Niger
Republic of NigerRepublique du Niger
semi-presidential republicIndependence 3 August 1960 (from France)
Niger as the 2021 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 183 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Present-day Niger originated from the nomadic peoples of the Saharan north and the agriculturalists of the south. 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 December of that year, 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 February 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed TANDJA. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected in April 2011 and reelected in early 2016. In February 2021, BAZOUM Mohammed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one democratically elected president to another.
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. It is ranked last in the world on the UN Development Programme's Human Development Index. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Government continues its attempts to diversify the economy through increased oil production and mining projects.
In addition, Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict and terrorism in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.
Geography
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
21 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Natural resources
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Major lakes (area sq km)
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km; note - area varies by season and year to year
Major rivers (by length in km)
Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Atlantic Ocean drainage:
- Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
- Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:
- Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Population distribution
majority of the populace is located in the southernmost extreme of the country along the border with Nigeria and Benin as shown in this population distribution map
Geography - note
- landlocked;
- one of the hottest countries in the world;
- northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
People and Society
38 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2020 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2021 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2006 est.)
Religions(2012 est.)
Demographic profile
Niger has the highest total fertility rate (TFR) of any country in the world, averaging close to 7 children per woman in 2016. A slight decline in fertility over the last few decades has stalled. This leveling off of the high fertility rate is in large part a product of the continued desire for large families.
In Niger, the TFR is lower than the desired fertility rate, which makes it unlikely that contraceptive use will increase. The high TFR sustains rapid population growth and a large youth population – almost 70% of the populace is under the age of 25. Gender inequality, including a lack of educational opportunities for women and early marriage and childbirth, also contributes to high population growth.
Because of large family sizes, children are inheriting smaller and smaller parcels of land. The dependence of most Nigeriens on subsistence farming on increasingly small landholdings, coupled with declining rainfall and the resultant shrinkage of arable land, are all preventing food production from keeping up with population growth.
For more than half a century, Niger's lack of economic development has led to steady net outmigration. In the 1960s, Nigeriens mainly migrated to coastal West African countries to work on a seasonal basis. Some headed to Libya and Algeria in the 1970s to work in the booming oil industry until its decline in the 1980s.
Since the 1990s, the principal destinations for Nigerien labor migrants have been West African countries, especially Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire, while emigration to Europe and North America has remained modest. During the same period, Niger’s desert trade route town Agadez became a hub for West African and other Sub-Saharan migrants crossing the Sahara to North Africa and sometimes onward to Europe.
More than 60,000 Malian refugees have fled to Niger since violence between Malian government troops and armed rebels began in early 2012. Ongoing attacks by the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency, dating to 2013 in northern Nigeria and February 2015 in southeastern Niger, have pushed tens of thousands of Nigerian refugees and Nigerien returnees across the border to Niger and to displace thousands of locals in Niger’s already impoverished Diffa region.
Population distribution
majority of the populace is located in the southernmost extreme of the country along the border with Nigeria and Benin as shown in this population distribution map
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 0.93 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.92 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high (2020)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact diseases:
- rabies
- respiratory diseases:
- meningococcal meningitis
Environment
17 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Environment - current issues
- overgrazing;
- soil erosion;
- deforestation;
- desertification;
- contaminated water;
- inadequate potable water;
- wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
- particulate matter emissions:
- 70.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
- carbon dioxide emissions:
- 2.02 megatons (2016 est.)
- methane emissions:
- 22.99 megatons (2020 est.)
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 16.8% of total population (2021)
- rate of urbanization:
- 4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high (2020)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact diseases:
- rabies
- respiratory diseases:
- meningococcal meningitis
Food insecurity
widespread lack of access: due to civil conflict - according to the latest analysis, about 2.3 million people are assessed to need humanitarian assistance in the June−August 2021 period due to the increase in security incidents which have resulted in widespread disruption of agricultural and marketing activities, diminishing livelihood opportunities for households (2021)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 1,865,646 tons (1993 est.)
