Niger: environment

How much rain does Niger get?

Niamey airport recorded 676.4 mm of rain over 51 rainy days in 2024, up from 416.6 mm in 2023, according to the INS Statistical Yearbook 2020-2024, citing the national meteorological service. Rainfall ranged from 93.3 mm at Bilma in the Sahara to 996.4 mm at Gaya in the south-west.

2024 was wetter than recent years at most stations: Zinder had 968 mm against 423.1 mm in 2023, and Maradi 942.7 mm against 557.7 mm. Almost all rain falls in the rainy season from June to September. The yearbook also publishes average minimum and maximum temperatures for each station.

Official sources: INS Niger: Statistical Yearbook 2020-2024 (PDF)

Where does Niger get its electricity?

Niger produced 1,012,107 MWh of electricity in 2024 and imported 532,461 MWh, according to NIGELEC and SONICHAR figures in the INS Statistical Yearbook 2020-2024. Imports have fallen from 1,163,632 MWh in 2022 as domestic production has grown.

Domestic production in 2024 came from NIGELEC's own plants (320,355 MWh), the SONICHAR coal plant (166,673 MWh) and the private producer Istithmar (525,079 MWh). Only 21.3% of Niger's population had access to electricity in 2024, according to World Bank data.

Official sources: INS Niger: Statistical Yearbook 2020-2024 (PDF) · World Bank: Access to electricity, Niger

What are the CO2 emissions of Niger?

Niger emitted 0.12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person in 2024, excluding land use, according to World Bank data. Total greenhouse gas emissions, including methane and nitrous oxide, were 41.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to the World Bank greenhouse gas series.

Both figures come from the EDGAR database of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and exclude land use, land-use change and forestry. The gap between per-person CO2 and total emissions shows that most of Niger's greenhouse gas emissions are gases other than CO2, such as methane and nitrous oxide.

Official sources: World Bank: CO2 emissions per capita, Niger · World Bank: Total greenhouse gas emissions, Niger

What is the air quality like in Niger?

The average person in Niger was exposed to 65.2 micrograms of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) per cubic metre of air in 2023, according to World Bank data. The WHO guideline for annual PM2.5 is 5 micrograms per cubic metre.

The figure is a population-weighted annual average modelled from satellite data and ground measurements. No national air quality monitoring data were found on the INS site on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: PM2.5 mean annual exposure, Niger

What is Niger's carbon footprint per person?

According to the European Commission's EDGAR database, carbon dioxide emissions per person in Niger was 0.1 tonnes in 2024. The peak was 0.1 tonnes in 2022 and the low 0.1 tonnes in 2006. It is 43rd highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.4 tonnes. World rank, highest first: 178th of 186.

What are Niger's total greenhouse gas emissions?

The latest figure from the European Commission's EDGAR database, for 2024, is 41.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Since 2005 it has ranged from 20.0 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (2005) to 41.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (2022). It is 13th highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 24.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Worldwide: 91st of 186.

How much of Niger's energy is renewable?

According to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO, the renewable share of final energy use in Niger was 79.6% in 2021. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 87.5%; its low point was 2012, at 72.7%. It is 15th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 71.1%. Of 191 countries with 2021 data, 17th highest.

What share of Niger is covered by forest?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2024, is 0.8%. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 48th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 22.2%. Of 190 countries with 2024 data, 181st highest.

What is air pollution like in Niger?

65.2 micrograms per cubic metre: that is average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Niger for 2023, according to the Global Burden of Disease study. Since 2005 it has ranged from 55.5 micrograms per cubic metre (2019) to 82.6 micrograms per cubic metre (2015). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre, and Niger placed 2nd highest of 48. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 5th highest.

What share of Niger is protected land?

The UN Environment Programme puts the share of land in protected areas in Niger at 21.0% in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2013. It is 20th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 16.9%. World rank, highest first: 78th of 192.

What is water stress in Niger?

The FAO puts water stress in Niger at 11.0% in 2022. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 5.1%, and Niger placed 17th highest of 47. Worldwide: 87th of 175.