Country explorer: Niger
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Niger is a arid, low-income country in Africa with a medium-sized population. Its economy has grown stably in recent decades, and is based on agriculture, mining and oil and gas.
Niger is home to the largest protected area in Africa, the Termit and Tin Toumma National Nature Reserve.
Economy
Niger has experienced a modest increase in GDP per capita, a notable though variably improving distribution of poverty levels across different thresholds, persistent challenges with unemployment, and fluctuating patterns of inflation, reflecting both its unique struggles and shared challenges among low-income countries in managing economic growth amidst socio-political and environmental stresses.
Demographics
Niger has experienced rapid population growth, one of the highest fertility rates globally, persistent net migration losses, and gradual improvements in life expectancy, reflecting its challenges and progress in health, societal, and economic aspects similar to several of its low-income peers.
Basic needs
Niger has seen modest improvements in basic needs such as access to clean cooking fuels, electricity, and safely managed sanitation facilities, demonstrating trends similar to other low-income countries, but its progress remains significantly limited compared to regional peers.
Human development
Niger has experienced gradual improvements in human development indicators such as the Human Development Index, reductions in child mortality rate, and increases in literacy rate and average learning-adjusted years of schooling, reflecting modest progress in education, healthcare, and living standards, albeit from a very low base, in line with many of its low-income peers.
Environment & energy
Niger has seen a decline in per capita CO2 emissions and renewable internal freshwater resources, alongside incremental growth in electricity production from renewable sources and a gradual decrease in forest area, reflecting broader environmental and energy shifts common among low-income countries, but with distinct national variances in the pace and nature of these transformations.
Technology & innovation
Niger has witnessed a significant digital transformation, reflected in the exponential increase in mobile phone subscriptions and Internet usage, although it remains comparable to its low-income peers in the slow but steady growth in scientific output per capita.
Culture & society
Niger has exhibited a decrease in the age dependency ratio and gender inequality index while showing a gradual increase in self-reported life satisfaction, reflecting societal progresses in economic support structures, gender equity, and overall life satisfaction despite its challenges as a low-income country.
Governance
Niger has experienced fluctuations in governance indicators, showing moderate improvements and declines in the rule of law and political civil liberties while facing challenges in corruption perception and press freedom, reflecting a complex governance landscape that shares the struggles common among its regional peers and low-income countries.