NER Niger profile

Niger presents a fragile political environment dominated by a central government, a history of military intervention, and recurrent governance challenges. Institutions show limited autonomy and capacity, with governance often constrained by security concerns, corruption, and patronage networks. Electoral processes exist, but opposition space and media freedom face pressure. Public administration struggles with efficiency, budgetary transparency, and service delivery, especially in rural areas. The state faces persistent security threats linked to regional instability and extremist groups, necessitating external security assistance and complicating governance reform. Decentralization exists in theory but practical transfer of authority to local governments is uneven, with capacity gaps at municipal levels.

Colonial history Colonized by France
Former colonizer France
Government type Semi-presidential republic
Legal system Mixed legal system including civil, customary, and Islamic law
Political stability Generally unstable with occasional coups

Economy and industry remain underdeveloped, with agriculture and herding as main livelihoods. Mineral extraction, especially uranium historically, and gold provide revenue but activity is susceptible to price shocks. Industrial capacity is limited; value addition is low; manufacturing and agro-processing are underdeveloped. Public finances are constrained, with reliance on external support and vulnerability to terms of trade and drought. Infrastructure deficits hinder productivity: electricity supply is unreliable; transport network is sparse; imports dominate consumption; private sector development is weak due to governance constraints, regulatory barriers, and limited access to finance. Job creation lags behind population growth, and poverty reduction depends on aid and weather conditions. Climate risk and insecurity reduce investment.

Currency name CFA Franc (XOF)
Economic system Market economy with significant state intervention
Informal economy presence Significant presence, especially in urban areas
Key industries Agriculture, mining (particularly uranium), and livestock
Trade orientation Export-oriented, particularly in minerals and agricultural products

Niger's geography places it in the Sahel and Sahara, a landlocked and climatically harsh landscape. The environment is subject to desertification, droughts, and erratic rainfall, with soil degradation affecting agriculture and livelihoods. Water resources are scarce and contested across communities and borders. Biodiversity is under pressure from habitat loss. Climate change amplifies risks to food security and pastoral systems. Land use is sensitive; sand encroachment and dust storms affect health and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the government faces balancing development with environmental protection and sustainable resource use.

Bordering countries Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali
Climate type Tropical
Continent Africa
Environmental Issues Deforestation, soil degradation, overgrazing
Landlocked Yes
Natural Hazards Droughts, desertification, locust infestations
Natural resources Uranium, gold, coal, limestone, and livestock
Terrain type Sahara desert, savanna, and some mountainous regions

Niger faces persistent social challenges despite progress in some areas. Population growth outpaces service delivery, resulting in widespread poverty and reliance on subsistence farming and aid. Access to quality education and reproductive health services remains uneven, with regional disparities. Child marriage and gender inequality persist, limiting women’s participation in economic and political life. Health indicators show gaps in maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and nutrition, especially in rural and marginalized communities. Social cohesion is strained by displacement, refugee movements from neighbors, and the impact of climate shocks on pastoral and farming communities. The state provides basic social protection but coverage and adequacy are limited.

Cultural heritage Rich ethnic diversity with various customs, music, and art forms
Driving side Right
Education system type Formal education system with primary, secondary, and higher education
Ethnic composition Hausa, Djerma, Tuareg, Songhai, Fulani
Family structure Extended family structures are common, with polygamous marriages
Healthcare model Mixed healthcare system with public and private providers
Major religions Islam, Christianity, Traditional African religions
Official languages French, Hausa, Djerma

Infrastructure and technology development is constrained by geography and investment gaps. Transport networks are underdeveloped and maintenance is challenging, hindering regional trade and service delivery. Energy supply is unreliable, with insufficient generation and distribution capacity, raising costs and dampening industry. Access to clean water and sanitation varies by region. Telecommunications are expanding but remain uneven, with limited broadband penetration and affordability issues. Public and private sectors show interest in digital tools and mobile services, yet digital literacy and institutional adoption lag behind regional peers. Innovation ecosystems are nascent, and research capacity is limited to support diversification.

Internet censorship level Moderate, with some government control over online activity
Tech innovation level Developing, with increasing mobile technology adoption
Transport system type Road and rail transport, limited air connections

Development indicators

Indicator Year Value Rank 5Y Rank Change
Military expenditure (current US$) 2023 331,596,822 108 -3
Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism 2023 -1.67 181 -1
Regulatory Quality 2023 -0.817 157 +9
Rule of Law 2023 -0.708 149 +9
Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) 2023 41.9 4 +1
Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) 2023 8.86 56 +16
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 2024 31.2 81 -94
GDP per capita (current US$) 2024 723 176 -27
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 2024 2,015 176 -19
High-technology exports (current US$) 2023 2,603,432 123 -4
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 2024 20.8 123 -27
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 2024 9.07 23 -157
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 2023 61.2 206 +1
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 2023 115 1 -2
Net migration 2024 -4,041 135 -25
Population, total 2024 27,032,412 55 -1
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) 2021 45.5 4
Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) 2022 13.3 44 -2
Renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption) 2021 79.6 16 -3
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 2023 6.14 31 -35
Current account balance (% of GDP) 2023 -14 156 -6
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources 2021 11 90 -14
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita (t CO2e/capita) 2023 1.62 162 -2
Current health expenditure (% of GDP) 2022 4.35 145 +38
Domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP (current international US$) 2022 24.1 172 +2
Suicide mortality rate (per 100,000 population) 2021 4.48 131 -4
Individuals using the Internet (% of population) 2023 23.2 139
Control of Corruption 2023 -0.564 131 -1
Government Effectiveness 2023 -0.641 139 -22
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) 2022 0.403 120 +72
Physicians (per 1,000 people) 2022 0.023 58 -68

