This article provides a detailed comparison between Togo and Niger, two West African nations, focusing on various economic indicators, cost of living, and historical contexts.
Location of Togo and Niger in Africa
Economic Indicators
Comparisons of national wealth are frequently made on the basis of purchasing power parity (PPP) to adjust for differences in the cost of living in different countries. Gross domestic product (GDP) is the market value of all final goods and services from a nation in a given year. Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments.
Niger's GDP per capita is $723, ranking 187 out of 197 countries, compared to $1,043 in Togo, which ranks 174 out of 197.
Fiscal Performance
In 2024, Niger's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$834 million, equivalent to -4.27% of GDP. Over the past 30 years, Niger recorded a fiscal deficit in 28 of those years, while Togo ran a deficit in 27 years.
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Inflation Rates
Over the past 29 years, Niger has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.49%, compared with 2.79% in Togo.
Economic Freedom
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. The Economic Freedom Index for Niger is 51.5, ranking 151 out of 197, compared to 52.3 for Togo, ranking 147 out of 197.
Foreign Direct Investment
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows.
Gross Capital Formation
Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure.
Cost of Living Comparison
We calculate prices for Niger and Togo as a population-weighted mean of 3 and 6 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.
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Real Cost of Living in West Africa, Lome Togo (World's Cheapest Country)
Prices in Niger vs Togo
Here's a detailed breakdown of the cost of living in Niger compared to Togo:
| Item | Niger | Togo |
|---|---|---|
| Eating Out | ||
| Lunch Menu | $6.38 | $3.29 |
| Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2 | $36.3 | $28.8 |
| Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's | $9.34 | $5.35 |
| Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | $1.47 | $0.94 |
| Cappuccino | $3.01 | $4.51 |
| Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz | $1.49 | $3.4 |
| Rent & Utilities | ||
| 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | $812 | $293 |
| Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | $426 | $162 |
| 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | $804 | $591 |
| Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | $432 | $273 |
| Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc. | $145 | $78.6 |
| Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc. | $226 | $121 |
| Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited | $70.1 | $46 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years | 9.61% | 7.99% |
| Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | $1716 | $1266 |
| House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | $984 | $471 |
| Transportation | ||
| Local transport ticket | $0.35 | $0.35 |
| Monthly ticket local transport | $12.8 | $56.4 |
| Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi | $3.36 | $12 |
| Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal | $0.99 | $1.14 |
| Groceries | ||
| Milk, 1 L or 1 qt | $2.55 | $2.24 |
| Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb | $0.6 | $1.02 |
| Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.1 | $1.39 |
| Eggs, x12 | $2.68 | $2.03 |
| Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $14 | $12.5 |
| Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $7.14 | $9.68 |
| Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $7.9 | $7.54 |
| Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $3.74 | $2.58 |
| Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.47 | $1.47 |
| Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $2.94 | $4.45 |
| Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.87 | $1.98 |
| Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $1.41 | $2.37 |
| Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | $0.71 | $1.4 |
| Water, 1 L or 1 qt | $0.71 | $0.59 |
| Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz | $2.93 | $1.5 |
| Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle | $11.3 | $5.05 |
| Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | $1.36 | $1.28 |
| Cigarette pack | $2.39 | $1.5 |
| Other | ||
| Cold medicine, 1 week | $3.26 | $5.17 |
| Hair Shampoo | $3.94 | $4.22 |
| Toilet paper, 4 rolls | $2.34 | $1.65 |
| Toothpaste, 1 tube | $3.06 | $2.07 |
| Gym Membership, 1 month | $55.2 | $47.7 |
| Cinema Ticket, 1 person | $5.06 | $4.44 |
| Doctor's visit | $17.9 | $21.8 |
| Haircut, simple | $7.81 | $3.19 |
| Brand Jeans | $52.1 | $45.8 |
| Brand Sneakers | $52.8 | $50.6 |
| Daycare or Preschool, 1 month | $1051 | $92.4 |
| International Primary School, 1 year | $5434 | $3505 |
Historical and Political Context of Niger
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.
Read also: West African Nation
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