Real size
How big is Chad really?
1.27 million km²
491,000 sq mi · 21st largest of the 167 here · about the size of Mali
Normal web maps show it about the right size
Chad covers 1.27 million km² (491,000 sq mi), about the size of Mali. It sits close to the equator, where normal web maps barely stretch land, so they show it at about its real size, and make countries farther from the equator look bigger than it.
Measured from our map outlines, so official figures can differ by a few percent. Ranks count the 167 countries and territories on these pages: those over 5,000 km², not counting disputed territories.
- Real area
- 1.27 million km²
- Size rank
- 21st of 167
- On a normal web map
- About right
- Latitude
- 15°N
Countries about the same size
- MaliAbout the same size
- AngolaAbout the same size
- PeruAbout the same size
- South AfricaAbout the same size
- NigerChad is 1.1 times the size of Niger
Chad through history
Borders here have moved many times. Step through our maps, from 2000 BCE to today, to see who ruled this land before, and how big their realms really were.
Open the history map →Browse the eras →
Common questions
- How big is Chad?
- Chad covers about 1.27 million km² (491,000 sq mi). It is the 21st largest of the 167 countries and territories on these pages (those over 5,000 km²).
- Do maps show Chad at the right size?
- Mostly. Chad lies close enough to the equator that a normal web map draws it only about 1.1 times too big, while countries far to the north or south are drawn several times too big.
- Is Chad bigger than Mongolia?
- No. Mongolia is about 1.2 times the size of Chad.
- Is Chad bigger than Mali?
- They are about the same size: within 5% of each other.
- Is Chad bigger than Peru?
- They are about the same size: within 5% of each other.