The 2025 Charter de la Refondation nationale lists Arabic, Buduma, Fulfuldé, Gourmancema, Hausa, Kanuri, Tagdal, Tamajaq, Tassawaq, Tubu and Zarma-Sonrai as spoken languages in Niger. It recognizes Hausa as the national language and identifies English and French as working languages. Older constitutional and presidential material still describes French as the official language. In 2026, the Charter is the current transitional framework, but institutions may still use older terminology and practices while implementation develops. Language priorities depend on the purpose and region. Hausa has broad everyday and intercommunal use. Zarma-Sonrai, Fulfuldé, Kanuri, Tamajaq, Arabic, Buduma, Gourmancema, Tagdal, Tassawaq and Tubu can be more relevant for local or regional communication. French remains central to established education, administration and Francophone mobility. English is gaining value for international and professional contacts. Arabic and other languages may also be needed for religious, institutional or cross-border purposes. Children may benefit from a bilingual learning pathway that begins with a familiar local language for reading, writing and mathematics and then moves towards French as an established teaching language. The ELAN Niger reform has targeted 5,000 bilingual schools using Fulfuldé, Kanuri, Songhay-Zarma, Tamajaq and Hausa. That target does not show that all those schools or materials are already available. Teacher preparation, teaching materials and assessment remain necessary, and older curriculum sources still describe French as the central teaching, working and communication language. Security conditions, distance and limited resources can interrupt access, so community-based and alternative learning arrangements may be needed. Reported education figures indicate that more than half of children aged 7 to 16 are outside school and fewer than 8% reach adequate reading, writing and mathematics skills at the end of primary education, which increases the value of accessible local-language learning. Adult and non-formal programmes can combine reading and writing with numeracy, health information, life skills and income-related knowledge. DGAENF and DPAFA are national bodies connected with adult and non-formal education and literacy programming, including community programmes that particularly reach women. Documented programme languages include French, Hausa, Zarma-Songhaï, Fulfuldé, Kanuri and Tamajeq. Access may be organised through learning centres or communities and may receive state or partner support, with some activities partly self-financed. There is no reliable nationwide fee or deadline list. Agricultural seasons, local security and the availability of teachers and materials can affect timing. National education and language-promotion bodies, including MEN/A/EP/PLN and ENI, support institutional promotion and teacher preparation, but practical reach differs by region and institution. Local languages have normative recognition as learning subjects, while standardisation and teaching materials remain unequal. Niger has no established individual duty to learn a particular language that applies generally across the country. Courses and certificates are available unevenly. CCFN Jean Rouch in Niamey and Zinder has documented French teaching and historical courses in Hausa and Djerma. A published 2023 French programme listed 60 hours taught five times per week for two hours, with a fee of 70,000 CFA francs for residents, 100,000 CFA francs for other participants and a 2,000 CFA franc placement test. Those figures and dates are historical and require confirmation before enrolment. There is no reliable evidence of a broad, standardised private course network covering all 11 national languages. The Baccalauréat is Niger's secondary-school leaving examination. In the 2026 série A, French is included and English, Arabic, Spanish and German are available as language options. DELF and DALF provide external French certificates through approved centres, while TCF is a French-language test; fees and dates depend on the centre and examination session. DELF and DALF diplomas remain valid for life. No reliable evidence confirms a single nationwide proficiency certificate for all 11 national languages or a common CEFR equivalence for them. Digital access remains fragmented. The historical ABC/Mobiles 4 Literacy programme used Hausa or Zarma in 113 villages in Dosso and Zinder, with eight months of teaching spread across two years, five three-hour sessions per week, SMS practice and information related to work and prices. Connect My School was documented as a pilot in 10 schools across five regions using tablets for French, reading, writing and mathematics. These examples do not establish a current national language-learning platform. Devices, electricity, mobile coverage, internet access and data costs can all limit participation.
Languages in Niger
Language learning in Niger covers national, foreign and heritage languages maintained through family or community ties for school, everyday communication, work, and basic reading and writing. The 2025 Charter de la Refondation nationale names 11 spoken languages, recognizes Hausa as the national language, and lists English and French as working languages; older official material still describes French as the official language, so the transition remains institutionally uneven. Hausa and regional languages often serve everyday and early-learning needs, French remains central to established education and administration, and English has growing international and professional value.
Tip
Choose a learning language by the situation in which you will use it, not by its legal label alone. Hausa or a relevant regional language can support daily communication, French fits established education and administration, and English can serve international or professional contacts. Confirm the current provider, language, schedule, materials and cost locally before relying on a course, school or digital offer.