Niger

Republic of NigerRepublique du Niger

republicIndependence 3 August 1960 (from France)

Niger as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 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

Position16 00 N, 8 00 E

Area1.267 million sq km

LocationWestern Africa, southeast of Algeria

Populationas each edition published it

11.67 million July 2005 est. · 7.97m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.63% 2005 est. · 3.49% in 1993

Median ageyears

16.25 years 2005 est. · 16.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

43.5 years 2005 est. · 44.15 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.75 children per woman 2005 est. · 7.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

121.69 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 131 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$900 2004 est. · $290 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.5% 2004 est. · 1.9% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

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Land use(2001)

arable land 3.54%permanent crops 0.01%other 96.45% (2001)irrigated 660 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

1.267million sq km

land: 1,266,700 sq kmwater: 300 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of Texas

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

2,022m

Mont Bagzanelowest point: Niger River 200 m

Land boundaries

5,697km

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

Location

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references

Africa

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, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

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

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

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

130,953

65 and over2.1%

119,547

2,890,119

15-6450.6%

3,009,281

2,811,539

0-1447.3%

2,704,498

MaleFemale

Population

11,665,937

(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 2.63% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth

48.3Death

21.33Net migration

-0.65

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)43.5

43.54 · 43.45Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)121.69

125.93 · 117.33

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)17.6%

25.8% · 9.7%Median age years (2005 est.)16.25

15.8 · 16.72

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2%

(2003 est.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

6.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

70,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

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

noun:: Nigerien(s)
adjective:: Nigerien

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

Religions

Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian

Languages

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Government

Republic; President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999); President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

65.5%

TANDJA Mamadou 65.5%Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%second round last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)

National Assembly, 113 seats, elected 4 December 2004one dot, one seat

MNSD 47CDS 22PNDS 17RSD 7RDP 6ANDP 5Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger 1other 8

Country name

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

Government type

republic

Capital

Niamey

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Constitution

new constitution adopted 18 July 1999

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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

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

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

Political parties and leaders

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

International organization participation

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

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

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

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 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.

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GDP, purchasing power parity

$9.716billion

(2004 est.)

Real growth rate

3.5%

(2004 est.)industrial production growth: NA (2001 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

63%

(1993 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001)

agriculture 39%industry 17%services 44% (2001)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

41%

France

14.4%

22.4%

Nigeria

7.8%

15.3%

Japan

5.2%

10.3%

French Polynesia

9.4%

Cote d'Ivoire

7.5%

Switzerland

China

5.1%

4.1%

Spain

Thailand

4.1%

Ghana

Exports $280 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)Imports $400 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)(2004)

Budget

Revenues

$320 millionExpenditures

$320 million (2002 est.)

revenues - including $134 million from foreign sources · expenditures including capital expenditures of $178 million

Electricity

Electricity production

266.2 million (2002)Electricity consumption

327.6 million (2002)Electricity imports

80 million (2002)

Economy - overview

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 - per capita

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

Labor force

70,000 receive regular wages or salaries (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%

Unemployment rate

NA (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.5 (1995)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

Oil - imports

Exports

$280 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Imports

$400 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$341 million (1997)

Currency (code)

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

Exchange rates

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

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

24,000

(2003)

Internet users

134

(2003)

Fixed lines

22,400

(2002) · country code .ne

Telephone system

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

AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

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

Internet users

15,000 (2002)

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

under 914 m

914 to 1,523 m

Paved 9Unpaved 18

Networkskm

Highways

10,100Waterways

300

Highways: paved: 798 km · unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.) · Waterways: note: Niger River is navigable to Gaya between September and March (2004)

Highways

total:: 10,100 km
paved:: 798 km
unpaved:: 9,302 km (1999 est.)

Military

Niger Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, National Air Force (2005)

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.1%

(2004)

Transnational Issues