The World Bank has projected that Niger will be Africa’s fastest-growing economy in 2025, with an estimated GDP growth rate of 14.4%, the highest in the country’s history. This marks a sharp rise compared to the previous record of 8.9% achieved in 2024.
Key Drivers of Growth
The surge is being driven by three major factors:
• Mining revenues – boosted after the state took control of major operations, allowing profits to reflect international price standards.
• Oil production – which has quadrupled in just over two years.
• Agricultural expansion – with large-scale development projects strengthening food and export capacity.
By contrast, from 1961 to 2024 Niger’s annual GDP growth averaged just 3.8%, with historic lows such as -17% in 1973, according to regional banking data.
Regional Context
Senegal ranks second on the World Bank’s 2025 list, with 12.1% growth under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who has also pursued policies emphasizing sovereignty and reduced foreign influence.
At the other end, Sudan and South Sudan remain the continent’s most troubled economies due to ongoing civil conflicts.
Shifting Political Landscape
Niger’s economic rise comes amid a broader anti-imperialist shift in the Sahel. Since July 2023, when General Abdourahamane “Omar” Tchiani seized power, the country has distanced itself from France and Western partners, instead pursuing policies framed as “real independence” from neocolonial structures.
Together with Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger has redefined its alliances, relying more on regional cooperation and asserting greater control over natural resources.