GeoRealityMatch
Capture of Sudano-Sahelian architectural style in Niamey, showcasing traditional mud-brick design.Men in traditional Tuareg attire at a cultural parade, Niamey, Niger.

Niger

Africa · Western Africa

Low development

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country. It is less peaceful than most countries.

Source: FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Safety

145th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.832lower is more peacefulLow safety
#145 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$750national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 133% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 47% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$1.3K$2.5K$2,177 PPP$775Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $333 a person, $935 at PPP2007, $387 a person, $955 at PPP2008, $475 a person, $1,010 at PPP, inflation 11.3%2009, $461 a person, $999 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2010, $474 a person, $1,058 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2011, $511 a person, $1,064 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2012, $529 a person, $1,162 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2013, $552 a person, $1,138 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2014, $565 a person, $1,161 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2015, $486 a person, $1,172 at PPP, inflation -0.6%2016, $500 a person, $1,182 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2017, $530 a person, $1,227 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2018, $577 a person, $1,272 at PPP, inflation 3%2019, $541 a person, $1,368 at PPP, inflation -2.5%2020, $575 a person, $1,486 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2021, $610 a person, $1,588 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2022, $614 a person, $1,848 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2023, $648 a person, $1,903 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2024, $730 a person, $2,044 at PPP, inflation 9.1%2025, $775 a person, $2,177 at PPP, inflation -4.5%$0$1.3K$2.5KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $333 a person, $935 at PPP2007, $387 a person, $955 at PPP2008, $475 a person, $1,010 at PPP, inflation 11.3%2009, $461 a person, $999 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2010, $474 a person, $1,058 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2011, $511 a person, $1,064 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2012, $529 a person, $1,162 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2013, $552 a person, $1,138 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2014, $565 a person, $1,161 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2015, $486 a person, $1,172 at PPP, inflation -0.6%2016, $500 a person, $1,182 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2017, $530 a person, $1,227 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2018, $577 a person, $1,272 at PPP, inflation 3%2019, $541 a person, $1,368 at PPP, inflation -2.5%2020, $575 a person, $1,486 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2021, $610 a person, $1,588 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2022, $614 a person, $1,848 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2023, $648 a person, $1,903 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2024, $730 a person, $2,044 at PPP, inflation 9.1%2025, $775 a person, $2,177 at PPP, inflation -4.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
61.4years, at birthVery low
#185 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
39WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
50.7PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
0.4%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Men in traditional Tuareg attire at a cultural parade, Niamey, Niger.
How it changed

Niger's Human Development Index

0.419Low human development

188th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 50th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #187Burundi0.439
  2. #188Mali0.419
  3. #188Niger0.419
  4. #190Chad0.416
  5. #191Central African Republic0.414
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.215 in 1990 to 0.419 in 2023.

0.150.300.450.41919902000201020231990: 0.2151991: 0.2191992: 0.2221993: 0.2281994: 0.2331995: 0.2381996: 0.2451997: 0.2501998: 0.2581999: 0.2632000: 0.2662001: 0.2722002: 0.2782003: 0.2842004: 0.2922005: 0.3022006: 0.3092007: 0.3132008: 0.3232009: 0.3292010: 0.3392011: 0.3462012: 0.3562013: 0.3622014: 0.3692015: 0.3742016: 0.3802017: 0.3842018: 0.3912019: 0.4002020: 0.4042021: 0.4132022: 0.4142023: 0.4190.150.300.4519902000201020231990: 0.2151991: 0.2191992: 0.2221993: 0.2281994: 0.2331995: 0.2381996: 0.2451997: 0.2501998: 0.2581999: 0.2632000: 0.2662001: 0.2722002: 0.2782003: 0.2842004: 0.2922005: 0.3022006: 0.3092007: 0.3132008: 0.3232009: 0.3292010: 0.3392011: 0.3462012: 0.3562013: 0.3622014: 0.3692015: 0.3742016: 0.3802017: 0.3842018: 0.3912019: 0.4002020: 0.4042021: 0.4132022: 0.4142023: 0.419

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
61.4 years2024at birthUp 8.1 years from 53.3 years in 2005
Internet users
16%2024of people onlineUp 15 points from 0% in 2006
Urban population
18%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 16% in 2006
Births per woman
5.942024births per womanDown 1.83 from 7.77 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
80%2021of energy usedDown 7 points from 87% in 2004
Access to electricity
21%2024of people with electricityUp 14 points from 7% in 2005
Infant mortality
662024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 19 from 85 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
1%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

World's lowest HDI ranking, with Sahel instability and a military coup in 2023. The case against is the UK's advice against travel, a low peace ranking and low incomes.

About Niger

Niger is a vast Sahelian country in West Africa whose northern two-thirds are pure Sahara, with the Air Mountains rising dramatically from the desert and ancient Tuareg cities like Agadez, once a great caravan crossroads. The culture is predominantly Hausa and Tuareg, with a long tradition of trans-Saharan trade and desert navigation. It suits serious desert travellers and those with a specific interest in the Saharan world.

Practical facts

  • CapitalNiamey
  • LanguagesFrench
  • CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
  • Area1,266,700 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Niger's Human Development Index?

Niger's Human Development Index is 0.419 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #188 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Niger safe?

Niger scores 2.83 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #145 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Niger?

Life expectancy at birth in Niger is 61.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #185 of 195 countries.