• People aged 15–64 represent 47 % of Niger’s population

• Labor market remains dominated by informal and low-productivity jobs

• Report urges investment in skills and private sector growth

A report published in February by the Pan-African Coalition for Transformation (PACT) shows that 47 % of Niger’s population falls within the 15–64 age group, representing significant potential for the labor market. This proportion highlights a major demographic opportunity while underscoring the challenges related to employment, training, and professional integration.

With about 27.9 million inhabitants according to United Nations estimates, this share corresponds to nearly 13 million people of working age, all of whom could enter or support the economy. Although this proportion is slightly below the African average, the absolute number remains very high, and hundreds of thousands of young people join the labor market each year.

Niger’s economy remains largely informal. The Niger 2025 Labour Market Profile, published by the Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA), indicates that many workers depend on precarious jobs in subsistence agriculture or small informal activities. Even those who are employed are often underemployed and work in low-productivity or low-paid positions, well below their potential.

This gap between demographic potential and actual contribution to economic growth shows the need to invest in vocational training and the development of a private sector capable of offering formal jobs. Without these efforts, a large share of the workforce will remain underused, limiting the country’s economic development.