- municipal solid waste recycled annually:
- 74,626 tons (2005 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 4% (2005 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km; note - area varies by season and year to year
Major rivers (by length in km)
Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Atlantic Ocean drainage:
- Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
- Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:
- Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 178.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- industrial:
- 36 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- agricultural:
- 1.536 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Semi-presidential republic; President Mohamed BAZOUM (since 2 April 2021); Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou MAHAMADOU (since 3 April 2021)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 174 seats, elected 21 February 2016one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Composition: men 146, women 24 percent of women 14.6%
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Niger
- conventional short form:
- Niger
- local long form:
- Republique du Niger
- local short form:
- Niger
- etymology:
- named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir"
note: pronounced nee-zher
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:
- according to tradition, the site was originally a fishing village named after a prominent local tree referred to as "nia niam"
Administrative divisions
7 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district* (communaute urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
National holiday
Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960
Constitution
- history:
- several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010
- amendments:
- proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly;
- consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly;
- passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote;
- if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum;
- constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended;
- amended 2011, 2017
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger
- dual citizenship recognized:
- yes
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- unknown
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Mohamed BAZOUM (since 2 April 2021)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou MAHAMADOU (since 3 April 2021)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the president
- elections/appointments:
- president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 27 December 2020 with a runoff held on 21 February 2021, which BAZOUM won;
- prime minister appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly
- election results:
- ;
- percent of vote in 2020 first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.33%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 8.95%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.07%;
- percent of vote in 2021 second round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 55.67%, Mahamane OUSMANE (RDR Tchanji) 44.33%
- 2016 results: ISSOUFOU Mahamadou reelected president in second round;
- percent of vote in first round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (PNDS-Tarrayya) 48.6%, Hama AMADOU (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17.8%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 11.3%, other 22.3%;
- percent of vote in second round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou 92%, Hama AMADOU 8%
Legislative branch
- description:
- unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (171 seats; 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)
- elections:
- last held on 21 February 2016 (next to be held on 27 December 2020)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 44.1%, MODEN/FA Lumana 14.7%, MNSD-Nassara 11.8%, MPR-Jamhuriya 7.1%, MNRD Hankuri-PSDN Alheri 3.5%, MPN-Kishin Kassa 2.9%, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya 2.4%, RSD-Gaskiya 2.4%, CDS-Rahama 1.8%, CPR-Inganci 1.8%, RDP-Jama'a 1.8%, AMEN AMIN 1.8%, other 3.9%;
- seats by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 75, MODEN/FA Lumana 25, MNSD-Nassara 20, MPR-Jamhuriya 12, MNRD Hankuri-PSDN Alheri 6, MPN-Kishin Kassa 5, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya 4, RSD-Gaskiya 4, CDS-Rahama 3, CPR-Inganci 3, RDP-Jama'a 3, RDP-Jama'a 3, AMEN AMIN 3, other 8;
- composition - men 146, women 24 percent of women 14.6%
Judicial branch
- highest courts:
- Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society;
- all appointed by the president;
- judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years;
- High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary;
- members serve 5-year terms
- subordinate courts:
- Court of Cassation;
- Council of State;
- Court of Finances;
- various specialized tribunals and customary courts
Political parties and leaders
- Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger or AMEN AMIN [Omar Hamidou TCHIANA]
- Congress for the Republic or CPR-Inganci [Kassoum MOCTAR]
- Democratic Alliance for Niger or ADN-Fusaha [Habi Mahamadou SALISSOU]
- Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Abdou LABO]
- National Movement for the Development of Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Seini OUMAROU]
- Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moussa Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]
- Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation or MODEN/FA Lumana [Hama AMADOU]
- Nigerien Movement for Democratic Renewal or MNRD-Hankuri [Mahamane OUSMANE]
- Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]
- Nigerien Patriotic Movement or MPN-Kishin Kassa [Ibrahim YACOUBA]
- Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger or PSDN-Alheri
- Patriotic Movement for the Republic or MPR-Jamhuriya [Albade ABOUBA]
- Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]
- Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Amadou CHEIFFOU]
- Social Democratic Party or PSD-Bassira [Mohamed BEN OMAR]
- Union for Democracy and the Republic-Tabbat or UDR-Tabbat [Amadou Boubacar CISSE]
note: the SPLM and SPLM-DC are banned political parties
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mahamane Bachir FIFI, Minister (since 16 December 2020)
- chancery:
- 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 483-4224
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 483-3169
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; http://www.embassyofniger.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Eric P. WHITAKER (since 26 January 2018)
- embassy:
- BP 11201, Niamey
- mailing address:
- 2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420
- telephone:
- [227] 20-72-26-61
- FAX:
- [227] 20-73-55-60
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://ne.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
- three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk centered in the white band;
- the orange band denotes the drier northern regions of the Sahara;
- white stands for purity and innocence;
- green symbolizes hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River;
- the orange disc represents the sun and the sacrifices made by the people
note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
National anthem
- name:
- "La Nigerienne" (The Nigerien)
- lyrics/music:
- Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel Francois FRIONNET
note: adopted 1961
Economy
Niger is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits.
34 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2017 est.)
Economic overview
Niger is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Agriculture contributes approximately 40% of GDP and provides livelihood for over 80% of the population. The UN ranked Niger as the second least developed country in the world in 2016 due to multiple factors such as food insecurity, lack of industry, high population growth, a weak educational sector, and few prospects for work outside of subsistence farming and herding.
Since 2011 public debt has increased due to efforts to scale-up public investment, particularly that related to infrastructure, as well as due to increased security spending. The government relies on foreign donor resources for a large portion of its fiscal budget. The economy in recent years has been hurt by terrorist activity near its uranium mines and by instability in Mali and in the Diffa region of the country;
concerns about security have resulted in increased support from regional and international partners on defense. Low uranium prices, demographics, and security expenditures may continue to put pressure on the government’s finances.
The Government of Niger plans to exploit oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources to sustain future growth. Although Niger has sizable reserves of oil, the prolonged drop in oil prices has reduced profitability. Food insecurity and drought remain perennial problems for Niger, and the government plans to invest more in irrigation.
