Country Profile: Niger

Niger, located in Western Africa, is predominantly characterized by its desert landscape and agrarian lifestyle. The country has a population of over 26 million, with a majority residing in the southern regions near the borders with Nigeria and Benin. Niger's economy is largely based on agriculture and subsistence farming, hampered by frequent droughts, and the government is actively working to diversify through mining and oil production. Following a tumultuous political history, Niger transitioned to a military-led governance structure in 2023 after a coup, further complicating its governance and economic recovery.

Geography

Niger is located in Western Africa, southeast of Algeria, and is entirely landlocked, with an area of approximately 1.267 million square kilometers, making it slightly less than twice the size of Texas. The terrain is predominantly desert, with a climate that is mostly hot and dry, except for the tropical conditions in the extreme south. Natural resources include uranium, coal, and iron ore, although agricultural productivity suffers greatly from recurring droughts.

5,834 km of total land boundaries with Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, and Nigeria.
4,200 km long Niger River, shared with several neighboring countries.
36.8% of the land is used for agriculture, with only 14% of that as arable land (2023 estimate).
2,022 m is the highest elevation point, Idoukal-n-Taghes.

People and Society

Niger has a population of approximately 26.3 million as of 2024, with a majority belonging to the Hausa ethnic group. The population exhibits a youthful age structure, with 49.5% under 15 years old and a median age of 15.2 years. Predominantly Muslim, Niger also faces significant challenges in education and health, with a literacy rate of just 35.6% (2022 estimate).

95.5% of the population practices Islam.
46.6 births/1,000 population is the estimated birth rate for 2024.
60.9 years is the life expectancy at birth (2024 estimate).
0.04 physicians per 1,000 population (2023).
17.1% of the population lives in urban areas as of 2023.

Economy

Niger's economy is classified as a low-income Sahel economy with significant limitations due to instability and humanitarian issues. The GDP is projected to be $47.921 billion in 2024, with a real growth rate of 8.4%. Agriculture constitutes 33.8% of the GDP, and the country is resource-rich, particularly in uranium.

45.5% of the population was below the poverty line in 2021.
0.4% unemployment rate expected in 2024.
$19.538 billion is the estimated GDP at the official exchange rate (2024).
32.9 Gini Index coefficient, indicating moderate income inequality (2021).

Government

Niger was a semi-presidential republic until a military coup in July 2023 led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, which resulted in the dissolution of all government institutions. The capital city is Niamey, with a history of political instability marked by multiple coups and attempts at establishing democratic governance.

Suffrage is universal at age 18.
The most recent election was in December 2020, with the next expected in 2025.
3 August 1960 marks Niger's independence from France.
The official language is French, with several national languages spoken.

Military and Security

Nigerien Armed Forces are responsible for the country's internal security and territorial defense, facing challenges from terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS affiliates. The military expenditure is projected to be 2.2% of GDP in 2024, and there’s an effort to increase the armed forces’ size to better combat extremism.

Approximately 35-40,000 active personnel in the Nigerien Armed Forces.
Military service is compulsory at age 18 for both men and women, serving a term of 24 months.
Military collaborations are ongoing with Mali and Burkina Faso for joint operations against extremist threats.

Energy

Energy access in Niger is notably low, with only 19.5% of the population having electricity as of 2022. Fossil fuels dominate electricity generation, accounting for 97% of the installed capacity. The country is working towards enhancing its energy infrastructure to support economic growth.

1.645 billion kWh is the total electricity consumption (2023).
377,000 kW is the total installed generating capacity (2023).
13,000 bbl/day is the estimated total petroleum production (2023).

Environment

Niger faces numerous environmental challenges, including soil erosion, deforestation, and desertification. Overgrazing and inadequate access to potable water are significant issues affecting the population. International agreements aimed at combating these issues include participation in the Climate Change and Biodiversity agreements.

34,050 million cubic meters are the estimated total renewable water resources (2022).
20.3% of municipal solid waste is recycled (2022).
The country is party to multiple environmental agreements including the Climate Change-Paris Agreement.

Transportation

Niger has a modest transportation network with 26 airports projected by 2025. As a landlocked country, access to international markets is limited, impacting trade and economic activities.

Communications

Niger has a developing communication infrastructure, with around 14.2 million mobile cellular subscriptions and 23% internet penetration rate estimated in 2023.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	26,342,784	2024 estimate
Area	1,267,000 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$47.921 billion	2024 estimate
Unemployment Rate	0.4%	2024 estimate
Birth Rate	46.6 births/1,000	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy	60.9 years	2024 estimate
Energy Consumption per Capita	1.772 million Btu	2023 estimate
Literacy Rate	35.6%	2022 estimate
Urban Population	17.1%	2023 estimate
Total Military Expenditure	2.2% of GDP	2024 estimate