Niger is a vast landlocked nation in West Africa, stretching over 1.27 million square kilometers between the Sahara Desert in the north and the Sahel and savanna regions to the south. Bordered by Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali, its name derives from the Niger River—“river among rivers” in the Tuareg phrase gher n-gheren—that bisects the southwest. As of 2025, Niger’s population is estimated at 26 million, overwhelmingly Muslim and concentrated in the south. The official language is French, inherited from colonial rule, while Hausa, Zarma, Fulfulde, Kanuri and Tamacheq serve as national tongues. The republic is currently governed by a transitional military council led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, with a President, Prime Minister and a dissolved parliament. Political power resides in the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. Gambling is virtually nonexistent, discouraged by religious and cultural norms. The Nigerien Armed Forces comprise the army, air force and gendarmerie, tasked with securing borders and countering insurgencies.

History
Human settlement in what is now Niger dates back tens of thousands of years, with prehistoric artifacts in the Aïr Mountains and Ténéré Desert revealing stone tools and rock art from a once-fertile landscape. From around 7 000 BCE, pastoral communities herded cattle on the Grassland Sahara until an era of aridification began circa 2 500 BCE. Niger’s territory lay at the crossroads of trans-Saharan trade routes long before recorded chronicles emerged. By the 5th century CE, the region formed part of the domain of two great empires: to the west, the Songhai, whose commercial capital of Gao controlled gold, salt and slave caravans; and to the east, the Kanem–Bornu Empire, whose power was anchored in Lake Chad’s oases. Across the central Sahel, Hausa city-states such as Agadez, Maradi and Zinder developed as independent sultanates, thriving on agriculture, craft industries and long-distance trade.
The first sustained European contact occurred in the late 19th century. French colonial expeditions penetrated the desert, driven by the mission civilisatrice and the scramble for Africa. From 1899 to 1906, French armies subdued Tuareg resistance under Generals Voulet and Chanoine, ruthlessly imposing control over Niger’s disparate regions. In 1922 Niger became a distinct colony within French West Africa, administered from Dakar. Colonial rule brought forced labor, cash-crop cultivation of peanuts and cotton, and the construction of limited infrastructure, but education and healthcare remained rudimentary. During World War II Nigerien troops fought for France, and postwar reforms granted limited political representation. The French constitution of 1956 extended local self-government, and Niger became an autonomous republic in 1958. On August 3, 1960, Niger declared full independence under President Hamani Diori.
Postindependence Niger endured chronic instability: the Diori government fell in a coup led by Lt. Col. Seyni Kountché in April 1974 after massive floods and food shortages. The military regime ruled until 1991, when a National Conference ushered in multiparty democracy. The Third Republic elected Mahamane Ousmane in 1993, only to be overthrown by Col. Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara in 1996. Baré himself was assassinated in 1999, followed by a return to civilian rule under Mamadou Tandja in 1999. In 2009 Tandja attempted to extend his term, sparking protests and a 2010 coup that restored democracy. Tandja’s successor, Mahamadou Issoufou, served from 2011 to 2021. His chosen successor, Mohamed Bazoum, won the 2021 election in Niger’s first peaceful transfer of power. That achievement was undone by a July 26, 2023 coup, in which President Bazoum was detained by members of the presidential guard led by General Tchiani. France and ECOWAS condemned the coup, imposing sanctions and threatening intervention. The junta dissolved the constitution and proclaimed a transition charter on March 26, 2025, pledging elections in three years, but political uncertainty and security challenges endure.
Throughout its modern history, Niger has faced relentless droughts, recurrent food crises, rapid population growth (the world’s highest fertility rate), and terrorist insurgencies. Tuareg rebellions in 1990–95 and 2007–09 in the northern Aïr region, fueled by ethnic grievances and economic marginalization, were met by military force. More recently, jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) and Boko Haram have launched cross-border attacks in Diffa, Tillabéri and Tahoua regions. Nigerian forces, supported by French and U.S. counterterrorism operations, continue to battle insurgents in remote border zones. These conflicts exacerbate humanitarian crises, internal displacement, and regional instability, underscoring Niger’s long struggle to secure peace and development.

