Country Profile: Niger

Niger is a landlocked country located in Western Africa, bordered by several nations including Algeria to the north and Nigeria to the south. With a population of over 27 million people, Niger has one of the youngest populations globally, characterized by a high birth rate and rapid population growth. The economy is primarily agrarian and heavily dependent on subsistence farming, facing significant challenges due to recurring droughts and political instability. Governance has transitioned from military rule to a democratically elected system, although a military coup in July 2023 has led to renewed uncertainty.

Geography

Niger is situated in Western Africa, southeast of Algeria and characterized by a largely desert terrain that occupies the northern four-fifths of the country, with savanna in the south suitable for limited agriculture and livestock. The country has a total area of approximately 1.267 million square kilometers, making it slightly less than twice the size of Texas. Niger has no coastline, being entirely landlocked, and its climate varies from hot and dry in the north to tropical in the extreme south.

1.267 million sq km: Total area.
5,834 km: Length of land boundaries with neighboring countries.
1,608 km: Border shared with Nigeria, the longest.
2,022 m: Highest elevation at Idoukal-n-Taghes.
200 m: Lowest elevation at the Niger River.

People and Society

Niger has an estimated population of 27.3 million as of 2025, with a median age of just 15.3 years. The population is predominantly Muslim (95.5%) and includes diverse ethnic groups, with the Hausa making up the largest share at 53.1%. The country faces significant challenges such as a high dependency ratio and low literacy rates, particularly among women. Urbanization is gradually increasing, with only 17.1% of the population residing in urban areas.

49.5%: Proportion of the population aged 0-14 years.
46.29 births/1,000 population: Birth rate in 2025.
60.9 years: Life expectancy at birth (2024 estimate).
35.6%: Overall literacy rate (2022).
3.65%: Population growth rate (2025 estimate).

Economy

Niger's economy is categorized as low-income and is heavily reliant on agriculture, which constitutes 33.8% of its GDP. However, the economy has been challenged by political instability, climatic variations, and the impacts of COVID-19. Recent efforts are underway to diversify the economy, particularly through uranium and oil production. The GDP is projected to grow by 8.4% in 2024, reflecting a rebound from past slow growth.

$47.921 billion: Estimated real GDP (PPP) in 2024.
0.4%: Unemployment rate projected in 2024.
45.5%: Population living below the national poverty line (2021).
Gini Index: 32.9, indicating moderate income inequality (2021).
45.4%: Services sector's contribution to GDP (2024).

Government

Niger, officially the Republic of Niger, has undergone various changes in governance, transitioning from a semi-presidential republic to military rule in July 2023. The new government, led by General Abdourahame Tiani, has dissolved previous institutions and currently rules by decree. Niger's constitution was last enacted in 2010, although it has been suspended since the recent coup.

18 years: Minimum voting age.
7 regions: The country is administratively divided into seven regions and the capital district.
3 August 1960: Independence from France.
194: Seats in the unicameral Advisory Council for the Refoundation.

Military and Security

The Nigerien Armed Forces have approximately 50,000 active members and focus on both territorial defense and internal security operations, particularly against threats from terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS. Military expenditures are projected to be 2.2% of GDP in 2024, reflecting ongoing security concerns in the region.

2.2%: Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP projected in 2024.
15-20,000: Estimated strength of the National Guard.
18: Legal minimum age for military service.
50,000: Estimated active personnel in the armed forces (2025).

Energy

Energy access in Niger remains limited, with only 19.5% of the population having electricity as of 2022. The country's energy landscape is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with a notable portion of energy generation coming from solar sources. The production of petroleum is also emerging, with an estimated crude oil reserve of 150 million barrels.

377,000 kW: Installed electricity generating capacity (2023).
1.645 billion kWh: Total electricity consumption (2023).
66.1%: Electrification rate in urban areas.
13,000 bbl/day: Total petroleum production (2023).
26.872 million cubic meters: Natural gas consumption (2023).

Environment

Niger faces several environmental challenges including desertification, deforestation, and water contamination. The country is a participant in various international environmental agreements aimed at biodiversity and climate change. Agricultural land constitutes 36.8% of the total area, but overgrazing and soil erosion remain significant issues.

3.132 million metric tonnes: Total CO2 emissions (2023).
34,050,000,000 cubic meters: Total renewable water resources (2022).
20.3%: Percentage of municipal solid waste recycled (2022).
0.8%: Forest area as a percentage of land (2023).

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure includes 26 airports, which facilitate domestic and international travel. The civil aircraft registration is denoted by the prefix 5U.

26: Number of airports as of 2025.

Communications

Niger has an expanding telecommunications sector with about 17.2 million mobile subscriptions in 2023, indicating a growing penetration of mobile technology. However, internet access remains limited, with only 23% of the population online.

58,000: Fixed-line subscriptions (2021).
23%: Percentage of the population with internet access (2023).
0.04%: Estimated broadband fixed subscriptions (2022).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	27,322,555	(2025 estimate)
Area	1.267 million sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$47.921 billion	(2024 estimate)
Unemployment Rate	0.4%	(2024 estimate)
Birth Rate	46.29 births/1,000 population	(2025 estimate)
Life Expectancy	60.9 years	(2024 estimate)
Electricity Access	19.5%	Population with electricity (2022)
Literacy Rate	35.6%	(2022 estimate)
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)	2.2%	(2024 estimate)
Urban Population	17.1%	Total urban population (2023)