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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
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This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005


Map of Niger



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Niger Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did Niger hold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended a five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999 were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council that effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999. 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.
   Geography    Niger Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 3.54%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 96.45% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
660 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world: northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
   People    Niger Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11,665,937 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 47.3% (male 2,811,539/female 2,704,498)
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 2,890,119/female 3,009,281)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 130,953/female 119,547) (2005 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 16.25 years
male: 15.8 years
female: 16.72 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.63% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
48.3 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 121.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 125.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 117.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 43.5 years
male: 43.54 years
female: 43.45 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
70,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,800 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French expatriates
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 17.6%
male: 25.8%
female: 9.7% (2003 est.)
   Government    Niger Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Niamey
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (commune urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
new constitution adopted 18 July 1999
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) was appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 27-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; second round last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: TANDJA Mamadou reelected president; percent of vote - TANDJA Mamadou 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; note - expanded from 83 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNSD 47, CDS 22, PNDS 17, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger 1, other 8
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ANDP [leader NA]; Democratic Rally of the People-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [TANDJA Mamadou, chairman]; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]; Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger [leader NA]; Rally for Social Democracy or RSD [Cheiffou AMADOU]; Union of Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua or UPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre' SALIFOU, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
FAX: [1] (202)483-3169
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise Thomas MATHIEU
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64
FAX: [227] 73 31 67, 72-31-46
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
   Economy    Niger Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, a landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a 3.3% population growth rate, and the drop in world demand for uranium have undercut the economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger's annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. Nearly half of the government's budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$9.716 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
70,000 receive regular wages or salaries (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
50.5 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3% (2002 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $320 million - including $134 million from foreign sources
expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $178 million (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
266.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
327.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
80 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$280 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 41%, Nigeria 22.4%, Japan 15.3%, Switzerland 6%, Spain 4.1%, Ghana 4% (2004)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$400 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 14.4%, US 10.3%, French Polynesia 9.4%, Nigeria 7.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.5%, Japan 5.2%, China 5.1%, Thailand 4.1% (2004)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.6 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$341 million (1997)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Niger Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger
domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ne
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
134 (2003)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15,000 (2002)
   Transportation    Niger Top of Page
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
300 km
note: Niger River is navigable to Gaya between September and March (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
   Military    Niger Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Niger Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, National Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 2,135,680 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 1,180,027 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 126,719 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$33.3 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.1% (2004)
   Transnational Issues    Niger Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005


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