World Factbook

Niger

République du Niger

Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green, with an orange disk centered on the white band meaning: orange stands for the northern Sahara regions, white for purity and innocence, and green for hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River; the orange disc represents the sun and the people's sacrifices

note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered on the white band

Capital

name

Niamey

etymology

the origin of the name is unclear; one of many stories says that an African chief told his seven slaves " Wa niammane ," meaning "stay here," and the name was later shortened to its present form

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

13 31 N, 2 07 E

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

unknown

Constitution

note

note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved the country's constitution

history

several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010

amendment process

formerly proposed by the president of the republic or the National Assembly; consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote; if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum; constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended

Country name

note

note: pronounced nee-ZHAIR

etymology

named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; the name of the river probably comes from the local Tuareg name, egereou n-igereouen (big rivers)

local long form

République du Niger

local short form

Niger

conventional long form

Republic of Niger

conventional short form

Niger

Independence

3 August 1960 (from France)

Legal system

note: following the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assumed control of all government institutions and rules by decree; formerly, mixed system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law

Government type

formerly, semi-presidential republic

Note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved all government institutions, and rules by decree

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members); Supreme Court (membership NA); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)

subordinate courts

Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts

judge selection and term of office

High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary to 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society; all appointed by the president; judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years

Executive branch

note

note 1: deposed president Mohamed BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023 note 2: on 26 March 2025, the CNSP leader TIANI issued a decree promulgating the Charter of the Refoundation and was sworn in as the country’s president for a transition period of five years

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the CNSP

chief of state

President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023)

election results

2020/2021 : Mohamed BAZOUM elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.3%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 9%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.1%, other 27.6%; percent of vote in second round - Mohamed BAZOUM 55.7%, Mahamane OUSMANE 44.3%

head of government

CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023)

most recent election date

27 December 2020, with a runoff held on 21 February 2021

election/appointment process

the CNSP rules by decree; previously, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister was appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly

expected date of next election

2030

National holiday

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

note: commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger, which predated independence from France in 1960

National color(s)

orange, white, green

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c)

Political parties

Alliance for Democracy and the Republic Alliance for Democratic Renewal or ARD-Adaltchi-Mutuntchi Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger or AMEN AMIN Congress for the Republic or CPR-Inganci Democratic Alternation for Equity in Niger Democratic and Republican Renewal-RDR-Tchanji Democratic Movement for the Emergence of Niger Falala Democratic Patriots' Rally or RPD Bazara National Movement for the Development of Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation or MODEN/FA Lumana Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya Nigerien Patriotic Movement or MPN-Kishin Kassa Nigerien Rally for Democracy and Peace Patriotic Movement for the Republic or MPR-Jamhuriya Peace, Justice, Progress–Generation Doubara Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a Rally for Peace and Progress or RPP Farilla Social Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya Social Democratic Party or PSD-Bassira

note: after the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland dissolved the National Assembly and prohibited all political party activity

Legislative branch

note

note 1: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved the National Assembly; a commission recommended to the junta in February 2025 a minimum of a five-year transition to democratic rule note 2: In May 2025, Transitional President Tiani signed decrees nominating 194 members of the Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation or CCR), CCR Bureau members, and the Speaker, Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey; the first session of the CCR convened on 28 June 2025

number of seats

194 (all appointed)

electoral system

mixed system

legislature name

Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation)

scope of elections

full renewal

legislative structure

unicameral

most recent election date

5/1/2025

expected date of next election

April 2030

percentage of women in chamber

19.6%

National anthem(s)

title

"L'Honneur de la Patrie" (The Honor of the Fatherland)

history

adopted 2023; replaced previous national anthem, "La Nigérienne" (The Nigerien), that was adopted in 1961

lyrics/music

a government-appointed committee wrote both the lyrics and the music

National symbol(s)

zebu

Administrative divisions

7 regions ( régions , singular - région ) and 1 capital district* ( communauté urbaine ); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX

[1] (202) 483-3169

chancery

2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 483-4224

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023)

email address and website

communication@embassyofniger.org http://www.embassyofniger.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US

FAX

[227] 20-73-55-60

embassy

BP 11201, Niamey

telephone

[227] 20-72-26-61

mailing address

2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC  20521-2420

chief of mission

Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023)

email address and website

consulateniamey@state.gov https://ne.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINUSCA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction