Niger
Republic of Niger
Population
27.32M
Area
1.267 km²
GDP
$19.54B
GDP Per Capita
$1,800
Pop. Density
21,564,763/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
FrWest African CFA franc(XOF)
Calling Code
+227
Timezone
UTC+01:00
Languages
French
Driving Side
right
Demonym
Nigerien
Background
Nomadic peoples from the Saharan north and agriculturalists from the south settled present-day Niger. The Taureg kingdom of Takedda was one of the largest kingdoms in the north and played a prominent role in regional trade in the 14th century. In the south, the primary ethnic groups were the Songhai-Zarma in the west, the Hausa in the center, and the Kanuri in the east. When European colonizers arrived in the 19th century, the region was an assemblage of disparate local kingdoms.
In the late 19th century, the British and French agreed to partition the middle regions of the Niger River, and France began its conquest of what would become the colony of Niger. France experienced determined local resistance -- particularly during the Tuareg uprising (1916-1917) -- but established a colonial administration in 1922.
After achieving independence from France in 1960, Niger experienced single-party or military rule until 1991, when political pressure forced General Ali SAIBOU to allow multiparty elections. Political infighting and democratic backsliding led to coups in 1996 and 1999. In 1999, military officers restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and spearheaded a 2009 constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his presidential term. In 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed TANDJA. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected in 2011 and reelected in 2016. In 2021, BAZOUM Mohamed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one democratically elected president to another. Nonetheless, a military junta led by General Abdourahamane TIANI once again seized power in July 2023, detaining President BAZOUM and announcing the creation of a National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP).
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. It is ranked fourth to last in the world on the UN Development Program's Human Development Index of 2023/2024. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Government continues its attempts to diversify the economy through increased oil production and mining projects. In addition, Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict and terrorism in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑317.9% since 2006Population
↑89.5% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 61.2 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography21
Location
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates
16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries
border countries: Algeria 951 km; Benin 277 km; Burkina Faso 622 km; Chad 1,196 km; Libya 342 km; Mali 838 km; Nigeria 1,608 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Elevation
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
mean elevation: 474 m
Natural resources
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
2,881 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km)
note - area varies by season and year to year
Major rivers (by length in km)
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers
Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Murzuk-Djado Basin
Population distribution
majority of the populace is located in the southernmost extreme of the country along the border with Nigeria and Benin, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
recurring droughts
Geography - note
landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna that is suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
People & Society35
Population
male: 13,542,629
female: 13,779,926
Nationality
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups
Hausa 53.1%, Zarma/Songhai 21.2%, Tuareg 11%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.5%, Kanuri 5.9%, Gurma 0.8%, Arab 0.4%, Tubu 0.4%, other/unavailable 0.9% (2006 est.)
Languages
Hausa, Zarma, French (official), Fufulde, Tamashek, Kanuri, Gurmancema, Tagdal
Religions
Muslim 95.5%, ethnic religionist 4.1%, Christian 0.3%, agnostics and other 0.1% (2020 est.)
Age structure
15-64 years: 47.8% (male 6,146,355/female 6,451,574)
65 years and over: 2.7% (2024 est.) (male 342,388/female 371,130)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 102.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 17.7 (2025 est.)
Median age
male: 14.9 years
female: 15.6 years
Population growth rate
3.65% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
46.29 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
9.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
majority of the populace is located in the southernmost extreme of the country along the border with Nigeria and Benin, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.437 million NIAMEY (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
18.5 years (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
350 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 69.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 59.3 years
female: 62.5 years
Total fertility rate
6.55 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
3.23 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 13.7% (2025 est.)
female: 1.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
34.6% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
81.3% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.8% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy
male: 47.9% (2022 est.)
female: 25.7% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 7 years (2017 est.)
female: 6 years (2017 est.)
