Niger Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Niamey

Population

27,322,555 (2025 est.)

Area

1.267 million sq km

Location

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

1.267 million sq km

Area — land

1,266,700 sq km

Area — water

300 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries — total

5,834 km

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 — highest point

Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m

Elevation — lowest point

Niger River 200 m

Elevation — mean elevation

474 m

Natural resources

Uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Land use — agricultural land

36.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 14% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 22.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

0.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

62.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

2,881 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km) — fresh water lake(s)

Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year

Major rivers (by length in km)

Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Niger (2,261,741 sq km)

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 and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

27,322,555 (2025 est.)

Population — male

13,542,629

Population — female

13,779,926

Nationality — noun

Nigerien(s)

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 — 0-14 years

49.5% (male 6,567,460/female 6,463,877)

Age structure — 15-64 years

47.8% (male 6,146,355/female 6,451,574)

Age structure — 65 years and over

2.7% (2024 est.) (male 342,388/female 371,130)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

108.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

102.6 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

5.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

17.7 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

15.3 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

14.9 years

Median age — 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 — urban population

17.1% of total population (2023)

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 — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.92 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 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 — total

63 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

69.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

59.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

60.9 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

59.3 years

Life expectancy at birth — 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

Urban: 88.3% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 40.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 11.7% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 59.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.8% of GDP (2021)

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

Urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 15.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 26.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 84.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 73.6% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.5% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

7.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

13.7% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — 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 (% GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.8% national budget (2023 est.)

Literacy — total population

35.6% (2022 est.)

Literacy — male

47.9% (2022 est.)

Literacy — female

25.7% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

6 years (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

7 years (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

6 years (2017 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; contaminated water; inadequate potable water; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened by poaching and habitat destruction

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Land use — agricultural land

36.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 14% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 22.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

0.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

62.4% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

17.1% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

3.132 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

622,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

2.457 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

52,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

59.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

137.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

713.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

128.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

11.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

1.866 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

20.3% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

193.247 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

38.654 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

2.351 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

34,050,000,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Niger

Country name — conventional short form

Niger

Country name — local long form

République du Niger

Country name — local short form

Niger

Country name — 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 — name

Niamey

Capital — geographic coordinates

13 31 N, 2 07 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — 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

7 regions (régions, singular - région) and 1 capital district* (communauté urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Legal system

Note: following the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assumed control of all government institutions and rules by decree; formerly, mixed system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law

Constitution — history

Several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010

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 birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Niger

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

Unknown

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023)

Executive branch — head of government

CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the CNSP

Executive branch — election/appointment process

The CNSP rules by decree; previously, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister was appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly

Executive branch — most recent election date

27 December 2020, with a runoff held on 21 February 2021

Executive branch — 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%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

2030

Legislative branch — legislature name

Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

194 (all appointed)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Mixed system

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — most recent election date

5/1/2025

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

19.6%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

April 2030

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members); Supreme Court (membership NA); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts

Political parties

Alliance for Democracy and the Republic 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 — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 483-4224

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 483-3169

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Communication@embassyofniger.org http://www.embassyofniger.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

BP 11201, Niamey

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[227] 20-72-26-61

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[227] 20-73-55-60

Diplomatic representation from the US — 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

Description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green, with an orange disk centered on the white band 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) — title

"L'Honneur de la Patrie" (The Honor of the Fatherland)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

A government-appointed committee wrote both the lyrics and the music

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 2023; replaced previous national anthem, "La Nigérienne" (The Nigerien), that was adopted in 1961

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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) 2024

$47.921 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$44.199 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$43.474 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

8.4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

11.9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$1,800 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — 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) 2024

9.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.7% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

33.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

17.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

45.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

59.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

11.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

18.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

31.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-20.8% (2024 est.)

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 2024

0.4% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

0.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

0.5% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

0.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

0.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

0.2% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

45.5% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

32.9 (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

3.8% (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

27.8% (2021 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$2.325 billion (2019 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$2.785 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

45.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$2.333 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$2.5 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

-$2.099 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$1.223 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$1.376 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — 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 2023

$3.808 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$4.194 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — 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 — Debt - external 2023

$3.793 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

606.345 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

575.586 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

19.5% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

66.1%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

7.7%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

377,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

1.645 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

1.213 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

372.245 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

97% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — production

427,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

426,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

400 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

90 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

150 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

26.805 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

26.872 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

1.772 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

58,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

17.2 million (2023 est.)

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 — percent of population

23% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

14,000 (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5U

Airports

26 (2025)

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force, Niger Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization: Niger National Guard, National Police (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — 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 of Niger is responsible for territorial defense, but most of its focus is on internal and border security operations; the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and the al-Qaida affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) terrorist groups are active in western Niger and in adjacent strongholds in Burkina Faso and Mali, while the Nigeria-based Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa groups threaten southeast Niger; parts of Niger also face spillover from communal, criminal, and vigilante violence in neighboring Nigeria; since the 2023 coup, some former ethnic separatist rebels have taken up arms in support of deposed President BAZOUM 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)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa (ISIS-WA); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

421,795 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

891,565 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons — tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Niger remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/niger/