If you lived in Niger instead of Burkina Faso, you would:

Health

be 12.0% less likely to be obese

In Burkina Faso, 7.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Niger, that number is 6.8% of people as of 2024.

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be 47.3% less likely to die by suicide

Burkina Faso has a suicide rate of 8.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Niger, it is 4.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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see 65.8% less spent on your healthcare

Burkina Faso spends $224 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Niger spends $76 as of 2023.

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have 74.3% fewer doctors per person

Burkina Faso has 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Niger has 0.4 as of 2023.

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have 12.5% less access to essential health services

Burkina Faso scores 40 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Niger scores 35 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 88.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Burkina Faso, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Niger, that number is 0.4% as of 2025.

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make 32.4% less money

Burkina Faso has a GDP per capita of $1,148 as of 2025, while in Niger, the GDP per capita is $775 as of 2025.

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Life

have 32.2% more children

In Burkina Faso, there are approximately 31.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Niger, there are 41.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 44.6% more likely to die during childbirth

In Burkina Faso, approximately 242.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Niger, 350.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 14.3% less likely to be literate

In Burkina Faso, the literacy rate is 41.6% as of 2023. In Niger, it is 35.6% as of 2022.

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be 50.5% more likely to die during infancy

In Burkina Faso, approximately 43.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Niger, on the other hand, 65.6 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 44.9% less likely to have internet access

In Burkina Faso, approximately 28.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Niger, about 15.6% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 23.6% less on education

Burkina Faso spends 5.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Niger spends 4.1% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 48.1% less on healthcare

Burkina Faso spends 7.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Niger, that number is 4.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 10.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Burkina Faso, road accidents kill 27.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Niger, they kill 24.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 87.1% less home broadband

Burkina Faso has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Niger has 0.1 as of 2024.

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live with 40.9% more strain on fresh water

Burkina Faso withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Niger withdraws 11% as of 2022.

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use 49.2% less electricity

Burkina Faso uses 133 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Niger uses 68 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 55.6% less CO2

Burkina Faso emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Niger emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 10.7% more likely to die from air pollution

In Burkina Faso, air pollution causes 84.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Niger, it causes 93.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Niger: At a glance

Niger is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 1,266,700 sq km. Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999, BARE was killed in a counter coup by military officers who restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and in 2009 spearheaded a constitutional amendment that would allow him to extend his term as president. In February 2010, a military coup deposed TANDJA, immediately suspended the constitution, and dissolved the Cabinet. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou emerged victorious from a crowded field in the election following the coup and was inaugurated in April 2011. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Movement for Justice, a predominantly ethnic Tuareg rebel group, emerged in February 2007, and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Successful government offensives in 2009 ended the rebellion. Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.
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