Government23
Country name
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: République du Niger
local short form: Niger
etymology: named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; the name of the river probably comes from the local Tuareg name, egereou n-igereouen (big rivers)
Government type
formerly, semi-presidential republic
Capital
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; one of many stories says that an African chief told his seven slaves "Wa niammane," meaning "stay here," and the name was later shortened to its present form
Administrative divisions
Legal system
Constitution
amendment process: formerly proposed by the president of the republic or the National Assembly; consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote; if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum; constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
election results
2020/2021: Mohamed BAZOUM elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.3%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 9%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.1%, other 27.6%; percent of vote in second round - Mohamed BAZOUM 55.7%, Mahamane OUSMANE 44.3%
expected date of next election
Legislative branch
legislature name
legislative structure
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
most recent election date
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
judge selection and term of office: High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary to 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society; all appointed by the president; judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years
subordinate courts: Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts
Political parties
Alliance for Democratic Renewal or ARD-Adaltchi-Mutuntchi
Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger or AMEN AMIN
Congress for the Republic or CPR-Inganci
Democratic Alternation for Equity in Niger
Democratic and Republican Renewal-RDR-Tchanji
Democratic Movement for the Emergence of Niger Falala
Democratic Patriots' Rally or RPD Bazara
National Movement for the Development of Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya
Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation or MODEN/FA Lumana
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya
Nigerien Patriotic Movement or MPN-Kishin Kassa
Nigerien Rally for Democracy and Peace
Patriotic Movement for the Republic or MPR-Jamhuriya
Peace, Justice, Progress–Generation Doubara
Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a
Rally for Peace and Progress or RPP Farilla
Social Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya
Social Democratic Party or PSD-Bassira
Diplomatic representation in the US
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224
FAX: [1] (202) 483-3169
email address and website:
communication@embassyofniger.org
http://www.embassyofniger.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
email address and website
consulateniamey@state.gov
https://ne.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINUSCA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Flag
meaning: orange stands for the northern Sahara regions, white for purity and innocence, and green for hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River; the orange disc represents the sun and the people's sacrifices
National symbol(s)
zebu
National color(s)
orange, white, green
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: a government-appointed committee wrote both the lyrics and the music
history: adopted 2023; replaced previous national anthem, "La Nigérienne" (The Nigerien), that was adopted in 1961
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c)
Economy29
Economic overview
low-income Sahel economy; major instability and humanitarian crises limit economic activity; COVID-19 eliminated recent antipoverty gains; economy rebounding since December 2020 Nigerian border reopening and new investments; uranium resource rich
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $44.199 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $43.474 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 11.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$19.538 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 17.8% (2024 est.)
services: 45.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
millet, cowpeas, sorghum, onions, milk, sugarcane, cabbages, cassava, groundnuts, tomatoes (2023)
Industries
uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate
12.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force
10.486 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 0.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 0.4% (2024 est.)
female: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
45.5% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 27.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $2.785 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022: -$2.5 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$2.099 billion (2021 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022: $1.376 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $1.487 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 31%, France 23%, China 18%, India 6%, Sweden 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, oil seeds, uranium and thorium ore, radioactive chemicals, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports
Imports 2022: $4.194 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $4.027 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 26%, France 15%, India 12%, Nigeria 7%, UAE 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities
rice, aircraft parts, iron structures, refined petroleum, centrifuges (2023)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2024
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Energy7
Electricity access
electrification - urban areas: 66.1%
electrification - rural areas: 7.7%
Electricity
consumption: 1.645 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 1.213 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 372.245 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 426,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 90 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 26.872 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming; state-run radio has the only radio station with national coverage; about 30 private local radio stations; as many as 100 community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Internet country code
.ne
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation2
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5U
Airports
26 (2025)
Military & Security6
Military and security forces
Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization: Niger National Guard, National Police (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie; estimated 15-20,000 National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FAN's inventory is comprised of older, typically Soviet-era weapons and equipment, along with smaller quantities of more modern armaments such as unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, air defense systems, and armored vehicles; suppliers over the past decade include China, France, Russia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18 is the legal minimum age for selective compulsory or voluntary military service for unmarried men and women; 24-month service term (2025)
Military - note
the military has played a role in Niger's domestic politics since its establishment in 1960-61; prior to seizing control of the government in 2023, it attempted coups in 1974, 1996, 1999, 2010, and 2021, and ruled the country for much of the period before 1999 (2025)
Transnational Issues2
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 891,565 (2024 est.)