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Niger
Africa
A landlocked Sahel nation, Niger faces desertification and poverty but has significant uranium resources.
27,000,000
Population
1,267,000
Area (km²)
Niamey
Capital
19
Historical Events
Historical Timeline
Cities
19 Events
September 22, 2025 - The government announces plans to connect 298 schools to high-speed internet within five months, aiming to boost digital education access.
July 26, 2025 - Two years after the coup, human rights groups report spiraling abuses, including media crackdowns, opposition arrests, and erosion of freedoms.
July 07, 2025 - Floods affect over 3,000 people and cause six deaths, exacerbating humanitarian needs in flood-prone regions.
June 12, 2025 - The economy rebounds with 8.4% GDP growth, driven by large-scale oil exports and a strong agricultural season, though inflation and poverty persist.
February 20, 2025 - A national commission recommends a five-year transition to democratic rule, extending junta control beyond initial timelines.
February 06, 2025 - The junta orders the expulsion of the UN resident coordinator, citing interference in internal affairs.
February 03, 2025 - At least 20 soldiers are killed in an ambush by cattle thieves in Takzat, underscoring rural security challenges.
August 05, 2024 - The US officially hands over Air Base 201 in Agadez to Niger, ending a key counterterrorism partnership amid junta tensions with Western allies.
August 03, 2024 - JNIM militants kidnap two Russian nationals in Mbanga, highlighting foreign vulnerabilities in the Sahel.
July 27, 2024 - In the Battle of Tinzaouaten, Tuareg separatist forces (CSP-DPA) defeat a Malian army and Wagner Group convoy, killing dozens and seizing equipment, boosting rebel morale.
July 26, 2024 - The junta declares the coup anniversary a national holiday, framing it as a "day of liberation" from foreign influence.
July 12, 2024 - The justice minister announces a nationwide ban on homosexuality, imposing up to five years in prison for same-sex relations.
June 11, 2024 - Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) launches a major attack on a military base in Mansila, killing over 100 soldiers in one of the deadliest jihadist strikes.
February 24, 2024 - ECOWAS lifts economic sanctions on Niger for humanitarian reasons, including border reopenings and electricity resumption from Nigeria.
January 18, 2024 - Niger formally announces withdrawal from ECOWAS alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, citing the bloc's "imperialist" stance; the AES deepens military and economic ties.
September 16, 2023 - Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso sign the Liptako-Gourma Charter, establishing the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) for mutual defense against terrorism and external threats.
August 06, 2023 - The junta forms the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) and appoints Ali Lamine Zeine as prime minister.
August 03, 2023 - ECOWAS imposes sanctions, freezes assets, and threatens military intervention if Bazoum is not reinstated within a week; borders close and airspace is restricted.
July 26, 2023 - The Presidential Guard stages a coup d'état, detaining President Mohamed Bazoum and his family; the military junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, declares a state of siege and suspends the constitution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Niger
100 Questions
Niger is in West Africa, bordered by Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
The capital is Niamey, on the Niger River.
Around 28 million people as of 2025 estimates.
French is the official language; Hausa, Zarma, Tuareg (Tamasheq), Kanuri, and Fula are widely spoken.
Mostly hot and dry desert (Sahara), with Sahel savannah in the south.
The West African CFA franc (XOF).
Orange, white, and green horizontal stripes with an orange circle in the middle.
Niamey, Maradi, Zinder, Agadez, and Tahoua.
On August 3, 1960, from France.
Hamani Diori.
A military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani (as of 2025).
Currently a military-led transitional government.
Hausa, Zarma-Songhai, Tuareg, Fula, Kanuri, and Toubou.
Islam (over 98%, mostly Sunni).
Around $15 billion in 2025 estimates.
About $550.
Around 35%.
About 62 years.
Around 6.7 children per woman – among the highest in the world.
Around 70%.
Uranium, livestock, cowpeas, onions, and gold.
Fuel, machinery, food, and manufactured goods.
Uranium, gold, oil, coal, and phosphate.
It is one of the world’s top uranium producers, critical for nuclear energy.
Capital city, administrative hub, and market center.
A historic Tuareg city and gateway to the Sahara.
A major commercial hub in southern Niger.
Historic sultanate capital and trading city.
Mont Idoukal-n-Taghès (2,022 m).
It supports farming, fishing, and transportation.
Millet, sorghum, rice, maize, beans, and goat meat.
A millet porridge eaten with sauces.
A rice dish popular in West Africa, also eaten in Niger.
Tea (attaya), millet beer, milk, and soft drinks.
Football, wrestling, and athletics.
The Ménas (Desert Gazelles).
Yes, debuting in 2012.
Not yet.
Moussa Maâzou, Kassaly Daouda, and Victorien Adebayor.
Yes, mainly in athletics and boxing.
Tuareg guitar music, Hausa pop, traditional griot music.
A Tuareg guitar style blending traditional and modern sounds.
Bombino, Les Tal National, and Mdou Moctar.
Drums, flutes, and string instruments like the tidinit.
Tuareg sword dances, Hausa dance, and Zarma drumming dances.
Tuareg men wear indigo turbans; women wear colorful dresses and scarves.
They are central in farming and markets, but face gender inequality.
Around 25%.
Around 45%.
High, especially among youth.
Over 75%.
Millet, sorghum, cowpeas, onions, and rice.
Goats, sheep, cattle, and camels.
Basic and underfunded, especially in rural areas.
Malaria, meningitis, measles, cholera, and malnutrition.
Among the highest in the world, but improving.
Extremely high due to lack of healthcare.
“La Nigérienne.”
“Fraternity, Work, Progress.”
The giraffe.
The bustard.
The lily.
Giraffes, elephants, lions, antelopes, and desert species.
W National Park, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves, and Termit Reserve.
Part of a tri-national park system with Benin and Burkina Faso, rich in wildlife.
A UNESCO site with desert landscapes and rare species.
Home to endangered addax antelopes and wildlife.
Around 50%, higher than adults.
Around $550 annually.
Still very high, slowly declining.
Around 20%, most people live in rural villages.
Mainly farmers, herders, and traders.
Biomass, imported fuel, and limited electricity.
Very high in solar power.
Poverty, climate change, and dependence on uranium.
Coups, terrorism, and weak governance.
The military ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and suspended the constitution.
Pushed for restoration of civilian rule and threatened intervention.
Suspended Niger after the 2023 coup.
Former colonial power, withdrew troops after tensions with the junta.
Has military bases for counterterrorism but scaled back relations.
Gained influence after the coup, offering security support.
Invests in uranium, oil, and infrastructure.
Close neighbor, heavily impacted by Niger’s instability.
Moderate, linked to the CFA franc.
Low overall, higher in the south near Nigeria.
Leatherwork, silver jewelry, pottery, and Tuareg swords.
Caravan trade, Tuareg culture, and historic architecture.
Historic sultanate palaces and markets.
A Tuareg and Wodaabe festival celebrating cattle and courtship.
A Wodaabe festival where men decorate themselves and perform dances to attract women.
Around 20% difference.
Around 4 years.
Lower than rural areas but still high.
Reducing maternal and child mortality.
Low enrollment, poor infrastructure, and gender inequality.
Around 6 people per household.
Very rapid, with one of the fastest-growing populations in the world.
Challenging, tied to political stability, security, and climate resilience.
It sits at the crossroads of the Sahel and Sahara, with vast uranium reserves and a young population shaping West Africa’s future.