Departments of Chad

I updated the 1993 sub-prefecture populations using final, rather than preliminary, census figures.

In 2002, Chad reorganized into 18 regions, subdivided into 47 departments and N'Djamena, as listed here.

Change history:

1. 1960: At independence, Chad was divided into prefectures which were further subdivided into sub-prefectures.
2. ~1973: The following changes are conjectural. They are the easiest way to explain the differences between the list of "districts" in Morris Fisher's first edition, 1967, and the map in "L'Évaluation des Effectifs de la Population des Pays Africains", 1982 (see Bibliography for both). Arada, Guéréda, and Iriba sub-prefectures split from Biltine; Bitkine and Mangalmé sub-prefectures split from Mongo; Gounou Gaya sub-prefecture formed, probably from parts of Fianga and Pala; Moundou sub-prefecture split into Beinamar and Benoyé; Ngouri sub-prefecture split from Bol; Abéché and Abéché Centre Urbain sub-prefectures merged to form Abéché; Fort-Archambault and Fort-Archambault-Urban sub-prefectures merged to form Sarh; name of Dnor sub-prefecture changed to Ouaddi-Rimé; name of Fort-Lamy-Rural sub-prefecture changed to N'Djamena-Rural; name of Fort-Lamy-Urban sub-prefecture changed to N'Djamena-Urban; name of Moundou Centre Urbain sub-prefecture changed to Moundou.
3. ~1986: Am Zoer sub-prefecture formed from parts of Biltine and Guéréda; Bébedjia and Goré sub-prefectures split from Doba; Béré sub-prefecture split from Kélo; Maro sub-prefecture split from Sarh; eastern part of Bousso sub-prefecture in Chari-Baguirmi prefecture transferred to Sarh sub-prefecture in Moyen-Chari prefecture; name of Nord-Kanem sub-prefecture changed to Nokou; name of Ouaddi-Rimé sub-prefecture changed to Djédaa. As a result, the sub-prefectures of Chad at the time of the 1993 census were as shown in this table.

1. 1999-06-10: Decree No. 226/PR/MISD/99 created many new administrative units. This is somewhat perplexing. The decree is quite straightforward in saying what units were created. All of them were sub-prefectures. The problem is that if you add these new sub-prefectures to the ones that existed before, there are some duplications and some omissions. The following description is extracted from the decree, but is known to be faulty.
2. Assinet, Fitri, and Koundjourou sub-prefectures created in Batha prefecture; Borkou Yala, Gouro, Kalait, Kouba, Ouadi-Hawar, Ounianga Kebbir, and Zouar sub-prefectures created in Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti prefecture; Karal, Linia, Mandelia, Mani, and Moïto sub-prefectures created in Chari-Baguirmi prefecture; Michémiré and Salal sub-prefectures created in Kanem prefecture; Bagassola and Doum-Doum sub-prefectures created in Lac prefecture; Krim-Krim sub-prefecture created in Logone Occidental prefecture; Baïkoro, Béboto, and Bodo sub-prefectures created in Logone Oriental prefecture; Kim and Lagon sub-prefectures created in Mayo-Kébbi prefecture; Bohobé, Bouna, and Korbol sub-prefectures created in Moyen-Chari prefecture; Abdi, Adé, Chokoyan, and Koukou Angarana sub-prefectures created in Ouaddaï prefecture; Dono Manga sub-prefecture created in Tandjilé prefecture.
3. 1999-09-01: Decree No. 354/PR/MISD/99 created more administrative units. The same remarks apply as for the preceding decree.
4. Haraze Djombo Kibit sub-prefecture created in Batha prefecture; Mondo sub-prefecture created in Kanem prefecture; Liwa sub-prefecture created in Lac prefecture; Rigaza sub-prefecture created in Mayo-Kébbi prefecture; Hadjer Hadid and Mabrone sub-prefectures created in Ouaddaï prefecture; Dafra and Déressia sub-prefectures created in Tandjilé prefecture. As a result, Chad's 28 departments were subdivided into 108 sous-préfectures (sub-prefectures), and one commune (N'Djamena), which was divided into eight arrondissements. The table below shows the 108 sub-prefectures and N'Djamena.