geography
Niger is one of the hottest countries on Earth and is more than 80% covered by the Sahara Desert, yet it still shares part of the Niger River, which gives the country its name.
Niger
Republic of Niger
Population, GDP, and key facts about Niger — updated for 2026.
Capital · NIAMEYContinent · AFRICAISO · NER
Niger quick facts
- Population
- 27,032,412
- Area
- 1,267,000 km²
- Population density
- 21 people/km²
- GDP
- US$ 19.7 Billion
- GDP per capita
- US$ 729.9
- Capital
- Niamey
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (Fr, XOF)
- Minimum wage
- US$ 69.3/month · Fr 42,000/month (2024)
- Language
- French
Niger at human scale
Where does Niger rank in the world?
Compare Niger with other countries
🇳🇪 vs 🇨🇲Compare Niger vs Cameroon1.1× difference in population🇳🇪 vs 🇹🇩Compare Niger vs Chad1.3× difference in population🇳🇪 vs 🇦🇺Compare Niger vs Australia
Compare Niger with any country →Niger's energy mix
Fossil fuels · 97%Renewables · 3%
- Oil74%
- Coal18%
- Natural gas5%
- Solar3%
Share of Niger's own electricity generation by source, 2024. Source: Our World in Data (Ember Yearly Electricity Data and the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy).
Everything we know about Niger
Countries near Niger
How many countries do you think Niger could fit?
Pour other countries into Niger's own outline, by real area, and see how many it takes to fill it up.
Fill the Country →Frequently asked questions about Niger
What is the capital of Niger?
The capital of Niger is Niamey.
What is Niger's population?
Niger has a population of 27,032,412.
What is Niger's GDP per capita?
Niger's GDP per capita is US$ 729.9.
What is the currency of Niger?
The currency of Niger is the West African CFA franc (XOF).
What is the minimum wage in Niger?
Niger's statutory minimum wage is about US$ 69.3 per month (as of 2024) — Fr 42,000 per month in local currency.
Is Niger bigger than Cameroon?
Niger is about 2.7× the size of Cameroon by land area.
Data from the World Bank, updated November 2026.