Industry
Niger’s economy remains dominated by subsistence agriculture (millet, sorghum, cowpea), livestock (goats, sheep, cattle, camels) and pastoralism, which employ over 80 percent of the labor force but generate only one-third of GDP. The nation’s most valuable export is uranium, of which Niger possesses the world’s fourth-largest reserves and is Africa’s third-leading producer. State-run SOMAIR and COMINAK mines in Arlit and Akokan, jointly operated with France’s Orano, supply ore to global reactors. Uranium exports account for more than half of export earnings. Emerging oil and gas fields in the Agadem Rift Basin promise new revenue, with the Niger–Chad pipeline already transporting crude to southern refineries.
Manufacturing is limited to cement (SONICHAR), basic consumer goods, textiles and food processing. Small-scale mining of gold and coal occurs in Tillabéri and Dosso regions. Niger has produced few internationally recognized branded products; its industrial output remains low. Ambitious plans for agro-industry, uranium conversion and renewable energy projects seek to diversify an economy vulnerable to commodity price swings. Regional ambitions, such as participation in the Trans-Sahara Highway, aim to boost trade connectivity, yet infrastructure gaps and security risks constrain industrial growth.

Flora and Fauna
Niger’s ecosystems shift from hyper-arid Saharan desert in the north—dunes, regs and rock plateaus—to semi-arid Sahelian savanna in the center, and wooded Sudano-Sahelian savanna in the south along the Niger and Lake Chad basins. Flora includes acacia, tamarisk, date palm, doum palm in oases, and thorn-scrub and grassland in open plains. Over 2 100 plant species thrive, including the endemic Rhyncosia airica in the Aïr.
Protected areas cover 6.6 percent of the land, including the Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (7.7 million ha) and the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (shared with Benin and Burkina Faso), crucial for biodiversity. Wildlife features 136 mammal species: endangered dama gazelle (national symbol), critically endangered addax, Sudan cheetah, West African giraffe in the Kouré Reserve, African elephant, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, wild dog. Avifauna counts 528 species, with three globally threatened. Reptiles include Nile crocodile, monitor lizards, and 23 venomous snake species (puff adder, carpet viper). Scorpions and spiders pose risks. Major waterholes and oases support aquatic turtles and the rare West African manatee. Domestic animals—cattle, goats, sheep, camels, donkeys, poultry—form pastoral livelihoods. Wildlife trade and hunting are regulated but enforcement is weak; export requires CITES permits. Habitat loss, desertification and illegal hunting threaten species, prompting IUCN Red List protections in reserves and community conservancies.

Religion and Ethnic Groups
Islam is practiced by over 99 percent of Nigeriens, predominantly Sunni of the Maliki school. Sufi brotherhoods (Qadiriya, Tijaniya) maintain influence, blending orthodox practice with local customs. Animist traditions persist among some Hausa and Songhai communities, often syncretized with Islam (Bori cult). Christian minorities (0.3 percent) are mostly Catholics and Protestants in urban centers, with a small Baháʼí presence. Ethnic composition (2006 census): Hausa (53 percent), Zarma-Songhai (21 percent), Tuareg (11 percent), Fulani (6.5 percent), Kanuri (5.9 percent), Gourmanchéma, Tubu and others (2.6 percent). Ethno-religious heritage shapes dress codes—modest robes for men (boubou), long wrappers and headscarves for women—and rituals. Nigerien identity is forged through interethnic tolerance, Islamic festivals and nomadic traditions.

Wars and Conflicts
Since independence, Niger has faced multiple armed rebellions, insurgencies and terrorist threats. The Tuareg rebellions of 1990–95 and 2007–09 sought autonomy in the Aïr and Ténéré, fueled by economic marginalization and drought. French-backed pacts ended both uprisings, but low-level unrest persists. From 2002, jihadist violence linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) spilled into Niger’s western border, and Boko Haram attacks surged in Diffa region from 2014 onward. The Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) are active along the Mali and Burkina Faso borders, targeting civilians, soldiers and foreign workers. 2020 saw a suicide bombing in Téra; 2021 attack on a refugee camp in Diffa. Military cemeteries exist near Agadez and Niamey for fallen soldiers. UTA Flight 772 was downed by a Libyan bomb over the Tenere Desert in 1989, killing 170. Thousands have died in insurgency-related violence. Niger is a member of the G5 Sahel joint force, ECOWAS standby force and hosts MINUSMA logistics support. Conflict involvement remains high, with regional and global counterterrorism partnerships.

