Introduction
Background
Niger became independent from France in 1960. It is one of the poorest countries in the world with insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa.
Geography
Area
total: 1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Climate
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Natural resources
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
People and Society
Population
25,396,840 (2023 est.)
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
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Religions
Muslim 99.3%, Christian 0.3%, animist 0.2%, none 0.1% (2012 est.)
Population growth rate
3.66% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Capital
name: Niamey
Executive branch
chief of state: President Mohamed BAZOUM (since 2 April 2021); note - BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023
head of government: Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou MAHAMADOU (since 3 April 2021)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (171 statutory seats - 166 currently; 158 members directly elected from 8 multi-member constituencies in 7 regions and Niamey by party-list proportional representation, 8 reserved for minorities elected in special single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 5 seats reserved for Nigeriens living abroad - l seat per continent - elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
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)
$29.964 billion (2021 est.)
$29.554 billion (2020 est.)
$28.541 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$1,200 (2021 est.)
$1,200 (2020 est.)
$1,200 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
millet, cow peas, sorghum, onions, milk, groundnuts, cassava, cabbages, goat milk, fruit
Industries
uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Remittances
3.79% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.39% of GDP (2019 est.)
2.32% of GDP (2018 est.)
Exports
$1.338 billion (2020 est.)
$1.387 billion (2019 est.)
$1.45 billion (2018 est.)
Exports - partners
United Arab Emirates 54%, China 25%, France 7%, Pakistan 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
gold, sesame seeds, uranium, refined petroleum, onions (2021)
Imports
$3.542 billion (2020 est.)
$3.395 billion (2019 est.)
$3.369 billion (2018 est.)
Imports - partners
China 19%, France 9%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Cote d'Ivoire 6%, India 6%, Nigeria 5%, Togo 5%, Turkey 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
rice, packaged medicines, palm oil, cars, cement (2019)
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
554.531 (2021 est.)
575.586 (2020 est.)
585.911 (2019 est.)
555.446 (2018 est.)
580.657 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
