country profile

Niger

Sub-Saharan AfricaLow income27.92M population

Last updated August 4, 2026

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Fragile/Conflict-Affected Country: This country is classified as experiencing conflict.

In fragile and conflict-affected settings, severe data gaps, rapid disruption, and uneven reporting can distort index values. These scores should be read as a limited signal, not a complete picture of conditions in the country.

Critically unprepared

Composite GEFRI Score

Systemwide critical constraints

Niger shows critically low readiness to meet the challenges and opportunities of education in a rapidly changing world (5th percentile worldwide). Core capabilities are weak across most dimensions, and essential systems face significant constraints.

24.54Composite score
Global percentile
5th
Global rank
#169
Regional rank
#38
Viewing data for
Critically unprepared
Infrastructure
21.65
3rd percentileGlobal avg. 70.44
Severely underprepared
Human Capital
31.06
5th percentileGlobal avg. 66.18
Critically unprepared
Innovation
25.02
6th percentileGlobal avg. 48.64
Severely underprepared
Governance
32.12
30th percentileGlobal avg. 47.07
Critically unprepared
Access & Parity
12.86
5th percentileGlobal avg. 60.85

Country profile

Niger faces substantial readiness constraints across core dimensions. Its weakest results are in Governance (32, 30th percentile), Human Capital (31, 5th percentile), Innovation (25, 6th percentile), GEFRI Composite (25, 5th percentile), Infrastructure (22, 3rd percentile) and School Access and Gender Parity (13, 5th percentile). These gaps continue to weigh on overall readiness.

Dimension scores cluster tightly, showing the system operates with balanced readiness. Limited electricity or internet coverage still constrains classrooms, preventing large-scale digital instruction. Literacy or tertiary enrollment gaps thin the talent pipeline and limit the country’s capacity to develop future-ready skills.

Sparse R&D investment and a small research workforce slow experimentation and delay new ideas from reaching learners. Policy execution and regulatory capacity remain weak, leaving reforms fragmented and hard to sustain. Gender parity leans toward boys in secondary pathways, signalling persistent barriers for girls.

Regionally, Infrastructure lags peers the most, signalling where investment could have the highest impact.

Some indicators are imputed, so the profile should be read with moderate caution.

Key insights

Falls below many peers at the 5th percentile.

Places 169th worldwide.

Holds a regional position of 38th within Sub-Saharan Africa.

Scores range from Governance (32.1) to Access & Parity (12.9), reflecting variation across dimensions.

Trails regional peers most clearly in Infrastructure.

Regional peers: Sub-Saharan Africa

Composite GEFRI Score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
611Mauritius69.13
672South Africa68.78
SeychellesMicrostate64.14
863Botswana63.01
974Namibia59.03
1005Ghana58.00
1156Eswatini49.17
1167Cabo Verde49.06
1238Rwanda44.81
1279Gambia, The43.01
12810Kenya42.93
12911Senegal42.87
13012Gabon42.59
13213Equatorial Guinea41.26
13314Cote d'Ivoire41.19
13915Zambia38.11
14016Lesotho37.98
Sao Tome and PrincipeFCSMicrostate37.69
14117Togo37.61
14418Benin36.56
14519Zimbabwe36.55
14620Tanzania35.55
14721CameroonFCS35.16
14922Mauritania34.17
15023Sierra Leone33.62
15124ComorosFCS33.36
15225Burkina FasoFCS32.56
15326Congo, Rep.FCS32.39
15427Uganda32.27
15528Angola32.18
15729NigeriaFCS31.67
15830MozambiqueFCS30.55
15931MalawiFCS30.35
16032EthiopiaFCS30.26
16133MaliFCS29.69
16234Madagascar29.63
16435Guinea28.36
16536Guinea-BissauFCS28.36
16837Liberia24.94
16938NigerFCS24.54
17039Burundi24.53
17140Congo, Dem. Rep.FCS24.39
17241SudanFCS23.03
17342EritreaFCS21.02
17443ChadFCS20.62
17544Central African RepublicFCS20.44
17645SomaliaFCS20.32
17746South SudanFCS18.91