Government and power in Niger
Who leads Niger, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary republic under a military-led transition.
Who leads Niger?
- Head of state: le Général d'Armée Abdourahamane Tiani (Président de la République du Niger, Chef de l'État)
- Head of government: Lamine Zeine Ali Mahaman (Premier Ministre du Gouvernement de Transition de la République du Niger)
- Foreign minister: Bakary Yaou Sangaré (Ministre des Affaires étrangères, de la Coopération et des Nigériens à l'Extérieur du Gouvernement de Transition de la République du Niger)
Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Governance scores
The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.
- Voice and accountability
- Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.
- Political stability and absence of violence
- Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.
- Government effectiveness
- Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.
- Regulatory quality
- Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.
- Rule of law
- Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.
- Control of corruption
- Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.
How does Niger score on voice and accountability?
Voice and accountability: 36.8 out of 100 in 2025, 150th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 41.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 52.8.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Niger score on political stability?
Political stability and absence of violence: 34.6 out of 100 in 2025, 180th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 56.4). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 51.3.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Niger score on government effectiveness?
Government effectiveness: 34.6 out of 100 in 2025, 162nd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 36.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 39.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Niger score on regulatory quality?
Regulatory quality: 42.3 out of 100 in 2025, 148th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 42.9). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 42.9.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Niger score on the rule of law?
Rule of law: 40.1 out of 100 in 2025, 159th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 44.6). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 49.2.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Niger score on control of corruption?
Control of corruption: 33.2 out of 100 in 2025, 137th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 32.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 39.3.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many women are in Niger's parliament?
Women held 19.6% of seats in the national parliament (single or lower chamber) in 2025, 125th highest of 184 countries with data. Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union, via the World Bank.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many of Niger's ministers are women?
Women held 20.8% of ministerial posts in 2025, 103rd highest of 190.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does Niger spend on the military?
Military spending was 2.1% of GDP in 2025, 50th highest of 149 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, via the World Bank).
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow big are the armed forces of Niger?
Armed forces personnel numbered 10,000 in 2020.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow good are Niger's official statistics?
The World Bank's Statistical Performance Indicator, which scores how well a country's official statistics system works, was 70.5 out of 100 in 2024, 90th highest of 187.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many people in Niger use the internet?
15.6% of people used the internet in 2024.
Source: World Bank · saved copyOfficial bodies that hold power in Niger
Government
- Government of Niger portalCouncil of Ministers communiqués, government decisions and ministry news.
- Presidency of the RepublicPresidential decrees, speeches and official announcements.
Access to information
- High Authority for the Protection of Personal Data (HAPDP)Data protection decisions, declarations of personal data processing and guidance on personal data rights.
Public contracts
- Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP)Procurement regulation, tender notices, complaint decisions and lists of excluded companies.
Government below the national level
- Regions (8; 7 are also regional authorities, plus the city of Niamey): Governor appointed by central government; regional councils were elected in 2020 but dissolved in April 2024
- Departments (63): Prefect appointed by central government
- Communes (about 255: 214 rural, 37 urban, 4 cities with special status): Municipal councils were elected (last in 2020) and chose the mayor; since April 2024 run by appointed administrators
How local power works in Niger
Places in Niger
Sources
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.