Demography and Health

Niger has a very young and rapidly growing population, with about 27.0 million people in 2024, placing it among populous African economies. The country experiences a very high crude birth rate of 41.9 per 1,000 people (2023) and a crude death rate of 8.86 per 1,000, signaling rapid natural increase but ongoing health and nutrition challenges. Life expectancy at birth is 61.2 years (2023), and the under-5 mortality rate is alarmingly high at 115 deaths per 1,000 live births, underscoring persistent child-health vulnerabilities. Poverty remains widespread, with 45.5% of the population living under national poverty lines in 2021, and 13.3% undernourishment in 2022, highlighting vulnerabilities to hunger and malnutrition. Net migration is negative in 2024 by about 4,041 people, indicating outflows that could affect skilled labor retention over time. Health system indicators remain stretched: current health expenditure is 4.35% of GDP (2022), domestic general government health expenditure per capita in PPP terms is around $24.1 (2022), and physicians per 1,000 people are only 0.023 (2022), reflecting a constrained health workforce and limited access to care. Suicide mortality is relatively low at 4.48 per 100,000 (2021). Taken together, Niger’s demography implies potential for a demographic dividend if health, nutrition, education, and employment outcomes improve, but substantial investments are required to translate youth into productive gains.

Economy

Niger’s economy sits firmly in the low-income category, with GDP per capita of about US$723 in 2024 and a population around 27 million, implying nominal GDP near US$19–20 billion. Inflation runs high at 9.07% in 2024, signaling macroeconomic pressures and price volatility. The economy shows a modest but meaningful openness to trade, with exports of goods and services equal to roughly 31.2% of GDP in 2024 and imports at about 20.8% of GDP, indicating a trade footprint but a small, import-dependent domestic market. Foreign direct investment net inflows stood at about 6.14% of GDP in 2023, suggesting external financing is relevant but not dominant. The current account balance is negative, around 14% of GDP in 2023, pointing to a substantial reliance on capital or aid flows to finance the external position. In this context, Niger’s GDP remains constrained by limited productive capacity, high vulnerability to external shocks (prices, weather, security), and relatively low human-capital indicators, even as energy integration and some diversification offer paths for improvement.

Trade and Investment

Niger’s trade profile shows export activity equal to about 31.2% of GDP in 2024 and imports at 20.8% of GDP, suggesting a moderately open economy with a trade orientation but limited scale. Foreign direct investment net inflows are 6.14% of GDP in 2023, signaling some external confidence and capital formation, though the absolute level remains modest for a country of its size. High-technology exports are very small, valued at around US$2.6 million (2023), ranking 123, reflecting limited domestic advanced manufacturing and a focus on primary commodities or light processing. The current account deficit of 14% of GDP in 2023 underscores ongoing external financing needs and sensitivity to external conditions, while external balance can be influenced by shifts in FDI, commodity markets, and donor funding. Overall, Niger’s trade and investment landscape shows potential for growth through value-added diversification and improved governance to attract higher-quality investment, but significant constraints remain in export sophistication and capital availability.

Governance and Institutions

Niger faces governance challenges reflected in World Bank-style indicators: Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism scores −1.67 in 2023 (rank 181), Regulatory Quality −0.817, Rule of Law −0.708, Control of Corruption −0.564, and Government Effectiveness −0.641. These negative values signal weak institutional quality, which can hinder policy continuity, investment climate, and the efficiency of public service delivery. Such governance constraints can complicate macroeconomic stabilization, implement reforms, and improve business environments, potentially dampening the effectiveness of monetary, fiscal, and social programs. Addressing governance issues—through anti-corruption measures, strengthening rule of law, improving regulatory quality, and boosting government effectiveness—could help Niger attract higher-quality investment, improve public service delivery, and create a more predictable environment for development.

Infrastructure and Technology

Niger’s digital and technical infrastructure shows meaningful gaps: internet use stands at 23.2% of the population in 2023, underscoring limited digital connectivity that constrains education, entrepreneurship, and e-government uptake. In science and technology terms, high-technology exports are modest (about US$2.6 million in 2023, ranking 123), reflecting limited domestic capacity to produce cutting-edge products. The health workforce remains sparse, with physicians at 0.023 per 1,000 people (2022). On energy, Niger displays a notable share of renewables, with renewable energy consumption comprising about 79.6% of total final energy consumption (2021), suggesting a strong reliance on renewable sources—likely hydro and traditional biomass—while total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are 1.62 tCO2e (2023). The combination of limited digital infrastructure, a thin high-tech export base, and a sparsely distributed health workforce indicates substantial investment needs in connectivity, innovation ecosystems, and human capital infrastructure to unlock technology-enabled growth.

Environment and Sustainability

Niger’s environmental indicators reveal both opportunities and vulnerabilities. Renewable energy constitutes a large share of energy consumption (about 79.6% in 2021), reducing fossil fuel dependence and exposure to oil price shocks, but sustaining and expanding reliable energy supply will require continued investment and grid development. The level of water stress, measured as freshwater withdrawal, is relatively low at 11.0% (2021), ranking around 90 globally, which implies manageable water extraction relative to resources but does not eliminate regional shortages or climate risk across vulnerable seasons. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are 1.62 tCO2e (2023), indicating a low per-person emissions footprint, consistent with a low-industrialized economy, yet climate sensitivity remains high due to agriculture and pastoral livelihoods. Socioeconomic challenges are substantial: 45.5% of the population lives in poverty and 13.3% face undernourishment (2021–2022), highlighting that environmental sustainability and resilience depend on investments in agriculture, nutrition, social protection, and infrastructure to withstand climate shocks and support inclusive development.