Niger

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

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

highest point:

Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m

lowest point:

Niger River 200 m

mean elevation:

474 m

Atlantic Ocean drainage:

Niger (2,261,741 sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:

Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

• 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

noun:

Nigerien(s)

adjective:

Nigerien

total:

15.2 years (2024 est.)

male:

14.9 years

female:

15.6 years

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.92 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

64.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

69.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

59.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

60.9 years (2024 est.)

male:

59.3 years

female:

62.5 years

total:

0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

7.4% (2020 est.)

male:

13.7% (2020 est.)

female:

1.1% (2020 est.)

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

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

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

urban population:

17.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

widespread lack of access:

• due to internal conflict, high food prices, and floods - about 3.28 million people are projected to be acutely food insecure during the June to August 2023 lean season period;
• this would be an improvement on the situation in 2022, mostly reflecting the sharp upturn in crop yields following the below average cereal output in 2021;
• persistent insecurity continues to disrupt livelihoods and has displaced over 370,000 people, mostly in the Diffa, Tahoua and Tillabery regions, as of May 2023;
• high food prices, as well as the floods in 2022 that affected about 327,000 people, are additional factors that have aggravated food insecurity (2023)

particulate matter emissions:

50.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

2.02 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

22.99 megatons (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

1,865,646 tons (1993 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

74,626 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

4% (2005 est.)

Atlantic Ocean drainage:

Niger (2,261,741 sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage:

Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

municipal:

190 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

2.35 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

conventional long form:

Republic of Niger

conventional short form:

Niger

local long form:

République du Niger

local short form:

Niger

etymology:

named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir"

note: pronounced nee-zhair

name:

Niamey

geographic coordinates:

13 31 N, 2 07 E

time difference:

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

etymology:

according to tradition, the site was originally a fishing village named after a prominent local tree referred to as "nia niam"

• note - following the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assumed control of all government institutions and rules by decree;
• formerly, mixed legal system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law

history:

several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010

amendments:

• formerly proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly;
• consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly;
• passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote;
• if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum;
• constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended;
• amended 2011, 2017

Note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved the country's constitution

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger

dual citizenship recognized:

yes

residency requirement for naturalization:

unknown

chief of state:

President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023)

head of government:

CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the CNSP; Cabinet previously appointed by the elected president

elections/appointments:

• the CNSP rules by decree;
• previously, the president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 27 December 2020 with a runoff held on 21 February 2021 (next election was to be held in 2025);
• prime minister appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly

election results:

• 2020/2021 : Mohamed BAZOUM elected president in second round;
• percent of vote in first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.3%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 9%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.1%, other 27.6%;
• percent of vote in second round - Mohamed BAZOUM 55.7%, Mahamane OUSMANE 44.3%

;

• 2016 : ISSOUFOU Mahamadou reelected president in second round;
• percent of vote in first round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (PNDS-Tarrayya) 48.6%, Hama AMADOU (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17.8%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 11.3%, other 22.3%;
• percent of vote in second round - ISSOUFOU Mahamadou 92%, Hama AMADOU 8%

note: deposed president BAZOUM has been under house arrest since a military coup on 26 July 2023

description:

formerly the unicameral National Assembly (171 statutory seats - 166 currently; 158 members directly elected from 8 multi-member constituencies in 7 regions and Niamey by party-list proportional representation, 8 reserved for minorities elected in special single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 5 seats reserved for Nigeriens living abroad - 1 seat per continent - elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

elections:

last held on 27 December 2020 (prior to the military coup, next elections were to be held in December 2025)

election results:

• percent of vote by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 37%, MODEN/FA Lumana 8.7%, MPR-Jamhuriya 7.6%, MNSD-Nassara 6.8%, RDR-Tchanji 4.4%, CPR-Inganci 4.2%, MPN-Kishin Kassa 4%, PJP Generation Dubara 2.9%, ANDP Zaman Lahya 2.5%, RPP Farrilla 2.1%, ARD Adaltchi-Mutuntchi 1.7%, AMEN AMIN 1.4%, MDEN Falala 1.4%, other 15.3%;
• seats by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 79, MODEN/FA Lumana 19, MPR-Jamhuriya 14, MNSD-Nassara 13, CPR-Inganci 8, MPN-Kishin Kassa 6, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya 3, RPP Farrilla 2, PJP Generation Dubara 2, ARD Adaltchi-Mutuntchi 2, AMEN AMIN 2, other 16;
• composition - men 115, women 51, percentage women 30.7%

