Hadjer-Lamis

Hadjer-Lamis is the region immediately surrounding N'Djamena—Chad's capital hinterland where subsistence agriculture feeds the urban population. With approximately 563,000 residents (2009 census), the region includes Massaguet, Massakory, Bokoro, and Ngama—towns that supply food, labor, and materials to the capital. Average household size of 5.1 persons (5.1 rural, 4.7 urban) reflects Chad's high fertility rate and the demographic pressure that keeps over 65% of the population under 25 years old. The region sits in Chad's southwestern density corridor—the most populated zone due to more favorable climate and proximity to Lake Chad. Like neighboring Chari-Baguirmi, Hadjer-Lamis is vulnerable to the flood-drought cycle that defines Sahelian agriculture; the 2024 floods destroyed over 418,300 hectares of cropland nationally during the maturation phase. The World Bank and African Development Bank provide development financing, but with 40% of Chadians below the poverty line and military spending reaching 23% of domestic revenues in 2025 (up 11.6% year-over-year), rural regions like Hadjer-Lamis receive limited investment. The region's fate is tied to N'Djamena's growth—and to whether Chad can diversify beyond oil before reserves decline.