Western Africa · UN member
Niger: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Niger
Niger is a country in Western Africa with its capital in Niamey. It has a population of 27.9 million (#54 in the world) and covers 1,267,000 km². The official language is French. The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF, Fr).
Where is Niger? Map of Niger
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria.
- Region
- Western Africa
- Coordinates
- 16° N, 8° E
- Neighbours
- 7 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Niger
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Niger showing Niamey (capital) and the largest cities: Maradi, Zinder, Tahoua, Agadez, Arlit, Birni N Konni, Dosso and Gaya.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Niger
- Passport
The UK government tells British nationals their passport should be valid for the proposed duration of their stay, and that no additional period of validity is needed.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 19 need no visa, 179 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Niger entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office says medical facilities are poor, even in Niamey, that serious medical treatment would require evacuation to Europe, and advises adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds.
- Vaccinations
WHO's country list marks Niger as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months and over arriving from any country.
- Travel advice
Avoid travel — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Niger
- Safety: Governments advise against travel to Niger: the US State Department rates Niger Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country.
- Best time to go: December to January — when daytime highs in Niamey are around 31–32°C.
- Money: the West African CFA franc (XOF) — 1 US dollar is about 584.5354 XOF.
- Plugs: type A, B, C, D, E and F, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 17, Ambulance 15, Fire 18.
- Language: French is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Niamey.
- Capital: Niamey. About 27.9 million people live in Niger.
- Niger is the 22nd largest country in the world by area.
Key facts
Niger at a glance
Languages spoken: Hausa, Zarma, French (official), Fufulde, Tamashek, Kanuri, Gurmancema, Tagdal
Geography & history
About Niger
Nomadic peoples from the Saharan north and agriculturalists from the south settled present-day Niger. The Taureg kingdom of Takedda was one of the largest kingdoms in the north and played a prominent role in regional trade in the 14th century. In the south, the primary ethnic groups were the Songhai-Zarma in the west, the Hausa in the center, and the Kanuri in the east. When European colonizers arrived in the 19th century, the region was an assemblage of disparate local kingdoms. In the late 19th century, the British and French agreed to partition the middle regions of the Niger River, and France began its conquest of what would become the colony of Niger. France experienced determined loca…
Read the full history
Nomadic peoples from the Saharan north and agriculturalists from the south settled present-day Niger. The Taureg kingdom of Takedda was one of the largest kingdoms in the north and played a prominent role in regional trade in the 14th century. In the south, the primary ethnic groups were the Songhai-Zarma in the west, the Hausa in the center, and the Kanuri in the east. When European colonizers arrived in the 19th century, the region was an assemblage of disparate local kingdoms. In the late 19th century, the British and French agreed to partition the middle regions of the Niger River, and France began its conquest of what would become the colony of Niger. France experienced determined local resistance -- particularly during the Tuareg uprising (1916-1917) -- but established a colonial administration in 1922. After achieving independence from France in 1960, Niger experienced single-party or military rule until 1991, when political pressure forced General Ali SAIBOU to allow multiparty elections. Political infighting and democratic backsliding led to coups in 1996 and 1999. In 1999, military officers restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and spearheaded a 2009 constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his presidential term. In 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed TANDJA. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected in 2011 and reelected in 2016. In 2021, BAZOUM Mohamed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one democratically elected president to another. Nonetheless, a military junta led by General Abdourahamane TIANI once again seized power in July 2023, detaining President BAZOUM and announcing the creation of a National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP). Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. It is ranked fourth to last in the world on the UN Development Program's Human Development Index of 2023/2024. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Government continues its attempts to diversify the economy through increased oil production and mining projects. In addition, Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict and terrorism in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.
Location
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Climate
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Highest point
Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m
Natural resources
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Natural hazards
recurring droughts
National symbols
zebu
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Niger
The default speed limits in Niger are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h outside built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 9090 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Seat beltsNo national seat-belt law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)24.9 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Niger safe to visit?
Governments advise against travel to Niger: the US State Department rates Niger Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information about attacks near the Presidential Palace and Niamey’s Diori International Airport ('Safety and security' page.)
Updated 23 Oct 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Niger
The best time to visit Niger is December to January, when daytime highs in Niamey are around 31–32°C. February and November are also a good time to go. April is the warmest month (41°C by day), January the coldest (15°C at night), and August the wettest with about 190 mm of rain.
- Jan31°C15°C
- Feb35°C18°C
- Mar39°C22°C
- Apr41°C27°C
- May40°C28°C
- Jun37°C27°C
- Jul34°C25°C
- Aug31°C24°C
- Sep33°C23°C
- Oct36°C23°C
- Nov35°C19°C
- Dec32°C16°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Niger
Plugs & sockets
- Type Atwo flat parallel pins
- Type Btwo flat parallel pins and a round earth pin
- Type C (Europlug)two round pins
- Type Dthree large round pins in a triangle
- Type Etwo round pins and a hole for the socket's earth pin
- Type F (Schuko)two round pins with earth clips on the sides
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
2 national parks in Niger
- 2,200 km² protected
- oldest from 1937
Largest: W National Park of Niger · Ferme Youyou
Currency · 26 October 2026
West African CFA franc exchange rates today
Niger uses the West African CFA franc (XOF, Fr). One US dollar buys 584.5354 XOF; over the last 30 days the XOF has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in XOF
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Niger ranks
How Niger compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Niger
26 airports and airfields — 1 large, 5 medium and 20 small, plus 0 heliports. 2 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Niger borders 7 countries along 5,834 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
Military
Nigerien armed forces
Niger ranks #119 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $489 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Niamey (1.4 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Export partners
UAE 31%, France 23%, China 18%, India 6%, Sweden 5% (2023)
Top exports
gold, oil seeds, uranium and thorium ore, radioactive chemicals, refined petroleum (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Niger
Next public holiday
Nigerien Republic Day — Friday, 18 December 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Nigerien passport
Ranked #143: 30 countries visa-free, 22 with visa on arrival, 2 with an eTA and 43 with an eVisa.
Nigerien passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Niger's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Niger
Dial +227 before the local number. Internet domain .ne.
Climate footprint
3.2 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.12 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Niger: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Niger
Chad Still Not Issuing Tourist Visas to US Citizens in 2026
Chad's president ordered a suspension of visas for US citizens in June 2025, and the country is not routinely issuing them. Niger, Mali and Burkina F…
Algeria Sends Fighter Jets to Niger in First Overseas Deployment Since 1973
Algeria has sent fighter jets, a refuelling aircraft, helicopters and crews to Niger's Air Base 101 in Niamey, next to the international airport, its…
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger keep visa-free ECOWAS travel after Dakar talks
ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) held their first formal ministerial dialogue since their split and agreed to set up joint working group…
Frequently asked questions about Niger
What do I need to travel to Niger?
How long must my passport be valid for Niger?
Where is Niger?
What is Niger known for?
What is the capital of Niger?
What language is spoken in Niger?
What currency does Niger use?
What is the calling code of Niger?
Which countries border Niger?
How strong is the Nigerien passport?
What is the speed limit in Niger?
Is Niger safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Niger?
What plug type does Niger use?
How many airports does Niger have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.