01
Physical geography
Predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north.
Local timeNiamey ·
Africa / Western Africa · Card 039
Niger
Niger is a country in Western Africa. Its capital is Niamey.
Find Niger
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Niamey
- Languages
- Hausa; French and English for work
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Population
- 27.9 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 1,267,000 km²489,191 square miles
- Independence
- 1960from France
Niger in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Niamey; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
The 2025 charter names Hausa as the national language and French and English as working languages. Several other community languages are recognized.
03
Location
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria.
Flag
Three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green, with an orange disk centered on the white band
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2025 Charter · Journal officiel · Government update
History & independence
Niger became independent from France on 3 August 1960. Its territory includes communities linked historically to Saharan trade routes and the Niger River. Its subsequent history includes military rule and periods of elected government.
-
Independence from France
-
A national conference opens a political transition
-
A military coup removes the elected government
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2025 Charter · Journal officiel · Government update
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture and livestock are central to livelihoods. Uranium and petroleum contribute to exports. Rainfall variability, insecurity and access to cross-border transport routes strongly affect the economy.
Industry and production
uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2025 Charter · Journal officiel · Government update
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people27.92025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,650,275 | 4.650 |
| 1980 | 6,135,971 | 6.136 |
| 1990 | 8,286,059 | 8.286 |
| 2000 | 11,509,630 | 11.510 |
| 2010 | 16,548,835 | 16.549 |
| 2020 | 23,717,613 | 23.718 |
| 2025 | 27,917,831 | 27.918 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars17.02025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,860,672,838 | 3.861 |
| 1991 | 3,843,705,602 | 3.844 |
| 1992 | 3,920,608,632 | 3.921 |
| 1993 | 3,933,219,485 | 3.933 |
| 1994 | 4,006,172,006 | 4.006 |
| 1995 | 4,104,613,432 | 4.105 |
| 1996 | 4,108,739,820 | 4.109 |
| 1997 | 4,171,499,823 | 4.171 |
| 1998 | 4,587,507,438 | 4.588 |
| 1999 | 4,577,434,991 | 4.577 |
| 2000 | 4,522,117,709 | 4.522 |
| 2001 | 4,850,791,324 | 4.851 |
| 2002 | 5,089,376,068 | 5.089 |
| 2003 | 5,199,846,593 | 5.200 |
| 2004 | 5,218,763,717 | 5.219 |
| 2005 | 5,601,396,628 | 5.601 |
| 2006 | 5,933,618,262 | 5.934 |
| 2007 | 6,120,095,512 | 6.120 |
| 2008 | 6,593,265,447 | 6.593 |
| 2009 | 6,722,664,934 | 6.723 |
| 2010 | 7,299,346,342 | 7.299 |
| 2011 | 7,471,447,187 | 7.471 |
| 2012 | 8,259,606,009 | 8.260 |
| 2013 | 8,698,614,859 | 8.699 |
| 2014 | 9,276,388,745 | 9.276 |
| 2015 | 9,683,867,926 | 9.684 |
| 2016 | 10,098,470,684 | 10.098 |
| 2017 | 10,657,116,599 | 10.657 |
| 2018 | 11,391,880,477 | 11.392 |
| 2019 | 12,084,371,849 | 12.084 |
| 2020 | 12,622,708,626 | 12.623 |
| 2021 | 12,763,477,153 | 12.763 |
| 2022 | 14,323,371,863 | 14.323 |
| 2023 | 14,700,817,033 | 14.701 |
| 2024 | 15,924,405,812 | 15.924 |
| 2025 | 17,040,361,037 | 17.040 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.419Low human developmentRank 188 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.215
20000.266
20100.339
20200.404
20230.419
61.2 yearsLife expectancy at birth
1.4 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Military-led transitional government under the 2025 Charter of Refoundation. An appointed consultative council forms part of the transition framework.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2025 Charter · Journal officiel · Government update
Knowledge check
Three questions about Niger.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which city is identified as the capital of Niger?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2025 Charter · Journal officiel · Government update
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.