Map of Niger | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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 counter coup by military officers who restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and in 2009 spearheaded a constitutional amendment that would allow him to extend his term as president. In February 2010 a military coup deposed TANDJA immediately suspended the constitution and dissolved the Cabinet. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou emerged victorious from a crowded field in the election following the coup and was inaugurated in April 2011. 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. The Nigerien Movement for Justice a predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007 and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Successful government offensives in 2009 limited the rebels' operational capabilities. Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya and spillover from the rebellion in Mali.


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Location: Western Africa southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N 8 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 22
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

Elevation

Natural resources: uranium coal iron ore tin phosphates gold molybdenum gypsum salt petroleum

Land use

Irrigated land: 740 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 33.7 km³ (2003)

Natural hazards: recurring droughts

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


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Population: 16,344,687 (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 64
Growth rate: 3.36% (2012 est.)
Growth rate rank: 3
Below poverty line: 63% (1993 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups: Haoussa 55.4% Djerma Sonrai 21% Tuareg 9.3% Peuhl 8.5% Kanouri Manga 4.7% other 1.2% (2001 census)

Languages: French (official) Hausa Djerma

Religions: Muslim 80% other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 3.36% (2012 est.)
Rank: 3

Birth rate: 47.6 births/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 1

Death rate: 13.4 deaths/1000 population (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 19

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 100

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 7

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 204

Total fertility rate: 7.16 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Rank: 1

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.019 physicians/1000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density: 0.31 beds/1000 population (2005)

Sanitation facility access:
Unimproved:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.8% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 56
People living with hivaids: 61,000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 54
Deaths: 4,300 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 42

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 39.9% (2006)
Rank: 5

Education expenditures: 4.5% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 84

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: republic

Capital

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Republic Day 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960

Constitution: adopted 31 October 2010

Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law (based on French civil law) Islamic law and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (7 judges with 6-year terms nominated by the President); Court of Cassation (highest court dealing with judicial matters); Council of State (highest court dealing with administrative matters); Court of Finances (highest court dealing with public finances)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation or MODEN/FA Lumana; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]; Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]; Union for Democracy and the Republic-Tabbat or UDR-Tabbat; Union of Independent Nigeriens or UNI; note: the SPLM and SPLM-DC are banned political parties

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU CD ECOWAS EITI (compliant country) Entente FAO FZ G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA MONUSCO NAM OIC OIF OPCW UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNMIL UNOCI UNWTO UPU WADB (regional) WAEMU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: 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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Niger is a landlocked Sub-Saharan nation whose economy centers on subsistence crops livestock and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Agriculture contributes about 40% of GDP and provides livelihood for about 90% of the population. Niger also has sizable reserves of oil and oil production refining and exports are expected to grow significantly between 2011 and 2016. Drought desertification and strong population growth 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 reduced 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 translated into the forgiveness of approximately US$86 million in debts to the IMF excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. The economy was hurt when the international community cut off non-humanitarian aid in response to TANDJA's moves to extend his term as president. 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. The government however has made efforts to secure a new three-year extended credit facility with the IMF following the one that completed in 2011. Oil revenue to the government has fallen well short of its budgeted level. Strikes risk undermining political stability. Food security remains a problem in Niger and is exacerbated by refugees from Mali.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 144

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 4

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 220

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: cowpeas cotton peanuts millet sorghum cassava (manioc) rice; cattle sheep goats camels donkeys horses poultry

Industries

Industrial production growth rate: 5.1% (2003 est.)
Rank: 62

Labor force: 4.688 million (2007)
Rank: 84

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 63% (1993 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index: 50.5 (1995)
Rank: 91

Budget
Surplus or deficit: -4.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 134

Taxes and other revenues: 25.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 124

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.9% (2011 est.)
Rank: 112

Central bank discount rate: 4.75% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 75

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 4.3% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 166

Stock of narrow money: $939.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 148

Stock of broad money: $1.171 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Rank: 163

Stock of domestic credit: $825.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 157

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance: -$1.697 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 131

Exports: $1.249 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 148
Commodities: uranium ore livestock cowpeas onions
Partners: US 49.2% Nigeria 29.4% Russia 10.3% Ghana 4.1% (2011)

Imports: $2.217 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 157
Commodities: foodstuffs machinery vehicles and parts petroleum cereals
Partners: France 15.6% China 9.7% Nigeria 8.9% French Polynesia 8.5% Belgium 6.9% India 6.1% Togo 4.7% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $1.342 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 146

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 210 million kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 180
Consumption: 695.3 million kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 159
Exports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 109
Imports: 500 million kWh (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 73
Installed generating capacity: 145,000 kW (2009 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 160
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 29
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 149
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 188
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 166

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 6,712 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 85
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 161
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 105
Crude oil proven reserves: NA bbl

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products production rank: 183
Products consumption: 5,629 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 166
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products exports rank: 207
Products imports: 3,330 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Products imports rank: 167

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Production rank: 173
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 179
Exports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Exports rank: 124
Imports: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 106
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2012 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 176

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.796 million Mt (2010 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 152

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 85,900 (2011)
Main lines in use rank: 148
Mobile cellular: 4.743 million (2011)
Mobile cellular rank: 110

Telephone system

Broadcast media: state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming; state-run radio has only radio station with a national reach; about 30 private radio stations operate locally; as many as 100 community radio stations broadcast; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet
Country code: .ne
Hosts: 454 (2012)
Hosts rank: 186
Users: 115,900 (2009)
Users rank: 155

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 112

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 17-21 years of age for selective compulsory or voluntary military service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried; 2-year service term; women may serve in health care (2009)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 30 (2012)
Rank: 115

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Rank: 112

Waterways: 300 km (the Niger the only major river is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2012)
Rank: 94

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: Libya claims about 25,000 km² in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty that also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries; the dispute with Burkina Faso was referred to the ICJ in 2010

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs