Niger

Women

Niger ranks 154 out of 162 countries in the Gender Inequality Index, where a high rank equals high equality. Women should always be considered as a particularly vulnerable group though.

​

Children

Niger has a Workplace Index score of 7.2, a Marketplace Index score of 4.7 and a Community and Environment Index score of 7.0 in the Children’s Rights and Business Atlas, where countries receive scores between 0 and 10. A score closer to 0 reflects a need for basic children’s rights due diligence, while a higher score reflects a need for enhanced or heightened due diligence. Children should always be considered as a particularly vulnerable group though. 

​

Persons with Disabilities

Due to differences in data collection and definitions it is difficult to compare countries on disability prevalence rates. Persons with disabilities should always be considered as a particularly vulnerable group though.

​

Minorities and Indigenous Peoples

According to the World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, estimates suggest a population made up of a majority of Hausa (53.1 %), followed by Zarma (Djerma/Songhai) (21.2 %), Tuareg (11 %), Fulani/Peulh (6.5 %), Kanuri (5.9 %), Gurma (0.8 %), Arab (0.4 %) and Toubou (0.4 %). The Hausa are settled agriculturists who live in the south. The Songhai's homeland is located west of the Hausa territory. Songhai are a broad constellation of ethnic clans including the Dendi, Djerma, Gube, Kurtey, Sorko and Woga. Djerma are found east of the River Niger between Niamey and the Hausa belt, and along the River Niger. The arid north and centre are home to Tuareg camel and goat herders, who speak Tamashek, a Berber language. The traditionally pastoralist Peulh (also known as Fulani, Fula and Toucouleur) are traditionally nomadic cattle herders who live across the West African Sahel from Senegal and Guinea to Cameroon, but today most are sedentary. In Niger they are dispersed throughout much of the country, with concentrations in the south-central and west. Toubou are inhabitants of Tu, the local name for the Tibesti Mountains that are centred in the Sahara of northern Chad and reach into Libya and north-eastern Niger. They are nomadic, traditionally extracting a levy on all caravans and tribute from sedentary villages. There are at least three distinct castes in Toubou society, and intermarriage is rare. In Niger, Toubou control the salt pans, acting as intermediaries between the Kanuri population of the oases and the Tuareg overlords. Toubou are comprised of Teda (Braouia) and Daza (Gorane). Teda are a branch of the Toubou found mostly in northern Chad and in small numbers in eastern Niger. They call themselves Tedagada (those who speak Tegada) and are related to Kanuri. In Niger they are found in the Kaouar and Djado areas. There are very small numbers of Daza in north-eastern Niger, around Lake Chad. They call themselves Dazagada. Toubou are Muslim, but Islam was not widely followed until well into the 20th century. Related by language but not livelihood are Kanuri agriculturists of the south-east, near Lake Chad, but many are now urban dwellers. Kanuri are known in Niger by their Hausa name ‘Beri Beri’ which Kanuri consider derogatory. With Toubou nomads, some Kanuri continue to exploit remote salt pans and desert oases of Kaouar.

Manga, who speak Kanuri and are sometimes regarded as a sub-group of the Kanuri, live east of Zindar in Agadiz department on the Niger-Chad border.

​

Migrant Workers​

According to the ILO Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers, migrant workers as a proportion of all workers is 3 % in the subregion Sub-Saharan Africa.

​

Persons in Armed Conflict

Niger ranks 21 out of 179 countries in the Fragile States Index, where a high rank equals high fragility. For monthly crisis updates, check out CrisisWatch.