Note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved the National Assembly

highest court(s):

formerly the Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges); High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members)

judge selection and term of office:

• formerly, Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society;
• all appointed by the president;
• judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years;
• High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary;
• members serve 5-year terms

subordinate courts:

• formerly, Court of Cassation;
• Council of State;
• Court of Finances;
• various specialized tribunals and customary courts

Note: on 26 July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, a military junta which took control of Niger's government, dissolved the country's judicial system

• Alliance for Democracy and the Republic
• Alliance for Democratic Renewal or ARD-Adaltchi-Mutuntchi
• Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger or AMEN AMIN
• Congress for the Republic or CPR-Inganci
• Democratic Alternation for Equity in Niger
• Democratic and Republican Renewal-RDR-Tchanji
• Democratic Movement for the Emergence of Niger Falala
• Democratic Patriots' Rally or RPD Bazara
• National Movement for the Development of Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara
• Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya
• Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation or MODEN/FA Lumana
• Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya
• Nigerien Patriotic Movement or MPN-Kishin Kassa
• Nigerien Rally for Democracy and Peace
• Patriotic Movement for the Republic or MPR-Jamhuriya
• Peace, Justice, Progress–Generation Doubara
• Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a
• Rally for Peace and Progress or RPP Farilla
• Social Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya
• Social Democratic Party or PSD-Bassira

Note: after the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland dissolved the National Assembly and prohibited all political party activity

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023)

chancery:

2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 483-4224

FAX:

[1] (202) 483-3169

email address and website:

[email protected]; http://www.embassyofniger.org/

chief of mission:

Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023)

embassy:

BP 11201, Niamey

mailing address:

2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420

telephone:

[227] 20-72-26-61

FAX:

[227] 20-73-55-60

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://ne.usembassy.gov/

• three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk centered in the white band;
• the orange band denotes the drier northern regions of the Sahara;
• white stands for purity and innocence;
• green symbolizes hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River;
• the orange disc represents the sun and the sacrifices made by the people

note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

name:

"La Nigerienne" (The Nigerien)

lyrics/music:

Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel Francois FRIONNET

note: adopted 1961

total World Heritage Sites:

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n);
• W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n);
• Historic Agadez (c)

• low-income Sahel economy;
• major instability and humanitarian crises limit economic activity;
• COVID-19 eliminated recent antipoverty gains;
• economy rebounding since December 2020 Nigerian border reopening and new investments;
• uranium resource rich

agriculture:

47.8% (2023 est.)

industry:

20.2% (2023 est.)

services:

26.9% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

0.8% (2023 est.)

male:

0.9% (2023 est.)

female:

0.8% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

lowest 10%:

3.8% (2021 est.)

highest 10%:

27.8% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

production:

457,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption:

457,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports:

3,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

90 million metric tons (2022 est.)

total petroleum production:

6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

150 million barrels (2021 est.)

production:

29.509 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

consumption:

29.858 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

total subscriptions:

58,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2021 est.) less than 1

general assessment:

• Niger is one of the largest countries in West Africa but also one of the poorest in the world;
• as with many African markets, a lack of fixed telecoms infrastructure has led to growth in mobile services;
• Niger’s mobile penetration is modest compared to other countries in the region, while fixed broadband penetration is negligible;
• recent international investment to complete the Trans-Saharan Dorsal optical fiber (SDR) network has extended the reach of fiber infrastructure in the country, and also increased international capacity;
• new cables linking the country with Chad and Burkina Faso have extended Niger’s connectivity with international cable infrastructure (2022)

domestic:

fixed-line less than 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular at nearly 56 per 100 persons (2021)

international:

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

• state-run TV station;
• 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming;
• state-run radio has only radio station with national coverage;
• about 30 private radio stations operate locally;
• as many as 100 community radio stations broadcast;
• transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available

total:

18,949 km

paved:

3,979 km

unpaved:

14,969 km (2018)

• information varies;
• estimated 30-35,000 active FAN troops;
• estimated 5-10,000 paramilitary Gendarmerie and National Guard personnel (2024)

note: in 2020, the Nigerien Government announced it intended to increase the size of the FAN to 50,000 by 2025 and 100,000 by 2030

• the FAN has a wide mix of mostly older, typically Soviet-era, or donated/secondhand weapons and equipment, along with small quantities of more modern items such as unmanned aerial vehicles/drones and air defense systems;
• suppliers have included China, Egypt, France, Italy, Russia, Turkey, and the US (2024)