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
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
comparison ranking: total 23
Area – comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 5,834 km
border countries (7): 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
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: 36.8% (2022 est.)
arable land: 14% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 22.7% (2022 est.)
forest: 0.8% (2022 est.)
other: 62.4% (2022 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)
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
Population
total: 26,342,784 (2024 est.)
male: 13,056,203
female: 13,286,581
comparison rankings: total 55; female 56; male 55
Nationality
noun: Nigerien(s)
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
note: represents the most-spoken languages; Niger has 10 national languages: Arabic, Buduma, Fulfuldé, Guimancema, Hausa, Kanuri, Sonay-Zarma, Tamajaq, Tassawaq, and Tubu
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)
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 109.1 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 103.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 17.7 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 15.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 14.9 years
female: 15.6 years
comparison ranking: total 229
Population growth rate
3.66% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 2
Birth rate
46.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 1
Death rate
9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 44
Net migration rate
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 125
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)
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
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.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49
Maternal mortality ratio
441 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 19
Infant mortality rate
total: 64.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 69.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.2 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 6
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 60.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 59.3 years
female: 62.5 years
comparison ranking: total population 218
Total fertility rate
6.64 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 1
Gross reproduction rate
3.27 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
11% (2021)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 95.8% of population
rural: 63.1% of population
total: 68.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.2% of population
rural: 36.9% of population
total: 31.4% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
5.8% of GDP (2021)
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: 81.9% of population
rural: 13.5% of population
total: 24.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 18.1% of population
rural: 86.5% of population
total: 75.2% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
5.5% (2016)
comparison ranking: 176
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
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.)
comparison ranking: total 177
Tobacco use
total: 7.5% (2025 est.)
male: 13.7% (2025 est.)
female: 1.2% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 147
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
34.6% (2022)
comparison ranking: 1
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
80.3% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
12.8% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 100
Literacy
total population: 35.6% (2022 est.)
male: 47.9% (2022 est.)
female: 25.7% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 6 years
male: 7 years
female: 6 years (2017)
Environment
Environment – current 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
Environment – international 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
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% (2022 est.)
arable land: 14% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 22.7% (2022 est.)
forest: 0.8% (2022 est.)
other: 62.4% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 17.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 50.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 22.99 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,865,646 tons (1993 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 74,626 tons (2005 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4% (2005 est.)
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)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers
Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Murzuk-Djado Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 190 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 2.35 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
34.05 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
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)
note: pronounced nee-ZHAIR
Government type
formerly, semi-presidential republic
Note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger’s government, dissolved all government institutions, and rules by decree
Capital
name: Niamey
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
7 regions (r̩gions, singular Рr̩gion) and 1 capital district* (communaut̩ 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
amendment process: formerly proposed by the president of the republic or by 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
Note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger’s government, dissolved the country’s constitution
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
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: President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023)
head of government: CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the CNSP; Cabinet previously appointed by the elected president
elections/appointments: the CNSP rules by decree; previously, the president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 December 2020 with a runoff held on 21 February 2021 (next election was to be held in 2025); prime minister appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly
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%
2016: ISSOUFOU Mahamadou reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round – ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (PNDS-Tarrayya) 48.6%, Hama AMADOU (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17.8%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 11.3%, other 22.3%; percent of vote in second round – ISSOUFOU Mahamadou 92%, Hama AMADOU 8%
note: deposed president BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023
Legislative branch
legislature name: Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 194 (all appointed)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
most recent election date: 5/1/2025
Note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger’s government, dissolved the National Assembly; a commission recommended to the junta in February 2025 a minimum of a five-year transition to democratic rule
Judicial branch
highest court(s): High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members); Supreme Court (membership NA); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)
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 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
Note: after the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland dissolved the National Assembly and prohibited all political party activity
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023)
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224
FAX: [1] (202) 483-3169
email address and website:
[email protected]
http://www.embassyofniger.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023)
embassy: BP 11201, Niamey
mailing address: 2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420
telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61
FAX: [227] 20-73-55-60
email address and website:
[email protected]
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); note – commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green, with a small orange disk centered in the white band; the 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
note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
National symbol(s)
zebu
National colors
orange, white, green
National anthem
name: “La Nigerienne” (The Nigerien)
lyrics/music: Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel Francois FRIONNET
note: adopted 1961
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c)
Economy
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)
$44.561 billion (2023 est.)
$43.474 billion (2022 est.)
$38.851 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 132
Real GDP growth rate
2.5% (2023 est.)
11.9% (2022 est.)
1.38% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 126
Real GDP per capita
$1,700 (2023 est.)
$1,700 (2022 est.)
$1,600 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 212
GDP (official exchange rate)
$16.819 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9.1% (2024 est.)
3.7% (2023 est.)
4.2% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 182
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 47.8% (2023 est.)
industry: 20.2% (2023 est.)
services: 26.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 213; industry 139; agriculture 1
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 72% (2021 est.)
government consumption: 17.3% (2021 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 26.4% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 8.8% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -21.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
millet, cowpeas, sorghum, onions, milk, sugarcane, cabbages, cassava, groundnuts, tomatoes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate
2.9% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 104
Labor force
10.486 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 54
Unemployment rate
0.4% (2024 est.)
