Niger

Republic of NigerRepublique du Niger

transition government as of November 1991, appointed by national reformIndependence 3 August 1960 (from France)

Niger as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 73 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNiamey

Area1.267 million km2

LocationWestern Africa, between Algeria and Nigeria

Populationas each edition published it

8.34 million July 1993 est. · 7.97m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.49% 1993 est. · 3.65% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

44.15 years 1993 est. · 60.9 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

7.35 children per woman 1993 est. · 7.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

112.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 131 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$290 1991 est. · $1,800 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

1.9% 1991 est. · 8.4% in 2025

Geography

Western Africa, between Algeria and Nigeria

14 fields

Land use

arable land 3%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 7%forest and woodland 2%other 88%irrigated 320 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

1.267million km2

land area: 1,266,700 km2comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

5,697km

total · Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km

Location

Western Africa, between Algeria and Nigeria

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger;
demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria;
Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Natural resources

uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates

Environment

recurrent drought and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities;
overgrazing;
soil erosion

People

14 fields

Population

8,337,352

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 3.49% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

57.35Death

22.44Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years44.15

42.6 · 45.75

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy28%

40% · 17%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Labor force

2.5million wage earners

(1982)by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%note: 51% of population of working age (1985)

Infant mortality rate

112.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Nigerien(s)
adjective:: Nigerien

Ethnic divisions

Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 4,000 French expatriates

Religions

Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians

Government

Transition government as of November 1991, appointed by national reform

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Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Niger
conventional short form:: Niger
local long form:: Republique du Niger
local short form:: Niger

Type

transition government as of November 1991, appointed by national reform conference;
scheduled to turn over power to democratically elected government in March 1993

Administrative divisions

7 departments (departements, singular - departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder

Constitution

December 1989 constitution revised November 1991 by National Democratic Reform Conference

Legal system

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

Political parties and leaders

National Movement of the Development Society (MNSD-NASSARA), Tandja MAMADOU;
Niger Progressive Party - African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA), Harou KOUKA;
Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress (UDFP-SAWABA), Djibo BAKARY;
Niger Democratic Union (UDN-SAWABA), Mamoudou PASCAL;
Union of Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives (UPDP), Andre SALIFOU;
other parties forming

Elections

President:: President Ali SAIBOU has been in office since December 1989, but the presidency is now a largely ceremonial position
National Assembly:: last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA);
results - MNSD was the only party;
seats - (150 total) MNSD 150 (indirectly elected);
note - Niger held a national conference from July to November 1991 to decide upon a transitional government and an agenda for multiparty elections

Executive branch

president (ceremonial), prime minister, Cabinet

Judicial branch

State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal (Cour d'Apel)

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Brig. Gen. Ali SAIBOU (since 14 November 1987); ceremonial post since national conference (1991)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Amadou CHEIFFOU (since NA November 1991)

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Adamou SEYDOU
chancery:: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: (202) 483-4224 through 4227

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jennifer C. WARD
embassy:: Avenue des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address:: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone:: [227] 72-26-61 through 64
FAX:: [227] 73-31-67

Flag

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

About 90% of the population is engaged in farming and stock raising, | activities that generate almost half the national income.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$290

(1991 est.)

Real growth rate

1.9%

(1991 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -2.7% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

1.3%

(1991 est.)

External debt

$1.2billion

(December 1991 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$193 millionExpenditures

$355 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $106 million (1991 est.)

Overview

About 90% of the population is engaged in farming and stock raising, activities that generate almost half the national income. The economy also depends heavily on exploitation of large uranium deposits. Uranium production grew rapidly in the mid-1970s, but tapered off in the early 1980s when world prices declined.

France is a major customer, while Germany, Japan, and Spain also make regular purchases. The depressed demand for uranium has contributed to an overall sluggishness in the economy, a severe trade imbalance, and a mounting external debt.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.3 billion (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$294 million (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:: uranium ore 60%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions
partners:: France 77%, Nigeria 8%, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy

Imports

$346 million (c.i.f., 1991)

commodities:: primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, electronic equipment, cereals, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, foodstuffs
partners:: Germany 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, France 5%, Italy 4%, Nigeria 2%

Electricity

105,000 kW capacity; 230 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium mining began in 1971

Agriculture

accounts for roughly 40% of GDP and 90% of labor force;
cash crops - cowpeas, cotton, peanuts;
food crops - millet, sorghum, cassava, rice;
livestock - cattle, sheep, goats;
self-sufficient in food except in drought years

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,165 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $61 million

Currency

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Communications

4 fields

total:: 28
usable:: 26
with permanent-surface runways:: 9
with runways over 3,659 m:: 0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 13

Telecommunications

small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area;
14,260 telephones;
broadcast stations - 15 AM, 5 FM, 18 TV;
satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 3 domestic, with 1 planned