N'Djamena, population 594,000 (1996), is the capital of Chad. A port on the Chari River, the city is primarily an administrative center. It is also a regional market for livestock, salt, dates, and grains. Meat processing is the chief industry. In addition to being the national captial, it is also the capital of Chari-Baguirmi prefecture.

N'Djamena was founded as Fort-Lamy by the French in 1900. Its name was changed to N'Djamena in 1973.

The city has schools of administration and veterinary medicine and an international airport.