Niger Armed Forces Budget: ~$1.3 Billion (2022–23 IISS Estimate)

Per the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Military Balance 2023, Niger's defense budget for fiscal year 2022–2023 is estimated at $1.3 billion USD.

Context

• GDP share: ~10–12% (exceptionally high for a low-income country).
• Drivers: Insurgencies (IS-Sahel, JNIM, Boko Haram), border security (Libya, Nigeria, Mali, Chad), 2023 coup aftermath, foreign partner expectations (US, France, EU).
• Force size: ~25,000–30,000 active (army, air force, gendarmerie, national guard).
• Equipment: Mostly Soviet-era + recent Chinese/Turkish/US donations (C-295, Bayraktar TB2, armored vehicles).

Caveats

• IISS estimates use market exchange rates; PPP would show higher real spending.
• Off-budget funding (foreign aid, covert ops) not captured.
• Post-coup (July 2023) data uncertain—aid suspensions (US, EU) may reduce actual expenditure.

Source: IISS Military Balance (annual). For official figures: Niger Ministry of Defense / Finance Ministry budget documents (rarely public).