Page last updated on June 20, 2014

Economy - overview:
Niger is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Agriculture contributes about one-third of GDP and provides livelihood for about nine-tenths of the population. Drought, desertification, and strong population growth have undercut the economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union. Debt relief has significantly reduced Niger's annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. Nearly half of the government's budget is derived from foreign donor resources. The economy in recent years has been hurt by terrorist activity and kidnappings near its uranium mines and instability in Mali. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources. Niger has sizable reserves of oil and oil production, which began in 2012, along with refining, and exports are expected to grow through 2016. However, oil revenues have fallen well short of predictions, mainly because of logistical challenges. Food insecurity and drought remain perennial problems for Niger. The mining sector may be affected by the government�?"s attempt to renegotiate extraction rights contracts.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$13.98 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$13.17 billion (2012 est.)
$11.84 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.304 billion (2013 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
11.2% (2012 est.)
2.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
$800 (2012 est.)
$800 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
23.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
22% of GDP (2012 est.)
25.3% of GDP (2011 est.)
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 61%
government consumption: 25.1%
investment in fixed capital: 44.7%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 26.3%
imports of goods and services: -57.1%
(2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 35.2%
industry: 14.2%
services: 50.6% (2013 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (manioc, tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

Industries:
uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses

Industrial production growth rate:
5.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
4.688 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 82
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4% (1995)

Unemployment rate:
NA%
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
63% (1993 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 96
50.5 (1995)
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: $1.911 billion
expenditures: $2.086 billion (2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:
26.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
0.5% (2012 est.)
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
4.75% (31 December 2008)
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
4% (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$1.388 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$1.284 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$1.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$1.61 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$992.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$915 million (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$1.45 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
-$1.453 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$1.539 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$1.458 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners:
Nigeria 40.3%, US 17.2%, India 14.3%, Italy 8.6%, China 7.8%, Ghana 5.3% (2012)

Imports:
$2.314 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$2.273 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners:
France 14.4%, China 11.3%, Nigeria 10.1%, French Polynesia 9.2%, Togo 5.1%, Cote dIvoire 4.5% (2012)

Debt - external:
$1.556 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$1.551 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
500.7 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)