Niger’s three-year $131 million IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) agreement for the years 2012-15 was extended until the end of 2016. In February 2017, the IMF approved a new 3-year $134 million ECF. In June 2017, The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) granted Niger $1 billion over three years for IDA18, a program to boost the country’s development and alleviate poverty.
A $437 million Millennium Challenge Account compact for Niger, commencing in FY18, will focus on large-scale irrigation infrastructure development and community-based, climate-resilient agriculture, while promoting sustainable increases in agricultural productivity and sales.
Formal private sector investment needed for economic diversification and growth remains a challenge, given the country’s limited domestic markets, access to credit, and competitiveness. Although President ISSOUFOU is courting foreign investors, including those from the US, as of April 2017, there were no US firms operating in Niger.
In November 2017, the National Assembly passed the 2018 Finance Law that was geared towards raising government revenues and moving away from international support.
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
Exports
$1.39 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) · $1.45 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports
$3.4 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) · $3.37 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.314 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $1.186 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) · 593.01 (2016 est.) · 593.01 (2015 est.) · 591.45 (2014 est.) · 494.42 (2013 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2019)
Installed generating capacity, 184,000 kW(2016 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2017–21 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- difficult economic climate, with lack of fixed telecom infrastructure;
- mobile services stronger than fixed telecom;
- low broadband penetration;
- adopted free mobile roaming with other G5 Sahel countries;
- World Bank project to facilitate digital progress;
- government contributes to Trans-Sahara Backbone network, with aims to extend fiber-optic and international capacity;
- LTE license awarded;
- government substantially taxes telecom sector (2020)
- domestic:
- fixed-line 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity remains 41 per 100 persons despite a rapidly increasing cellular subscribership base;
- small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern Niger;
- domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned (2019)
- international:
- country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production;
many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes;
the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media
- state-run TV station;
- 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming;
- state-run radio has only radio station with national coverage;
- about 30 private radio stations operate locally;
- as many as 100 community radio stations broadcast;
- transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Transportation
10 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
Waterways
300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2012)
Military and Security
7 fieldsMilitary and security forces
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force, Niger Gendarmerie (GN); Ministry of Interior, Public Security, Decentralization, and Customary and Religious Affairs: Niger National Guard (GNN; aka Republican Guard), National Police (includes the Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, which is charged with border management) (2021)
note - the Gendarmerie is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense and has primary responsibility for rural security; the National Guard is responsible for domestic security and the protection of high-level officials and government buildings
Military and security service personnel strengths
- information varies;
- approximately 10,000 active troops (est. 6,000 Army; 200 Air Force; 4,000 Gendarmerie);
- est. 3,000 National Guard (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the FAN's inventory consists of a wide variety of older weapons;
- since 2010, the FAN has received small amounts of mostly second-hand equipment and donations from China, France, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine, and the US (2021)
Military deployments
870 Mali (MINUSMA) (Sep 2021); note - Niger is part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania
Military service age and obligation
- has conscription, although it is reportedly not always enforced;
- 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory or voluntary military service;
- enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried;
- 2-year service term;
- women may serve in health care (2021)
Military - note
as of 2021, the FAN was conducting counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations against Islamic militants on two fronts; in the Diffa region, the Nigeria-based Boko Haram terrorist group has conducted dozens of attacks on security forces, army bases, and civilians; on Niger’s western border with Mali, the Islamic State-West Africa (ISWA) has conducted numerous attacks on security personnel;
a series of ISWA attacks on FAN forces near the Malian border in December of 2019 and January of 2020 resulted in the deaths of more than 170 soldiers; terrorist attacks continued throughout 2020 and into 2021
Niger is part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, and Chad; it has committed 1,100 troops and 200 gendarmes to the force; in early 2020, G5 Sahel military chiefs of staff agreed to allow defense forces from each of the states to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries;
the G5 force is backed by the UN, US, and France; G5 troops periodically conduct joint operations with French forces deployed to the Sahel under Operation Barkhane
Niger also has about 1,000 troops committed to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically (2021)
Terrorism
1 fieldTerrorist group(s)
- Boko Haram;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa;
- Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin;
- al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region;
- location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved;
- only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty that also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries;
- the dispute with Burkina Faso was referred to the ICJ in 2010
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 186,957 (Nigeria), 61,373 (Mali) (2021)
- IDPs:
- 264,257 (includes the regions of Diffa, Tillaberi, and Tahoua; unknown how many of the 11,000 people displaced by clashes between government forces and the Tuareg militant group, Niger Movement for Justice, in 2007 are still displaced; inter-communal violence; Boko Haram attacks in southern Niger, 2015) (2021)
Illicit drugs
- a transit point for illicit drugs narcotics trafficked through the Sahara;
- drugs from South America, particularly cocaine, heroin, cannabis products, and synthetic drugs, transit en route to European and Middle Eastern markets;
- synthetic opioid tramadol is shipped from Nigeria through Niger to other African countries;
- hashish from Morocco is trafficked to Libya, Egypt, Europe, and the Middle East;
- traffickers are formalized networks of Arab, Tuareg, and Toubou transportation groups
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Niger.” The World Factbook 2021. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/niger/2021.