
2018
189/196
Population
21893857
65/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 18.8% 32.7% -2.11%
2023 17.1% 32.2% -1.26%
2022 12.6% 32.1% 3.79%
2021 13% 41.6% -1.29%
2020 14.1% 41.7% 1.24%
2019 10.6% 38.4% -0.11%
2018 9.73% 33.8% 1.39%
2017 11.3% 39.2% -0.18%
2016 11.2% 40.1% -1.51%
2015 13.8% 31.3% -3.29%
2014 16.9% 29.4% -3.22%
2013 16.6% 22.3% -1.5%
2012 16.6% 20% 0.33%
2011 16.3% 22.3% 1.75%
2010 18.5% 22.9% -3.16%
2009 19.8% 23.9% -8.44%
2008 14.6% 15.7% 2.82%
2007 13.6% 17.6% 2.02%
2006 10.7% 20.1% 1.7%
2005 8.87% 22% -0.05%
2004 9.84% 25.2% -1.84%
2003 14.9% 34.4% -4.32%
2002 13.8% 42% -4.08%
2001 12% 43.5% -3.53%
2000 14% 52.4% -4.68%
1999 12.9% 44.7% -4.07%
1998 10.1% 34.7% -1.73%
1997 12% 41.3% -2.58%
1996 12% 40.5% -2.86%
1995 12.3% 41.1% -3.12%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1995–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/chad | CC BY

This chart shows Chad's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, Chad recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 1.46% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $3.67B (18.8% of GDP), with a deficit of 2.11%.

The national debt reached $6.37B, ranking 140th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 32.7%, ranking 151st.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 5.1%
2023 2.3%
2022 5.8%
2021 -0.8%
2020 4.5%
2019 -1%
2018 4%
2017 -0.9%
2016 -1.6%
2015 4.8%
2014 -5.5%
2013 0.2%
2012 7.5%
2011 2%
2010 -2.1%
2009 10.1%
2008 8.3%
2007 -7.4%
2006 9.6%
2005 4.4%
2004 -4.8%
2003 -1.8%
2002 5.2%
2001 12.4%
2000 3.8%
1999 -8.4%
1998 4.3%
1997 5.6%
1996 11.3%
1995 5.4%
1994 41.3%
1993 -10.9%
1992 -3.8%
1991 4.2%
1990 0.5%
1989 -4.9%
1988 14.9%
1987 -2.7%
1986 -13.1%
1985 5.1%
1984 20.3%
1983 7.9%
1982 6.4%
1981 8.1%
1980 8.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/chad | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Chad has had an average annual inflation rate of 2.47%. In 2024, inflation was 5.1%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Chad Rank
Current account balance
-$37.7M
1994
82/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.2%
1994
120/190
Goods imports
$212M
1994
183/189
Goods exports
$135M
1994
173/189
Service imports
$199M
1994
174/189
Service exports
$54.8M
1994
181/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.1%
2024
169/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
29.8%
2024
114/193

Chad top 10 trading partners

Chad's biggest trading partner accounting for 22.5% of all exports and imports is the United Arab Emirates, with a trade balance between the two of +$806M: Chad exports $1.11B worth of goods and services to the United Arab Emirates and imports $308M.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Chad.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 UAE $1.42B 22.5% $1.11B $308M Precious metals & jewellery Machinery & equipment
2 China $1.13B 17.9% $756M $375M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
3 Germany $1.05B 16.6% $1.03B $25.7M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
4 France $779M 12.3% $665M $114M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
5 Netherlands $532M 8.4% $489M $43.4M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
6 Turkey $296M 4.67% $182M $114M Raw agricultural goods Machinery & equipment
7 Cameroon $259M 4.09% $12.9M $246M Animal & marine products Processed food, beverages & tobacco
8 Malaysia $146M 2.3% $144M $1.2M Raw materials & minerals Raw agricultural goods
9 United States $143M 2.25% $82.8M $59.9M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
10 India $103M 1.63% $19.9M $83.5M Textiles & consumer goods Chemicals & pharma

Top 10 exports

Chad Rank
Raw materials & minerals $3.21B 85/193
Raw agricultural goods $259M 99/193
Business & finance services $150M 119/188
Transport & tourism services $42.7M 172/188
Manufacturing & construction services $23.9M 114/164
IT & IP services $18.8M 144/183
Textiles & consumer goods $14.7M 143/193
Machinery & equipment $3.1M 175/193
Animal & marine products $830K 176/192
Precious metals & jewellery $659K 156/190

Top 10 imports

Chad Rank
Business & finance services $784M 95/188
Transport & tourism services $664M 141/188
Machinery & equipment $441M 156/193
Chemicals & pharma $219M 156/193
IT & IP services $203M 91/182
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $160M 161/193
Raw materials & minerals $107M 172/193
Textiles & consumer goods $107M 161/193
Metals $74.6M 166/193
Miscellaneous $43.1M 112/193

Economic freedom indices

Chad Rank
Economic freedom 51.2 154/197
Property rights 17.2 165/182
Government integrity 15.2 167/182
Judicial effectiveness 15 158/182
Tax burden 77.9 99/182
Government spending 92.2 15/180
Fiscal health 97.9 10/181
Business freedom 27.4 177/182
Labor freedom 53.7 116/182
Monetary freedom 71.6 123/180
Trade freedom 46.4 175/181
Investment freedom 60 63/181
Financial freedom 40 106/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 51.2 15 77.9 92.2 97.9
2025 52.2 14.5 78.5 92.9 97.9
2024 51.4 14.7 77.8 89.1 95.2
2023 52 12.6 78.1 91 93.7
2022 49.8 13.6 44.6 92.7 96.3
2021 50.4 25 44.6 93.9 96.1
2020 50.2 27.4 45.8 93.5 95.6
2019 49.9 24.6 46.1 92.4 85.2
2018 49.3 24.1 44.8 90.5 81.9
2017 49 24.1 46 87.2 74.6
2016 46.3 - 46 84.3 -
2015 45.9 - 46.2 83.6 -
2014 44.5 - 46.2 80 -
2013 45.2 - 50.4 75.5 -
2012 44.8 - 50.2 74.2 -
2011 45.3 - 50.4 85.3 -
2010 47.5 - 50.5 89.2 -
2009 47.5 - 50.5 90.8 -
2008 47.8 - 49.9 94.9 -
2007 50.1 - 49.8 93.8 -
2006 50 - 49.8 85.2 -
2005 52.1 - 50.2 87.9 -
2004 53.1 - 46 90.3 -
2003 52.6 - 46 87.6 -
2002 49.2 - 45.9 89.2 -
2001 46.4 - 45.9 85.5 -
2000 46.8 - 45.9 84.1 -
1999 47.2 - 46 90 -
1998 46.6 - 46.1 90.2 -
1997 45.1 - 46.2 89.1 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1997–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/chad | CC BY

Chad is ranked 137/174 for economic freedom with a score of 51.2, compared to 139/162 and a score of 50 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Chad Rank
Services, % of GDP
29.8%
2024
188/191
Industry, % of GDP
28.7%
2024
66/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
37.7%
2024
4/193
GNI, Atlas method
$19.1B
2024
126/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$2,710
2024
177/191
Total reserves including gold
$1.05B
2023
140/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$26.5M
1994
58/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.02B
2024
96/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
142/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.9%
2024
95/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
44.8%
2022
30/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.8%
2024
51/178

Compare Chad vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/chad | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1997–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2018–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1995–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.