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Chad

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Central Africa

Chad is home to 7 documented ethnic groups in Central Africa — led by Chad Other (~39%), Sara (~30%), Arab Chadian (~14%), Kanembu Kanuri Chad (~6%). This page blends their phenotype and demographic data into one weighted reference: skin tone, facial features, hair texture and build, drawn from published census and ancestry sources.

Demographic Composition

Composition weights are derived from self-identification in published census and demographic surveys. Each row links to the source ethnic-group atlas page.

Ethnic groupWeightSource
Chad OtherChad Other39.0%Chad 2009 Census residual; includes Mayo-Kebbi, Kanem-Bornou, Wadai, Tandjile, Mossi-related, plus other groups across Chad's approximately 200+ ethnic groups
SaraSara30.0%Chad 2009 Census plus subsequent estimates; Sara (~30%, ~5.4M+ of ~18M+ total). Nilo-Saharan source population, predominantly southern Chad, predominantly Christian and traditional-religion. Cross-border with CAR Sara
Arab ChadianArab Chadian14.0%Chad 2009 Census; Chadian Arabs / Shuwa Arabs (~14%); Arabic-speaking nomadic and semi-nomadic populations of central and northern Chad
Kanembu Kanuri ChadKanembu Kanuri Chad6.0%Chad 2009 Census; Kanembu / Kanuri (~6%); concentrated around Lake Chad
Fulani ChadFulani Chad6.0%Chad 2009 Census; Fulani / Peulh (~6%)
HadjaraiHadjarai6.0%Chad 2009 Census; Hadjarai (~6%); central Chadian highland populations
TubuTubu3.0%Chad 2009 Census; Tubu / Toubou (~3%); Saharan nomadic populations of northern Chad and southern Libya

Chad Phenotype Profile

Chad has a remarkably heterogeneous demographic structure with the largest group, Sara, at approximately 30% — the country's 200+ ethnic groups reflect Chad's position at the crossroads of Sahelian Arab, Saharan, and Sub-Saharan African source populations.

A descriptive view, not a claim about individuals

This page shows a weighted aggregate of phenotype observations across the Chad population, based on demographic composition from published census and ancestry sources. Phenotypes within any country are far more varied than the aggregate suggests; this is a descriptive reference, not a deterministic claim about any individual. For source-level detail on individual ethnic groups, see the constituent atlas pages linked below.

Methodology Notes

Composition weights derived from Chad 2009 Census plus subsequent estimates.

See full project methodology →

Primary Sources

  1. 1.Institut National de la Statistique Tchad. RGPH2 2009. N'Djamena: INSEED; 2012.
  2. 2.Decalo S. Historical Dictionary of Chad. 3rd ed. Scarecrow; 1997.
  3. 3.Azevedo MJ. Roots of Violence: A History of War in Chad. Routledge; 1998.
  4. 4.Burr JM, Collins RO. Africa's Thirty Years War: Libya, Chad, and the Sudan, 1963-1993. Westview; 1999.
  5. 5.Tubiana J. Chad: Power Structures and Civil-Military Relations. African Affairs. 2008;107(427):283-295.

Other countries in Central Africa

Aggregate phenotype references for neighbouring Central Africa nations, weighted by demographic composition.

Browse all Central Africaethnic groups & countries →