Niger

Africa
Capital:
Niamey
Currency:
West African CFA franc (XOF)
Risk:
Very High
Language
French (official); Hausa; Zarma-Songhai; Tamasheq; Fulfulde; Kanuri
Malaria risk
High
Tap water
⚠️ Not Safe
Healthcare
Very Poor — extremely limited even in Niamey
Kit recommendation
Expedition Clinical Leader Kit
📋

Health Overview

CRITICAL: Niger Level 4 with FIVE risk indicators including Health. Non-emergency US staff departed Jan 30 2026. US citizen kidnapped from own home in Niamey Oct 2025 — capital is active kidnapping target. Airport may confiscate US passports. Five jihadi groups (JNIM; ISGS; al-Qaida; Boko Haram; ISIS-WA) all active. Niger is part of an active and worsening multi-country diphtheria emergency, with 34 of 72 districts affected and diphtheria antitoxin in global shortage. ECOWAS withdrawal Jan 29 2025.
⚕

Key Health Risks

Very High
Terrorism and Kidnapping
FIVE jihadi groups. US citizen kidnapped from home in Niamey Oct 2025. Multiple foreigner abductions 2025 (Westerners; Chinese; Indian nationals). US personnel: armored vehicles; curfew; cannot visit open-air markets.
Very High
Healthcare System
Health is an explicit Level 4 risk indicator — unprecedented severity. 'Medical services extremely limited; adequate trauma/ambulance not widely available; access to medicines restricted; even minor issue may require medevac.' Outside Niamey: no healthcare.
Moderate-High
Meningococcal Meningitis
Core meningitis belt. Epidemic Dec-June. N. meningitidis A/C/W/X. MenACWY + MenB essential.
⛑️

Health Risk Callout

Five risk indicators simultaneously — Health indicator being active at Level 4 means basic care to keep a patient alive while awaiting medevac may not be available. Diphtheria outbreak is reminder vaccine-preventable diseases emerge rapidly in disrupted settings. Be sure to consult your Dr. prior to travel to discuss
🏥

Other Health Risks

Diphtheria (active multi-country outbreak — see the CDC advisory field; 34 of 72 districts affected; ensure Tdap is current within 10 years); Cholera; Typhoid; Schistosomiasis; HIV/AIDS; severe food insecurity (roughly 3 million people are projected to need humanitarian assistance in 2026, of whom about 847,000 need health assistance, and the country hosted over 984,000 forcibly displaced people at the end of 2025 — a context that both drives transmission and limits the care available); Harmattan dust; extreme heat
🗺

Regional Information

Regional Risk Callout
Uniformly severe. Tillabéri (tri-border): most active JNIM/ISGS. Diffa/Lake Chad: Boko Haram/ISIS-WA. Agadez (north): kidnapping/ISGS. Niger-Benin oil pipeline: new kidnapping incidents 2025. Even Niamey: US personnel in armored vehicles; mandatory curfew; cannot visit open-air markets.
Regional Healthcare Callout
Outside Niamey: no healthcare. No ambulances. SAMU (dial 15) under-resourced in Niamey. Foreigners outside Niamey require military/police escort (private citizens pay).
💉

Vaccine and Malaria Prevention

💉 Entry Vaccine Required
YF required from endemic countries; CDC recommends all ≥9 months. Visa required. Airport may confiscate US passports on entry. Currency >USD 10000 must be declared.
🛡️ Recommended Vaccines
YF; MenACWY+B (core meningitis belt); Tdap (CRITICAL — Niger is part of an active multi-country diphtheria outbreak affecting 34 of 72 districts; confirm a diphtheria-containing booster within 10 years); Typhoid; Hep A; Hep B; Rabies PrEP; Polio booster (CDC Level 2); Malaria prophylaxis; routine (MMR)
🦟 Malaria Information
  • Risk Level: High
  • Areas: Country-wide; all regions; year-round
  • Recommended Drug: Atovaquone-proguanil; Doxycycline; Mefloquine; Tafenoquine
  • Drug Resistance: Yes

P. falciparum hyperendemic; chloroquine-resistant. Malaria cited in Health risk indicator. Healthcare outside Niamey essentially absent. Carry standby Coartem.

