2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

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.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

27 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total

18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) Military Niger

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

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

Birth rate

48.3 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$320 million - including $134 million from foreign sources

Capital

Niamey

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

Currency code

XOF

Death rate

21.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (1999 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Gail Dennise Thomas MATHIEU

embassy

Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey

FAX

[227] 73 31 67, 72-31-46

mailing address

B. P. 11201, Niamey

telephone

[227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph DIATTA

FAX

[1] (202)483-3169

telephone

[1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227

Disputes - international

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 ======================================================================

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.5 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$341 million (1997)

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.

Electricity - consumption

327.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

80 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

266.2 million kWh (2002)

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 - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

27-member Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

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

election results

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

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

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners

France 41%, Nigeria 22.4%, Japan 15.3%, Switzerland 6%, Spain 4.1%, Ghana 4% (2004)

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

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$9.716 billion (2004 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

Highways

paved

798 km

total

10,100 km

unpaved

9,302 km (1999 est.)

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

lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners

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)

Independence

3 August 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

NA (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

117.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

125.93 deaths/1,000 live births

total

121.69 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2002 est.)

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

Internet country code

.ne

Internet hosts

134 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

15,000 (2002) Transportation Niger

Irrigated land

660 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

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

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 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

3.54%

other

96.45% (2001)

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 17, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger 1, other 8

elections

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

43.45 years (2005 est.)

male

43.54 years

total population

43.5 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

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis (2004)

vectorborne disease

malaria is a high risk in some locations

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 2,135,680 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 1,180,027 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

126,719 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

16.72 years (2005 est.)

male

15.8 years

total

16.25 years

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$33.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.1% (2004) Transnational Issues Niger

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

National holiday

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Nationality

adjective

Nigerien

noun

Nigerien(s)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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

NA

Population

11,665,937 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

63% (1993 est.)

Population growth rate

2.63% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

680,000 (1997)

Religions

Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian

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.)

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

22,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

24,000 (2003)

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

6.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA (2002 est.)

Waterways

300 km note: Niger River is navigable to Gaya between September and March (2004)