Climate Change Overview

Country Summary

This page presents high-level information for Chad's climate zones and its seasonal cycle for mean temperature and precipitation for the latest climatology, 1991-2020. Climate zone classifications are derived from the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, which divides climates into five main climate groups divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The five main groups are A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar). All climates except for those in the E group are assigned a seasonal precipitation sub-group (second letter).  Climate classifications are identified by hovering your mouse over the legend. A narrative overview of Chad's country context and climate is provided following the visualizations.

The Republic of Chad is a large, landlocked Central African country that straddles the subtropical, semi-arid belt known as the Sahel. Oil provides about 60% of export revenues, while cotton, cattle, livestock, and gum Arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. The services sector contributes less than one-third of GDP and has attracted foreign investment mostly through telecommunications and banking. Critical development challenges for Chad include reducing their dependence on oil revenues, diversifying the economy, and growing other sectors, especially the private sector. Chad has a population of $17 million; 40% of Chadians live in poverty and face severe deprivation of a range of basic needs. Chad faces severe environmental degradation, exemplified by the drying up of Lake Chad, increased desertification, declining fish stocks, disappearance of certain animal and plant species, and soil degradation.