High
👨

Physician Note

R
Dr. Robert
Emergency Medicine · 25+ Years · 40+ Countries

Niger carries five risk indicators simultaneously, including Health — which at Level 4 means the basic care needed to keep a patient alive while awaiting medevac may not be available. A US citizen was kidnapped from their own home in Niamey in October 2025, so the capital is no longer a safe haven, and reports of passport confiscation at the airport are alarming for anyone planning an exit.

The diphtheria situation is a reminder of how fast vaccine-preventable disease returns when health systems are disrupted. Niger is one of eight countries in a West and Central African outbreak that has passed 29,000 suspected cases and 1,420 deaths since the start of 2025, with a case fatality ratio around 5-6% and 34 of Niger's 72 districts affected. Two things make that worse than the numbers look: laboratory confirmation is limited by diagnostic shortages, and diphtheria antitoxin is in global short supply, so severe disease may not be treatable where it occurs. Confirming a Tdap booster is the single highest-value preparation. For legitimate humanitarian travelers, comprehensive preparation is what separates a manageable trip from a catastrophe. Be sure to consult your Dr. prior to travel to discuss.

✅

Pre-Departure Checklist

8+ Weeks

  • DO NOT TRAVEL
  • Be sure to consult your Dr. prior to travel to discuss
  • CDC recommends Full vaccines (YF; MenACWY+B; Tdap — diphtheria outbreak; Typhoid; Hep A/B; Rabies PrEP; Polio booster)
  • Malaria prophylaxis + standby Coartem
  • K&R insurance
  • Medevac membership.

2-4 Weeks

  • STEP
  • Military escort arrangements
  • Passport confiscation plan
  • Will/POA.

Day Of

  • Police 17
  • SAMU 15
  • Embassy +(227) 99-49-90-66
  • Active check-in schedule.
✈️

Trip Type Guidance

Mission/humanitarian only: experienced workers through UN/ICRC/MSF with dedicated security. US Embassy itself has ordered non-emergency departure.

🗒️

Notes

Special Evacuation Notes
Non-emergency staff departed Jan 30 2026. Medevac from Niamey (NIM) to Dakar (~2.5 hours) or Accra (~2 hours). Airport may confiscate US passports — Embassy can issue emergency passport. Military escort required for travel outside Niamey.
Safety Notes
DO NOT TRAVEL. If operating: armored vehicles; mandatory curfew; military escort outside Niamey; airport passport confiscation plan; emergency departure options updated constantly. Diphtheria: ensure Tdap current.
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Good For
Mission
Quick Info
  • Capital
    Niamey
  • Language
    French (official); Hausa; Zarma-Songhai; Tamasheq; Fulfulde; Kanuri
  • Currency
    West African CFA franc (XOF)
  • State Dept Level
    4
  • Crime Risk
    High
  • Disaster Risk
    Moderate — extreme heat (Saharan/Sahelian); Harmattan dust; severe food insecurity
Water Safety
⛔️ Tap Water Not Safe to Drink
Tap water not potable. May not be available at all in some areas. Bottled water; avoid ice; avoid uncooked vegetables.
Top Hospital
Hôpital Général de Référence (HGR)
Niamey
Niger's most modern hospital — 500 beds; 14 operating theaters (2 emergency); cardiology; lab; blood bank; imaging; hemodialysis. Chinese-built 2016. WHO COVID award 2021. Supply chains disrupted since 2023 coup. Medevac to Dakar (~2.5 hours) or Accra (~2 hours). Global rescue imperative.
Emergency Numbers
17 (police (on a Nigerien phone)); 8383 (police (on a Nigerien phone)); +227-20-72-25-53 (police (from a cell phone)); 15 (emergency medical help (Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence or SAMU)); 18 (the fire department)
Emergency
15
Ambulance
US Embassy
+227-20-72-26-61 (main, U.S. Embassy Niamey); +(227) 99-49-90-66 (emergency after hours). Rue des Ambassades, BP 11201, Niamey, Niger Republic.
https://ne.usembassy.gov/
Resources
Primary Sources
Direct lines to the agencies that publish the world's most trusted travel-health guidance.
CDC Travelers' HealthState Dept Travel AdvisoryCDC Health NoticesCDC Yellow BookWHO Travel HealthSTEP Enrollment