Niger Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 122nd
MPR SCORE: 245
MPR Index: 0.0673 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8839 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.540 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Niger ranks 122nd globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. The Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armées Nigériennes – FAN) are at the frontline of the Sahel’s security crisis, engaged in active combat against Boko Haram, ISIS-Greater Sahara (ISGS), and other jihadist groups operating across the Lake Chad Basin and the tri-border zone with Mali and Burkina Faso. Despite limited resources, Niger’s military plays a critical role in regional counterterrorism, supported by an array of foreign military partnerships, including assistance from the United States, France, Germany, and the now-fragmented G5 Sahel alliance.

The defense doctrine emphasizes territorial protection, rapid reaction, and foreign force coordination, reflecting Niger’s precarious geography, porous borders, and internal displacement crises. The military consists of ground, air, and paramilitary elements, but remains heavily reliant on external training, logistics, and aerial surveillance. Niger’s recent military coup in 2023 disrupted some international partnerships, yet operational engagement against insurgents remains ongoing under domestic command realignment.

Strengths

1. Extensive Combat Experience Against Jihadist Forces

Nigerien troops are engaged daily in combat operations against Boko Haram, ISGS, and other extremist groups, giving them real-world experience in desert combat, ambush response, and mobile operations in austere environments.

2. Strong Multinational Partnerships and Base Hosting

Niger hosts U.S. drone bases, French forward operations, and European training missions, enhancing its access to ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), tactical air support, and joint command coordination.

3. Geographic Centrality in Sahel Security Efforts

As a land bridge between the Maghreb and coastal West Africa, Niger serves as a strategic hub for trans-Sahel operations, allowing it to lead or facilitate cross-border anti-terror initiatives alongside regional actors.

Why Niger Is Still Ranked 122nd

1. Severely Limited Equipment and Airpower

The military operates with light vehicles, basic infantry arms, and only a handful of utility aircraft. It lacks combat aircraft, modern armor, and independent drone operations, relying heavily on external surveillance and strike capabilities.

2. Political Instability and Institutional Fragmentation

The 2023 military coup undermined civilian control, suspended some foreign cooperation, and created uncertainty in command structure, threatening both reform momentum and long-term force stability.

3. Overstretched Forces and Inadequate Logistics

Facing insurgencies on multiple fronts, Niger’s forces are logistically strained, with poor access to maintenance infrastructure, spare parts, and rapid reinforcement, particularly in remote desert regions.

Conclusion

Niger’s armed forces are a highly engaged, tactically experienced military, operating under severe resource constraints in one of the most volatile regions in the world. Though it lacks conventional strength, strategic autonomy, and modern weapon systems, its significance lies in its combat tempo, geopolitical relevance, and central role in regional security coalitions. Niger’s low global ranking reflects its material limitations, but not its operational importance as a core combat force in the Sahel crisis.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Active Military Personnel: 12,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 5,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 10,000 (Gendarmerie and National Guard)
Army Personnel: 9,000
Navy Personnel: None (landlocked)
Air Force Personnel: 3,000

Ground Forces

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): None
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 150+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 40+

Air Force

Combat Aircraft: 6+
Helicopters: 12+
Transport Aircraft: 5+

Aircraft Breakdown:

Mi-24 Helicopters: 6 (attack and utility)
MiG-21 Fighter Jets: 2 (Soviet-era)

Naval Forces

As a landlocked country, Niger does not maintain a navy.

Missile Capabilities

Niger does not possess advanced missile systems or nuclear capabilities. Its military is focused on combating terrorism and insurgency in the Sahel region, with limited conventional force projection.

Strategic Partnerships

Niger receives substantial military aid and training from international partners, particularly from France and the United States, both of which have military bases in the country to support regional counterterrorism operations. The country is part of the G5 Sahel, a regional military coalition aimed at combating extremist groups in the Sahel region.

Military History & Combat Experience

Niger’s military history centers on counterinsurgency, terrorism response, and regional stabilization, with a focus on irregular warfare and multinational cooperation rather than conventional state-on-state conflict.

Tuareg Rebellions (1990–1995; 2007–2009):
The Nigerien military was engaged in prolonged ethnic uprisings by Tuareg separatist groups in the north. These insurgencies emphasized the need for desert mobility, community intelligence, and reconciliation mechanisms, which still shape Niger’s doctrine.
Boko Haram Insurgency (2015–present):
Boko Haram and ISWAP factions entered southeastern Niger via Diffa Region, attacking villages and military outposts. The FAN has conducted joint operations with Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon, emphasizing border patrol, counter-IED, and civilian protection missions.
ISGS and Tri-Border Conflict (2017–present):
Western Niger has faced increasing attacks from ISGS militants, particularly near Tillabéri, Tahoua, and Ouallam. Fan units engage in direct combat, area denial, and search-and-clear missions, often with French aerial support or U.S. ISR coordination.
Foreign Base Operations and Joint Missions:
Niger has hosted U.S. bases (Agadez and Niamey) for drone surveillance and special operations support, as well as Operation Barkhane from France. These facilities have served as launch points for regional counterterror strikes and training missions.
2023 Coup and Military Realignment:
The ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum by the military leadership disrupted some partnerships (notably with France), though counterterror operations have continued under a new transitional command. The coup further highlights the military’s political centrality and control over state stability.

Niger’s military legacy is one of continuous asymmetric warfare, strategic relevance, and external partnership dependency, with a growing need for institutional reform and indigenous capacity building to maintain momentum in counterinsurgency efforts.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

Population: ~27.8 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~9.5 million
Geographic Area: 1,267,000 km²
Land Boundaries: 5,697 km
Bordering Countries: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, Nigeria
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Climate: Desert; hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: Mostly desert plains and sand dunes; hills in north
Natural Resources: Uranium, coal, gold, oil, iron ore
Proven Oil Reserves: ~1 billion barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~25 billion cubic feet

Economic Indicators

Defense Budget (2025): ~$800 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~5.0%
GDP (PPP): ~$30 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$1,100
External Debt: ~$3.9 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Sharp increase due to insurgencies and foreign troop presence

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Counterterrorism, border security
Military Industry Base: Minimal; reliant on imports
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Very limited
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided into sectors under Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN)
Missile Inventory Highlights: Mortars, MANPADS, short-range systems
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; 30–45 days
Reservist Force Size: ~35,000

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: National Intelligence and Surveillance Directorate
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: France (until 2023), Algeria, Russia (emerging)
Airports (Total): ~30
Major Military Airports: Niamey, Agadez

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

Merchant Marine Fleet: None
Major Ports: None
Naval Infrastructure: Not applicable
Naval Replenishment Capability: Not applicable

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

Railway Network: ~150 km (partially operational)
Roadways: ~19,000 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

Oil Production: ~20,000 barrels/day
Energy Imports: Supplemented by Chinese-run Agadem field
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Limited national capacity

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

Domestic Defense Production: Minimal; light arms assembly
Military Installations (Domestic): Niamey, Agadez, Diffa
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: U.S. (withdrawal 2024), Russian training mission (2024)
Defense Alliances: AU, G5 Sahel (suspended), Russia (emerging)
Strategic Airlift Capability: C-130, small transports
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Low

Research and Industry Support