Chad is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. An independent nation since 1960, Chad is home to approximately 19 million people, of whom more than one million live in its capital, N’Djamena.

Despite its size and important resources like oil, Chad remains one of the most impoverished countries in the world. Poverty stretches to every corner of the country. However, one of the most susceptible victims, older people, are often ignored. Here are some facts about what elderly poverty in Chad looks like and how foreign aid can help minimize it. 

Facts About Elderly Poverty in Chad

1. Chad has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a life expectancy at birth of 59 years and a median age of 14-15 years. Older adults (65 and above) made up about 7.5% of the population in 1985 but now account for just 3%, making it the smallest age group in Chad. This change reflects the country’s high birth rates and lack of accessibility to food and medical care.
2. Chad has one of the lowest rates of accessible health care in the world, with the elderly being some of the most susceptible to diseases. Only 31.4% of Chad’s population has regular access to medical care, including doctors, hospitals, treatments and vaccinations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of October 2020, Chad had just 4.3 doctors and 23.2 nurses per 100,000 inhabitants, far below the recommended 23 doctors and 23 nurses per 10,000. Most of these health professionals are concentrated in urban areas, making health care largely inaccessible to rural populations, especially elderly individuals who often face the greatest barriers to medical access.
3. Noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, remain the leading cause of death for older people in Chad. Other leading causes of death include malaria, lower respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and diarrhoeal diseases like cholera. Elderly patients with diabetes and chronic illnesses, along with children, are the most susceptible to diseases like malaria and pneumonia.
4. With refugees coming in from neighboring countries like Sudan, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the conflicts in these regions have spilled over into Chad. This instability has made outside trade difficult, leading to a low supply and high demand for essential resources, including food and medical aid.
5. Chad has the lowest access to clean water and sanitation in the world. Only 43% of the population has access to clean water and just 10% has access to basic sanitation services.
6. Organizations such as the WHO, the World Food Programme (WFP) and other humanitarian actors are actively working to combat poverty in Chad. In mid‑2024, WFP delivered food, cash and nutrition assistance to approximately one million people across crisis-affected communities, including refugees and internally displaced Chadians. The 2023–24 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Chad sought approximately $921 million in funding and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated $15 million to address the most underfunded emergencies.

Conclusion

Elderly poverty in Chad remains a critical but often overlooked issue. Limited health care, food insecurity and poor sanitation leave older adults especially vulnerable. While humanitarian aid provides some relief, lasting change requires targeted support and stronger systems to protect Chad’s older population.

– Zoe Alatsas

Zoe is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pickpik