Updated
Overview
Niger has 16% more people than Burkina Faso: 27.92 million against 24.07 million (2025).
Burkina Faso's economy is 28% larger than Niger's, at $27.63B versus $21.65B.
Per person, Burkina Faso is the wealthier of the two: $1,148 against $775 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Niger | Burkina Faso | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $21.65B | Higher: $27.63B | 2025 | $19.54B / $23.25B |
| GDP per capita | $775 | Higher: $1,148 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.0% | 5.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -4.5% | -0.6% | 2025 | 9.1% / 4.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.4% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 36 | 37 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $120 | Higher: $212 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $69 | Higher: $74 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 27.92 million | 24.07 million | 2025 | 27.32 million / 23.49 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.6 yrs | 17.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.79 | 4.00 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 61.4 yrs | 61.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 18% | 29% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 16% | Higher: 28% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,267,000 km² | 272,967 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 22.0/km² | 88.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 3.17 Mt | 6.51 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $435.88M | $1.02B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.2% | 4.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 10,000 | 11,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Niger is growing faster: 7.0% annual GDP growth versus 5.3%.
Burkina Faso runs the hotter price environment: -0.6% inflation versus -4.5%.
Average monthly earnings favour Burkina Faso: $212 against $120 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Niger is the younger society: median age 15.6 versus 17.7 years.
Burkina Faso is considerably more urbanized: 29% of people live in cities, against 18%.
Internet adoption is higher in Burkina Faso (28% vs 16% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Niger is 4.6 times the size of Burkina Faso: 1,267,000 km² versus 272,967 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Burkina Faso is far more densely settled: 88 people per km² against 22.
Military
Burkina Faso spends 2.3 times as much on defence as Niger: $1.02B versus $435.88M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Burkina Faso carries the heavier military burden: 4.7% of GDP versus 2.2%.
Burkina Faso fields the larger armed forces: 11,000 personnel against 10,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Niger bigger than Burkina Faso?
- Niger is larger by land area. Niger covers 1,267,000 km² while Burkina Faso covers 272,967 km², so Niger is 4.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Niger or Burkina Faso?
- Niger has the larger population: 27.92 million versus 24.07 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Niger richer than Burkina Faso?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Burkina Faso is richer: $1,148 against $775. Total GDP tells the same story: $21.65B for Niger versus $27.63B for Burkina Faso.
- Who spends more on their military, Niger or Burkina Faso?
- Burkina Faso spends more: $1.02B versus $435.88M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).