{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

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": { "text": "Western Africa, southeast of Algeria" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "16 00 N, 8 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Africa" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "1.267 million sq km" }, "land": { "text": "1,266,700 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "300 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly less than twice the size of Texas" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "5,834 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "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": { "text": "0 km (landlocked)" }, "Maritime claims": { "text": "none (landlocked)" }, "Climate": { "text": "desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south" }, "Terrain": { "text": "predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Niger River 200 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "474 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "35.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 12.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 22.7% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "1% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "63.9% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "2,666 sq km (2020)" }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "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)": { "text": "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)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Murzuk-Djado Basin" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "recurring droughts" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "26,342,784" }, "male": { "text": "13,056,203" }, "female": { "text": "13,286,581 (2024 est.)" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Nigerien(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Nigerien" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "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": { "text": "Hausa, Zarma, French (official), Fufulde, Tamashek, Kanuri, Gurmancema, Tagdal", "note": "note: represents the most-spoken languages; Niger has 10 national languages: Arabic, Buduma, Fulfuldé, Guimancema, Hausa, Kanuri, Sonay-Zarma, Tamajaq, Tassawaq, and Tubu" }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim 95.5%, ethnic religionist 4.1%, Christian 0.3%, agnostics and other 0.1% (2020 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

Niger has the highest total fertility rate (TFR) of any country in the world, averaging close to 7 children per woman in 2022. A slight decline in fertility over the last few decades has stalled. This leveling off of the high fertility rate is in large part a product of the continued desire for large families. In Niger, the TFR is lower than the desired fertility rate, which makes it unlikely that contraceptive use will increase. The high TFR sustains rapid population growth and a large youth population – almost 70% of the populace is under the age of 25, as of 2020. Gender inequality, including a lack of educational opportunities for women and early marriage and childbirth, also contributes to high population growth.

Because of large family sizes, children are inheriting smaller and smaller parcels of land. The dependence of most Nigeriens on subsistence farming on increasingly small landholdings, coupled with declining rainfall and the resultant shrinkage of arable land, are all preventing food production from keeping up with population growth.

For more than half a century, Niger's lack of economic development has led to steady net outmigration. In the 1960s, Nigeriens mainly migrated to coastal West African countries to work on a seasonal basis. Some headed to Libya and Algeria in the 1970s to work in the booming oil industry until its decline in the 1980s. Since the 1990s, the principal destinations for Nigerien labor migrants have been West African countries, especially Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire, while emigration to Europe and North America has remained modest. During the same period, Niger’s desert trade route town Agadez became a hub for West African and other Sub-Saharan migrants crossing the Sahara to North Africa and sometimes onward to Europe.

