Updated
Overview
Niger has 33% more people than Chad: 27.92 million against 21.00 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $21.65B for Niger and $21.47B for Chad.
Per person, Chad is the wealthier of the two: $1,022 against $775 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Niger | Chad | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $21.65B | $21.47B | 2025 | $19.54B / $20.63B |
| GDP per capita | $775 | Higher: $1,022 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.0% | 5.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -4.5% | -3.9% | 2025 | 9.1% / 8.9% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.4% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 36 | 35 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $120 | Higher: $206 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $69 | Higher: $99 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 27.92 million | 21.00 million | 2025 | 27.32 million / 19.67 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.6 yrs | 15.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.79 | 5.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 61.4 yrs | 55.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 18% | 28% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 16% | 13% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,267,000 km² | 1,284,000 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 22.0/km² | 16.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3.17 Mt | Lower: 2.83 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $435.88M | $557.71M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.2% | 3.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 10,000 | 45,000 | 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 5.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: -4.5% in Niger and -3.9% in Chad.
Average monthly earnings favour Chad: $206 against $120 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 15.6 (Niger) and 15.8 (Chad).
Life expectancy is 6.2 years longer in Niger (61.4 vs 55.2).
Geography
By land area, Niger is almost exactly the same size as Chad: 1,267,000 km² versus 1,284,000 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Chad spends 28% more on defence than Niger: $557.71M versus $435.88M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Chad fields the larger armed forces: 45,000 personnel against 10,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Niger bigger than Chad?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Niger covers 1,267,000 km² while Chad covers 1,284,000 km², a difference of under 1%.
- Which has more people, Niger or Chad?
- Niger has the larger population: 27.92 million versus 21.00 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Niger richer than Chad?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Chad is richer: $1,022 against $775. Total GDP tells a different story: $21.65B for Niger versus $21.47B for Chad.
- Who spends more on their military, Niger or Chad?
- Chad spends more: $557.71M versus $435.88M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).