2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.9% (male 2,994,022/female 2,882,273) 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,262,114/female 3,083,522) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 150,982/female 152,181) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

Airports

28 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 15

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Area

land

1,266,700 sq km

total

1.267 million sq km

water

300 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Background

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 coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. 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

Birth rate

50.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$320 million; including capital expenditures of $178 million (2002 est.)

revenues

$320 million - including $134 million from foreign sources

Capital

geographic coordinates

13 31 N, 2 07 E

name

Niamey

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

new constitution adopted 18 July 1999

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Niger

conventional short form

Niger

local long form

Republique du Niger

local short form

Niger

Currency (code)

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States (BCEAO)

Currency code

XOF

Death rate

20.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$2.1 billion (2003 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN

embassy

Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey

mailing address

B. P. 11201, Niamey

telephone

[227] 73 31 69

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Aminata Maiga Djibrilla TOURE

telephone

[1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227

Disputes - international

Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.5 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$453.3 million (2003)

Economy - overview

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. It is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, and a 2.9% population growth rate, 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. In December 2005, Niger received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the forgiveness of approximately $86 million USD in debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. 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. Uranium prices have increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigeriens.

Electricity - consumption

415.8 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

232 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Bagzane 2,022 m

lowest point

Niger River 200 m

Environment - current issues

overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction

Environment - international agreements

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

26-member Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); second round last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)

head of government

President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999); Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) was appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president

Exports

$222 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners

France 47.9%, Nigeria 21.4%, US 20.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202)483-3169

[227] 73 55 60

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Niger

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

39%

industry

17%

services

44% (2001)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.638 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.23 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

70,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.4% (1995)

lowest 10%

0.8%

Imports

$588 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners

France 14.5%, US 10.7%, French Polynesia 7.6%, Nigeria 7.5%, Italy 6.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.1%, Belgium 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, China 4.5% (2005)

Independence

3 August 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (2003 est.)

Industries

uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses

Infant mortality rate

female

114.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

122.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

118.25 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.2% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.ne

Internet hosts

189 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

24,000 (2005) Transportation Niger

Irrigated land

730 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

Labor force

70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the public sector (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

90%

industry

6%

services

4%

Land boundaries

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

total

5,697 km

Land use

arable land

11.43%

other

88.56% (2005)

permanent crops

0.01%

Languages

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; note - expanded from 83 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNSD 47, CDS 22, PNDS 25, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1

elections

last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

43.73 years (2006 est.)

male

43.8 years

total population

43.76 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

9.7% (2003 est.) Government Niger

male

25.8%

total population

17.6%

Location

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

note

highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne disease

malaria is a high risk in some locations

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

2,217,568 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

2,367,828

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

1,256,569 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,349,863

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

121,230 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

129,045

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

16.4 years (2006 est.)

male

16.5 years

total

16.5 years

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$44.78 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Niger

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

National holiday

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Nationality

adjective

Nigerien

noun

Nigerien(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

Natural resources

uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Net migration rate

-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN)

Army, National Air Force (2005)

Oil - consumption

5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Coalition Against a High Cost of Living [Nouhou ARZIKA]

Population

12,525,094 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

63% (1993 est.)

Population growth rate

2.92% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

none Military Niger

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

680,000 (1997)

Religions

Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian

Roadways

paved

3,641 km

total

14,565 km

unpaved

10,924 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned

general assessment

small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger

international

country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

24,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

299,900 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)

Televisions

125,000 (1997)

Terrain

predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north

Total fertility rate

7.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2005)