More than 60,000 Malian refugees have fled to Niger since violence between Malian government troops and armed rebels began in early 2012. Ongoing attacks by the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency, dating to 2013 in northern Nigeria and February 2015 in southeastern Niger, pushed tens of thousands of Nigerian refugees and Nigerien returnees across the border to Niger and displaced thousands of locals in Niger’s already impoverished Diffa region.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "49.5% (male 6,567,460/female 6,463,877)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "47.8% (male 6,146,355/female 6,451,574)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "2.7% (2024 est.) (male 342,388/female 371,130)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "105.4" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "100.4" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "5" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "20.1 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "15.2 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "14.9 years" }, "female": { "text": "15.6 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "3.66% (2024 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "46.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "17.1% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "1.437 million NIAMEY (capital) (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.02 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.95 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.92 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "18.5 years (2012 est.)", "note": "note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "441 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "64.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "69.2 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "59.2 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "60.9 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "59.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "62.5 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "6.64 children born/woman (2024 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "3.27 (2024 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "11% (2021)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 95.8% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 63.1% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 68.6% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 4.2% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 36.9% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 31.4% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "6.2% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physician density": { "text": "0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2020)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 81.9% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 13.5% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 24.8% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 18.1% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 86.5% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 75.2% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "5.5% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "7.4% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "13.7% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "1.1% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "34.6% (2022)" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "80.3% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "3.8% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "37.3%" }, "male": { "text": "45.8%" }, "female": { "text": "29% (2018)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "6 years" }, "male": { "text": "7 years" }, "female": { "text": "6 years (2017)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; contaminated water; inadequate potable water; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "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": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Climate": { "text": "desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "35.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 12.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 22.7% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "1% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "63.9% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "17.1% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Food insecurity": { "widespread lack of access": { "text": "due to internal conflict, high food prices, and floods - about 3.28 million people are projected to be acutely food insecure during the June to August 2023 lean season period; this would be an improvement on the situation in 2022, mostly reflecting the sharp upturn in crop yields following the below average cereal output in 2021; persistent insecurity continues to disrupt livelihoods and has displaced over 370,000 people, mostly in the Diffa, Tahoua and Tillabery regions, as of May 2023; high food prices, as well as the floods in 2022 that affected about 327,000 people, are additional factors that have aggravated food insecurity (2023)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "4.41% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "50.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "2.02 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "22.99 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "1,865,646 tons (1993 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "74,626 tons (2005 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "4% (2005 est.)" } }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "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)": { "text": "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)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Murzuk-Djado Basin" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "190 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "2.35 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "34.05 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Republic of Niger" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Niger" }, "local long form": { "text": "République du Niger" }, "local short form": { "text": "Niger" }, "etymology": { "text": "named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; from a native term \"Ni Gir\" meaning \"River Gir\"" }, "note": "note: pronounced nee-zhair" }, "Government type": { "text": "formerly, semi-presidential republic", "note": "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": { "text": "Niamey" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "13 31 N, 2 07 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "according to tradition, the site was originally a fishing village named after a prominent local tree referred to as \"nia niam\"" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "7 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district* (communaute urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder" }, "Independence": { "text": "3 August 1960 (from France)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960" }, "Legal system": { "text": "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 legal system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010" }, "amendments": { "text": "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; amended 2011, 2017" }, "note": "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": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "unknown" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023)" }, "head of government": { "text": "CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the CNSP; Cabinet previously appointed by the elected president" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "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": { "text": "
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": "note: deposed president BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023" }, "Legislative branch": { "legislature name": { "text": "National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)" }, "legislative structure": { "text": "unicameral" }, "number of seats": { "text": "171 (all directly elected)" }, "electoral system": { "text": "mixed system" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "5 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "12/27/2020" }, "parties elected and seats per party": { "text": "Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS Tarayya) (80); Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation (Moden Fa . Lumana Africa ) (19); Patriotic Movement for the Republic (MPR-JAMHURIYA) (13); National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) - Nassara (13); Other (41)" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "30.7%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "December 2025" }, "note": "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" }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "formerly the Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "formerly, 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; High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary; members serve 5-year terms" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "formerly, Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts" }, "note": "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 judicial system" }, "Political parties": { "text": "

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": "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 " }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 483-4224" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 483-3169" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
communication@embassyofniger.org

http://www.embassyofniger.org/" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023)" }, "embassy": { "text": "BP 11201, Niamey" }, "mailing address": { "text": "2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC  20521-2420" }, "telephone": { "text": "[227] 20-72-26-61" }, "FAX": { "text": "[227] 20-73-55-60" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
consulateniamey@state.gov

