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GENERAL
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Official Name
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Republic of Niger
Niger (pronounced nee-zher) owes its name to the river Niger. Niger river is the third largest (4100 km) river in Africa.
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Capital
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Niamey
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Area
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1.267 million sq kms.
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Border countries (7)
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Algeria 951 km; Benin 277 km; Burkina Faso 622 km; Chad 1,196 km; Libya 342 km; Mali 838 km; Nigeria 1,608 km
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Currency
[Exchange rate vs. US$]
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CFA Franc
US$1=CFA 610 (as in March 2025)
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GDP
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GDP (2023): US$ 16.82 billion. (World Bank)
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Average inflation rate (2023.): 3.7 %
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Natural resources: Uranium, gold, oil, coal, iron, tin, phosphates and petroleum.
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Agriculture (40.70% of GDP): Products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), onions; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horse, poultry.
Industry (16.1% of GDP): Types: Uranium mining, oil extraction, cement bricks, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses.
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GDP Growth Rate
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Annual growth rate (2023): 2.5%. (World Bank)
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Unemployment
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0.6% of total labour force (2023) (World Bank)
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GDP Per Capita
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Per capita GDP (2023): US$610.3 (World Bank)
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Forest Cover
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11.3 thousand sq km or 0.8% of land area (2021)
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CO2 Emissions
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0.1 m tons per capita (2020)
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Tourist Arrivals
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Nil
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Population
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26.31 million (2023) (World Bank), 13.24 Female; 13.08 Male (INS : Institution of National Statistics)
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Age Profile
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0-14 years: 50.58% (male 5.8 million/female 5.7 million)
15-24 years: 19.99% (male 2.2 million/female 2.3 million)
25-54 years: 23.57% (male 2.5 million/female 2.8 million)
55-64 years: 3.17% (male 357,832/female 364,774)
65 years and over: 2.68% (2020 est.) (male 293,430/female 317,866)
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Life Expectancy
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62 years (2022) (World Bank)
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Languages
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French (official), Hausa, Djerma, Fulfulde, Tamasheq and others
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Ethnic Groups
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Hausa (53.1%), Zarma / Songhai (21.2%), Tuareg (11.0%),
Fulani (Peuhl) (6.5%), Kanuri (5.9%), Gurma (0.8%), Arab (0.4%),
Tubu (0.4%), others remaining
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Religion
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Muslim (99.3%), Christian (0.3%), indigenous beliefs (0.2%), none (0.1%)
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Internet Penetration
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38.2% of population (2023) (Niger Govt. data)
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Mobile Cellular penetration
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65.37% of population (2023) (Niger Govt. data)
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Electricity Access
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19.5% of population (2022) (World Bank data)
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Urbanisation
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Urban population: 17.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanisation: 4.6% annual urban population growth (2023)
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Exports
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US$ 1097 million (2023)
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Imports
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US$ 2287 million (2023) (WTO)
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Main Trade Partners
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Exports: France, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, UAE, South Africa
Imports: China, France, Thailand, US, India, Germany
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Political Structure
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Since 26th July 2023 it is a transitional rule by Military after coup.
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Major political parties
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PNDS-Tarraya, MPR, MNSD, CPR, ANDP etc
Moden-FA, RDR Tchanji, MPN,PJP etc
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Head of State
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Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani
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Head of Government
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Mr. Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine
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Current Issues
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Terrorism in neighbourhood (foreign based terrorist groups operate along the Niger-Mali-Burkina Faso border, border with northeast Nigeria, Lake Chad region)
Environmental (Soil erosion, desertification, inadequate potable water, overgrazing, deforestation, threat to wildlife)
Rapid population growth
Large number of refugees and internally displaced persons. Since 26th July 2023 there has been a Military Coup and the Border with Benin which is the nearest vide which Niger is getting provisions has been closed resulting in severe consequences to the economy of Niger.
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BILATERAL
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India’s Exports
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US$ 47.22 million (2023-24) (Deptt of Commerce, GoI data)
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India’s Imports
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US$ 139.27 million (2023-24)
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India’s Main Exports
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Rice, pharmaceutical products, cotton fabrics, woven synthetic fabrics, sugar confectionery and processed food & cereals, engineering goods, electrical appliances, construction material, tea
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India’s Main Imports
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Gum Arabic, sesame, semi-precious stones, hide/skin of goats
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Indian Investments
in Niger
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M/s Airtel Cellular Services (US$ 350 mn), M/s Euroworld International (US$ 64 mn), M/s Satguru Travels (US$ 3 mn) etc
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Indian Community
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Around 200 Indians, mostly engaged in hospitality/service/business sectors.
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