Factbook dossier
Background
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 14 th 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 19 th 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. Noneth…
Location
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Area
total : 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km
Natural resources
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Natural hazards
recurring droughts
Population
total: 27,322,555 (2025 est.) male: 13,542,629 female: 13,779,926
Ethnic groups
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
Hausa, Zarma, French (official), Fufulde, Tamashek, Kanuri, Gurmancema, Tagdal note: represents the most-spoken languages; Niger has 10 national languages: Arabic, Buduma, Fulfuld , Guimancema, Hausa, Kanuri, Sonay-Zarma, Tamajaq, Tassawaq, and Tubu
Religions
Muslim 95.5%, ethnic religionist 4.1%, Christian 0.3%, agnostics and other 0.1% (2020 est.)
Environmental issues
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; contaminated water; inadequate potable water; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened by poaching and habitat destruction
Government type
formerly, semi-presidential republic 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: Niamey geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; one of many stories says that an African chief told his seven slaves " Wa niammane ," meaning "stay here," and the name was later shortened to its present form
Executive branch
chief of state: President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023) head of government: CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the CNSP election/appointment process: the CNSP rules by decree; previously, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister was appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly most recent election date: 27 December 2020, with a runoff held on 21 February 2021 election results: 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% expected date of next election: 2030 note 1: deposed president Mohamed BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023 note 2: on 26 March 2025, the CNSP leader TIANI issued a decree promulgating the Charter of the Refoundation and was sworn in as the country s president for a transition period of five years
Legislative branch
legislature name: Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 194 (all appointed) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal most recent election date: 5/1/2025 percentage of women in chamber: 19.6% expected date of next election: April 2030 note 1: 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; a commission recommended to the junta in February 2025 a minimum of a five-year transition to democratic rule note 2: In May 2025, Transitional President Tiani signed decrees nominating 194 members of the Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation or CCR), CCR Bureau members, and the Speaker, Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey; the first session of the CCR convened on 28 June 2025
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$47.921 billion (2024 est.) $44.199 billion (2023 est.) $43.474 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$1,800 (2024 est.) $1,700 (2023 est.) $1,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9.1% (2024 est.) 3.7% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
UAE 31%, France 23%, China 18%, India 6%, Sweden 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 26%, France 15%, India 12%, Nigeria 7%, UAE 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force, Niger Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization: Niger National Guard, National Police (2025) note 1: the Niger Gendarmerie (GN) and the Niger 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 note 2: the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance under the National Police is charged with border management
Military expenditures
2.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020 est.)