https://ne.usembassy.gov/" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk centered in the white band; the orange band denotes the drier northern regions of the Sahara; white stands for purity and innocence; green symbolizes hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River; the orange disc represents the sun and the sacrifices made by the people", "note": "note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "zebu; national colors: orange, white, green" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"La Nigerienne\" (The Nigerien)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel Francois FRIONNET" }, "note": "note: adopted 1961" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c)" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "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": { "text": "$44.561 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$43.474 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$38.851 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "2.5% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "11.9% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "1.38% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$1,700 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$1,700 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$1,600 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$16.819 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "3.7% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "4.23% (2022 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "3.84% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "Credit ratings": { "Moody's rating": { "text": "B3 (2019)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "47.8% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "20.2% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "26.9% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "72% (2021 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "17.3% (2021 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "26.4% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "8.8% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-21.6% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "millet, cowpeas, sorghum, onions, milk, groundnuts, sugarcane, cabbages, cassava, potatoes (2022)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "2.9% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "10.189 million (2023 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "0.55% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "0.55% (2022 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "0.82% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "0.8% (2023 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "0.9% (2023 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "0.8% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "45.5% (2021 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021": { "text": "32.9 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "3.8% (2021 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "27.8% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "4.31% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "2.37% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$2.325 billion (2019 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$2.785 billion (2019 est.)" } }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "45.3% of GDP (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "21.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "-$2.5 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$2.099 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "-$1.816 billion (2020 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2022": { "text": "$1.376 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Exports 2021": { "text": "$1.487 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Exports 2020": { "text": "$1.338 billion (2020 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "UAE 69%, France 9%, China 9%, Nigeria 3%, Mali 2% (2022)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "gold, oil seeds, radioactive chemicals, refined petroleum, uranium and thorium ore (2022)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2022": { "text": "$4.194 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Imports 2021": { "text": "$4.027 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Imports 2020": { "text": "$3.542 billion (2020 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 22%, France 14%, Nigeria 8%, Germany 5%, UAE 5% (2022)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "weapons parts and accessories, rice, aircraft, tobacco, iron pipes (2022)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$1.314 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$1.186 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2023": { "text": "$4.198 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: present value of external debt in current US dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "606.57 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "623.76 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "554.531 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "575.586 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "585.911 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "19.5% (2022 est.)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "66.1%" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "7.7%" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "359,000 kW (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "1.594 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "1.173 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "364.8 million kWh (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "94.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "5.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "457,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "457,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "3,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "90 million metric tons (2022 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "13,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "150 million barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "29.509 million cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "29.858 million cubic meters (2022 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "2.454 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "674,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "1.722 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "58,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": { "text": "1.405 million Btu/person (2022 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "58,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "14.2 million (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "56 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "Niger is one of the largest countries in West Africa but also one of the poorest in the world; as with many African markets, a lack of fixed telecoms infrastructure has led to growth in mobile services; Niger’s mobile penetration is modest compared to other countries in the region, while fixed broadband penetration is negligible; recent international investment to complete the Trans-Saharan Dorsal optical fiber (SDR) network has extended the reach of fiber infrastructure in the country, and also increased international capacity; new cables linking the country with Chad and Burkina Faso have extended Niger’s connectivity with international cable infrastructure (2022)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line less than 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular at nearly 56 per 100 persons (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming; state-run radio has only radio station with national coverage; about 30 private radio stations operate locally; as many as 100 community radio stations broadcast; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".ne" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "17% (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "14,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "2 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "3" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "5U" }, "Airports": { "text": "26 (2024)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "2,444 km oil (2024)" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "18,949 km" }, "paved": { "text": "3,979 km" }, "unpaved": { "text": "14,969 km (2018)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "563 km (2024) (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March)" } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force, Niger Gendarmerie (GN)

Ministry of Interior: Niger National Guard (GNN), National Police (2024)", "note": "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; the GNN in past years was known as the National Forces of Intervention and Security and the Republican Guard

note 2: the National Police includes the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, which is charged with border management" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "2% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "2% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "information varies; estimated 30-35,000 active FAN troops; estimated 5-10,000 paramilitary Gendarmerie and National Guard personnel (2024)", "note": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "Niger has committed about 1,000 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically (2024)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "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)": { "text": "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": "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)": { "text": "67,191 (Mali) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023); 200,423 (Nigeria) (2024)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "

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

" } } }