In a report published last February, the Pan-African Coalition for Transformation (PACT) revealed that 47% of Niger’s population falls within the 15–64 age group, representing a significant potential workforce.
These figures highlight the major demographic opportunity available to the country.
With an estimated 27.9 million inhabitants according to the United Nations, this means nearly 13 million people are of working age, all capable of joining or supporting the economy.
Although this proportion is slightly lower than the African average, the absolute value remains very high, and hundreds of thousands of young people enter the labor market each year.
According to the Niger Labour Market Profile 2025, published by the Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA), many workers rely on precarious jobs in subsistence agriculture or small informal activities. Even those who are employed are often underemployed, working in low-productivity or poorly paid positions, far below their actual potential.
This gap between Niger’s demographic potential and the actual contribution to economic growth illustrates the need for investment in vocational training and the development of a private sector capable of providing formal employment, reports Ecofin Agency.