Living Standards
Niger ranks among the lowest on the Human Development Index (0.419, 188th of 191) and the Multidimensional Poverty Index, with 80 percent of the population in multidimensional poverty. Life expectancy at birth is 62 years; literacy is 35 percent. Corruption Perceptions Index scores 34 points (107th of 180), reflecting endemic graft. Access to safe drinking water, electricity and sanitation is scarce in rural areas, with only 35 percent electrification nationwide. Public spending on health is under 5 percent of GDP. Food insecurity affects 40 percent annually. Despite democratic transitions, governance remains fragile. Remittances, uranium exports and foreign aid underpin the economy. High fertility (7 children per woman) and rapid population growth strain services.

Medicine and Health
Healthcare infrastructure is limited to Niamey and regional centers. Rural clinics lack essential drugs, equipment and trained staff. Pharmacies in cities carry basic medicines; cold‐chain storage is unreliable. Tourists must pack prescription medications, water-purification tablets and a first‐aid kit. Vaccinations: yellow fever (entry requirement), hepatitis A & B, typhoid, meningococcal, cholera (during outbreaks), polio booster, rabies (pre-exposure for long stays), routine immunizations, COVID-19. Malaria prophylaxis is mandatory. Only private clinics in Niamey meet international standards; air evacuation may be necessary for serious emergencies. Travel health insurance with medevac coverage is essential.

Sport
Football is the national sport, with the Menas men’s team competing regionally in the African Nations Championship. Niger has two Olympic medals: Issaka Dabore’s boxing bronze (1972) and Abdoulrazak Issoufou’s taekwondo silver (+80 kg, 2016). Traditional Sorro wrestling remains popular in rural festivals. Camel and horse races feature in northern cultural events like Cure Salée. Nigerien athletes occasionally compete in African championships in athletics and martial arts.

Holidays
State holidays: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), Concord Day (Apr 24), Labour Day (May 1), Anniversary of 2023 Coup (Jul 26), Independence Day (Aug 3), Republic Day (Dec 18), Christmas (Dec 25). Islamic holidays (variable dates): Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Ramadan start, Mawlid an-Nabi. Other observances: National Day of the Nigerien Woman (May 13), Cure Salée (Tuareg-Fulani festival, Sep), Gerewol (Wodaabe courtship, Sep), National Youth and Culture Week (Nov).

Traditions
Nigerien culture emphasizes hospitality (gurgu), respect for elders and communal harmony. Greetings include handshakes, inquiries about family. Visitors remove shoes before entering homes or mosques. Public displays of affection are discouraged. Women wear long skirts and headscarves; men wear flowing robes (boubou). Taboos: photographing military or government installations, eating pork or serving alcohol in conservative areas, showing the sole of one’s foot.

Interesting Facts
The Tree of Ténéré was once the world’s most isolated tree. The Dabous Giraffes rock engraving (7 000 years old) is the largest known animal petroglyph. Agadez’s Grand Mosque (16th century) is the tallest mud-brick structure globally. Gerewol festival features male beauty contests. UTA Flight 772 crash memorial lies deep in the Tenere Desert. Anthropologist Jean Rouch filmed the Wodaabe. The national football team badge depicts the dama gazelle.

Myths and Legends
Tuareg lore speaks of the madan, desert spirits protecting oases. Legend tells of Hira, a monstrous river creature of the Niger, opposed by hero Moussa Gnama. Tales recount djinns inhabiting sandstorms (harmattan) and guiding lost caravans to water.

Money and Payments
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF). 1 USD ≈ 600 XOF. Only cash is widely accepted; credit cards only at upscale hotels. ATMs in Niamey, Zinder and Agadez; carry sufficient cash beyond. Currency exchange at banks and Bureau de Change; better rates in city centers. Tipping: 5–10 percent in restaurants; small gratuities to guides and drivers.

Household Details
Voltage: 220 V, 50 Hz. Plugs: types C, D, E, F. Mobile: 3 G/4 G networks in urban areas (operators: Airtel, Orange, Zamani), limited in rural. Smoking: banned indoors in public buildings; avoid near mosques and schools.