0.4% (2023 est.)
0.4% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 3
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 0.3% (2024 est.)
male: 0.4% (2024 est.)
female: 0.2% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 197
Population below poverty line
45.5% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
32.9 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 103
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.8% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 27.8% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
4.31% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.37% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $2.325 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $2.785 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
45.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 121
Taxes and other revenues
21.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 73
Current account balance
-$2.333 billion (2023 est.)
-$2.5 billion (2022 est.)
-$2.099 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 161
Exports
$1.223 billion (2023 est.)
$1.376 billion (2022 est.)
$1.487 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 176
Exports – partners
UAE 31%, France 23%, China 18%, India 6%, Sweden 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
gold, oil seeds, uranium and thorium ore, radioactive chemicals, refined petroleum (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$3.808 billion (2023 est.)
$4.194 billion (2022 est.)
$4.027 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 160
Imports – partners
China 26%, France 15%, India 12%, Nigeria 7%, UAE 6% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
rice, aircraft parts, iron structures, refined petroleum, centrifuges (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.314 billion (2017 est.)
$1.186 billion (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 144
Debt – external
$3.793 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 76
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
606.345 (2024 est.)
606.57 (2023 est.)
623.76 (2022 est.)
554.531 (2021 est.)
575.586 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 19.5% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 66.1%
electrification – rural areas: 7.7%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 377,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 1.645 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 1.213 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 372.245 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 75; imports 74; consumption 154; installed generating capacity 156
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 97% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
production: 427,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 426,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 90 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 26.805 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 26.872 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
3.132 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 622,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 2.457 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 52,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 148
Energy consumption per capita
1.772 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 190
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 58,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 152
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 14.2 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 75
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.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 180
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5U
Airports
26 (2025)
comparison ranking: 127
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force, Niger Gendarmerie (GN)
Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization: Niger National Guard (GNN), National Police (2025)
note 1: the Gendarmerie (GN) and the National Guard (GNN) are paramilitary forces; the GN has primary responsibility for rural security while the GNN is responsible for domestic security and the protection of high-level officials and government buildings
note 2: the National Police includes the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, which is charged with border management
Military expenditures
2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
2% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 35-40,000 active Nigerien Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie; estimated 5-10,000 National Guard (2025)
note: in 2020, the Nigerien Government announced it intended to increase the size of the FAN to 50,000 by 2025 and 100,000 by 2030
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FAN has a wide mix of mostly older, typically Soviet-era, or donated/secondhand weapons and equipment, along with small quantities of more modern items such as unmanned aerial vehicles/drones and air defense systems; suppliers have included China, Egypt, France, Italy, Russia, Turkey, and the US (2024)
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 (2023)
Military deployments
note: in 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced they were forming joint force of 5,000 troops to combat extremist groups in the Sahel
Military – note
the military seized control of the government in 2023; since its establishment in 1960-61, it has played a significant role in the country’s politics, attempting coups in 1974, 1996, 1999, 2010, and 2021, and ruling Niger for much of the period before 1999
while the FAN is responsible for ensuring external security, most of its focus is on internal counterinsurgency/counterterrorism operations against terrorist groups operating in the areas bordering Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, and Nigeria, as well as much of northern Niger and the Diffa and Lake Chad regions; these groups include the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS), Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)
since the 2010s, Niger has placed considerable emphasis on improving the effectiveness and mobility of its security forces for countering terrorism and protecting the country’s borders; with training support and material assistance from the US and the EU, each security service has created new units or reconfigured existing units with an emphasis on mobility, hybridization, and specialized training; the Army has established a special operations command, several special intervention battalions, and an anti-terrorism unit known as the 1st Expeditionary Force of Niger (EFoN); the National Gendarmerie has created mobile units modeled on European gendarmerie forces known as the Rapid Action Group—Surveillance and Response in the Sahel (Groupe d’action Rapides—Surveillance et Intervention au Sahel or GAR-SI Sahel); the National Guard (GNN) has established mobile Multipurpose Squadrons (Escadrons Polyvalentes de la Garde Nationale de Niger or EP-GNN), while the National Police have created Mobile Border Control Companies (Compagnie Mobile de Contrôle des Frontières or CMCF); Niger has also established training centers for special forces in Tillia and peacekeeping in Ouallam; meanwhile, the Air Force has received armed UAVs from Turkey (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
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)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 67,191 (Mali) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023); 200,423 (Nigeria) (2024)
IDPs: 335,277 (includes the regions of Diffa, Tillaberi, and Tahoua; unknown how many of the 11,000 people displaced by clashes between government forces and the Tuareg militant group, Niger Movement for Justice, in 2007 are still displaced; inter-communal violence; Boko Haram attacks in southern Niger, 2015) (2023)
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 was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/niger/
Illicit drugs
a transit country for illegal drugs shipped through Niger to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East; drugs from South America, cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and various synthetics transit through Niger to European and Middle Eastern markets; hashish from Morocco is trafficked through Niger to Libya and Egypt and Europe and the Middle East; Nigerien citizens and migrants crossing Niger consume significant quantities of the opioid tramadol from neighboring Nigeria
