Niger

Quick Facts

🇳🇪
Capital:
Niamey
Official Language(s):
French
Currency:
West African CFA franc (Fr)
Population:
24,206,636

Overview

Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest. It covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2 (490,000 sq mi), making it the largest landlocked country in West Africa and the second largest landlocked nation in Africa behind Chad. Over 80% of its land area lies in the Sahara. Its predominantly Muslim population of about 25 million lives mostly in clusters in the south and west of the country. The capital Niamey is located in Niger's southwest corner along the namesake Niger River.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $14,915,002,436.069B(2021) GDP, showing moderate growth at 1.4%(2021). Emerging economy with development potential.

GDP Growth
1.4%(2021)
GDP PPP
$38,850,574,077.522

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 37.1%(2021) in services, 20.8%(2021) in industry, and 36.5%(2021) in agriculture. Significant agricultural sector.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 0.8%(2021) unemployment and 3.8%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 10.0%(2021) exports and 27.0%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
0.8%(2021)
Inflation
3.8%(2021)
Exports/GDP
10.0%(2021)
Imports/GDP
27.0%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

32.4

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

0.1

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

15.3

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

56.4

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

7.6

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 37.02%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of -17.03%(2021).

FDI Inflows
3.99%(2021)
FDI Outflows
0.26%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

32.70%(2021)

Foreign Reserves

N/A(N/A months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
2.28%(2021)
High-Tech Exports
32.37%(2021)

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
7.64%(2021)
Services
37.05%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

    Growth Trajectory

    Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

    Growth Potential Indicators

    Human Capital

    Education and workforce development

    4.6/100

    Trade Position

    International trade and competitiveness

    24.5/100

    Economic Structure

    Sectoral balance and sophistication

    23.4/100

    Demographics & Human Capital

    Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

    Demographics

    Population Overview

    Total population of 24,502,140(2021) with 3.3%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 6.82 births/woman(2021).

    Life Expectancy
    61.576 years(2021)
    Birth Rate
    45.293 per 1,000(2021)

    Age Structure

    Working-age population (49.8%(2021)) with youth at 47.7%(2021) and elderly at 2.5%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 100.9%(2021).

    Young Dependency
    95.8%(2021)
    Old Dependency
    5.1%(2021)

    Gender & Migration

    Population is 49.2%(2021) female and 50.8%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.04 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: -4,405(2021).

    Male Mortality
    274.319/1,000(2021)
    Female Mortality
    222.879/1,000(2021)

    Development Indicators

    Urban population growing at 4.0%(2021) annually, with 83.2%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: N/A.

    Urbanization
    16.8%(2021)
    Infant Mortality
    61 per 1,000(2021)

    Population Structure

    The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
    • Labor force participation and productivity
    • Tax contributions to support social services
    • Innovation and economic growth

    An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

    Source: World Bank Development Indicators

    Security Context

    Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

    Geographic & Resource Security

    Food & Agriculture

    Arable land comprises 14.0%(2021) of territory, with 36.8%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 360.6 kg/hectare(2021).

    Food Production Index
    107.34(2021)
    Cereal Production
    3,504,495.04 MT(2021)

    Energy Security

    Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 18.6%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

    Resource Rents
    N/A

    Water Resources

    Fresh water resources of 151 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 0.843 mm(2021).

    Forest Area
    1.4%(2021)

    Environmental Vulnerability

    142.8%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at 1.4%(2021) providing natural buffer.

    Annual Rainfall
    0.843 mm(2021)

    Military & Security

    Military Capabilities

    Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: 16,000,000(2021) ( N/A of labor force).

    Arms Exports
    249,945 USD(2021)
    Arms Imports
    459 USD(2021)

    Strategic Status

    Military Alliances

    No major military alliances

    Nuclear Status

    Non-Nuclear State

    Security Environment

    Recorded 224,000(2021) battle-related deaths.Refugee population: 2,275,199(2021)Internally displaced: 1,974,871(2021)

    Strategic Geography

    Strategic Features

    • Landlocked country
    • Borders 7 countries