Clothing
Modest attire is required. Women: long skirts/dresses below the knee, long sleeves, headscarf in rural or religious sites. Men: long trousers, shirts with sleeves. Shorts and sleeveless tops only in private or for sports. A wide-brim hat and sunglasses recommended.

Tourism
Tourism remains limited by security concerns. Visitors need at least 10–14 days to see Niamey, Agadez, national parks and cultural events. Travel with licensed guides and secure transport. Permit-required visits to protected areas.

Types of Tourism
Cultural tourism, desert expeditions, wildlife safaris, festival-based tours, humanitarian and volunteer tourism.

Tourist Attractions
– Agadez Historic Centre (UNESCO mud-brick architecture)
– Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (UNESCO desert ecosystem)
– W National Park (UNESCO wildlife refuge)
– Dabous Giraffes (prehistoric rock engravings)
– Kouré Giraffe Reserve (endangered West African giraffe)
– Sultan’s Palace, Zinder (19th century royal residence)
– Grand Mosque of Niamey (20th century Francophone design)

Non-Tourist Attractions
– Ayorou Animal Market (traditional livestock trading)
– Igoulouléfé Springs (desert oasis)
– Djado Plateau (prehistoric rock art)
– Dan Kasswa Mosque, Maradi (19th century clay mosque)

Local Cuisine
Staples: millet, sorghum, rice. Dishes: Djerma stew (peanut and tomato sauce), Miyar Kuka (baobab leaf soup), Tuwo Zaafi (fried millet balls), Fari Masa (fried dough), Sauce Gombo (okra stew). Street food: brochettes (grilled meat), beignets, masa (rice cakes). Alcohol: limited; beer in Niamey only. Meals: lunch and dinner. Food safety: avoid tap water, eat well-cooked meals. Tip 5 percent.

Why Visit Niger
Authentic nomadic cultures, dramatic desert landscapes, rich history, unparalleled festivals, and untouched wildlife reserves.

Tourist Safety
High risk of terrorism near borders with Mali, Libya, Burkina Faso, Chad and Nigeria. Banditry and kidnapping threats in remote areas. Avoid nighttime travel. Wild animals (snakes, scorpions) in rural zones. No comprehensive CCTV. Malaria, meningitis, cholera outbreaks. Extreme heat, dust storms. Respect local customs. Emergency phones: 15 (medical), 17 (police), 18 (fire).

Tourist Infrastructure
Basic hotels and guesthouses; a few 3–4 star properties in Niamey and Agadez. Restaurants range from street stalls to French-style bistros. Service in French; little English. Guided tours recommended.

Entry Rules
Visa required for most. Yellow fever certificate mandatory. Passport valid for six months. Customs: allowed personal effects, 200 cigarettes. Prohibited: drones without permit, military filming, narcotics, pornography.

Transport
Long-distance: SNTV coaches, private bus companies, shared “bush taxis.” Domestic flights: Air Niger, West African airlines. Ticketing at stations or online. Inland river transport minimal.

Car and Driving
4×4 rental in Niamey; international driving permit required. Roads: major highways paved; secondary roads unpaved and often impassable in rain. Driving: right-hand side; speed limits 50 km/h in town, 90 km/h out. Police checkpoints common; bribes possible. No DUI. Parking informal; carry spare fuel, water, spare tires. Dashcams rare.

Noise Regulations
No formal national noise laws; respect nighttime quiet (10 pm–6 am).

Daily Budget
Backpacker: 27 000–30 000 XOF (45–50 USD) Mid-range: 39 000–45 000 XOF (65–75 USD) Comfort: 60 000+ XOF (100+ USD)

Prohibitions
No unauthorized drones. Avoid photographing security sites. No public alcohol in conservative areas. No proselytizing. Respect Ramadan.

Climate and Weather
North: Sahara (BWh), 45 °C highs in April–May; winter nights near 0 °C. Center: Sahel (BSh), 40 °C highs, 100 mm rain Aug. South: Sudano-Sahelian (Aw), 30–35 °C, 600 mm rain June–Sep. Best time: Nov–Feb. Avoid Mar–May heat and Jun–Sep rains.

Tips for Tourists
Vaccinations: yellow fever, hepatitis A/B, typhoid, meningitis, rabies, malaria prophylaxis. Carry bottled water; avoid ice. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses essential. Register with embassy. Hire local guides. Respect prayer times. Learn basic Hausa or French phrases.