Factual information on Niger

General Information on Niger & Quick Overview

Niger became independent from Franch in 1963, however the first democratic elections were not held until 1993.

A Tuareg uprising in the north ended in 1995, however they were follwed by coups in both 1996 and 1999. The National Reconciliation Council was created to oversee the changeover to civilian rule in 1999.

Geographical statistics & Information on Niger

Geographical Position: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 15 degrees 00 North, 7 degrees 00 East Total Land & Sea Area: Total: 1.300 million square kilometres Sea Area 500 square kilometres land area: 1,250,000 square kilometres

Land boundaries: Total: 6,000 kilometres border countries: Algeria 950 kilometres, Benin 270 kilometres, Burkina Faso 630 kilometres, Chad 1,200 kilometres, Libya 350 kilometres, Mali 800 kilometres, Nigeria 1,500 kilometres Coastal Length: 0 kilometres (landlocked)

Climatological Conditions & information on Niger

Mainly hot, arid and dusty desert, and tropical in the far southern region.

Terrain Features

Mostly flat desert and sand dunes, rolling land in the south and hilly in the northern areas. Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Niger River 150 metres Highest elevation: Mont Bagzane 2,035 metres Country’s natural resources: Raw minerals such as uranium, iron ore, tin and phosphate, also, gold reserves, petroleum and crude oil, coal.

Land use

Ploughable land area: 4 percent permanent crops: 0 percent Other: 96 percent (1998 estimate) Irrigated land area: 600 square kilometres (1998 estimate) Hazardous Natural phenomena: Frequent long, dry periods of drought.

Geographical Point of Interest

: With 80% desert, Niger is one of the hottest countries in the world. The plains in the south make up 20%, and is used for livestock and crops.

People-Information on Niger

Population: 11,059,000 (July 2003 estimate)

Age structure: under 15 years: 47 percent 15 to 64 years: 50 percent Over 65: 3 percent Median age of population: Total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2002) Population growth rate: 3 percent (2003 estimate) Birth rate: 49 births per thousand population (2003 estimate) mortality rate: 21 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate) Net rate of migration: -0.7 migrant(s) per thousand population (2003 estimate) Infant mortality rate: Total: 123 deaths per thousand live births female: 119 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate) male: 127 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42 years male: 42 years female: 42 years (2003 estimate) Total fertility rate: 7 children born/woman (2003 estimate)

Nationality

Nigerien

Ethnic groups

Majority group is Hausa, making up more than half of population. Also Djerma group 20 percent, and other minority ethinc groups include Fula (9 percent), Tuareg (8 percent), Beri Beri (4 percent), and Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche (2 percent total).

Religious information on Niger

85 percent are of Muslim/Islamic faith, with other local religious beliefs practised, as well as Christianity.

Languages & Linguistic Groupings

French, Hausa, Djerma Literacy: definition: People over the age of 15 years that are literate (can read & write): total population: 17 percent male: 25 percent female: 9 percent (2003 estimate)

Government information on Niger

Country name: Republic of Niger Government type: Republic Capital city: Niamey Independence: August 3rd, 1960 from the Republic of France National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December Constitution: 1993, revised 1996 and 1999 Legal system: Founded on the French civil code legal and legislation system, and customary law systems.

Electoral & Voting System

Universal vote from the age of 18. Executive branch: Head of State: President
Chief of Government:President who is both chief of state and head of government. The Prime Minister is appointed by the president to share executive responsibilities. Cabinet: President appoints a 23-member Cabinet .

Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly

Economy information on Niger

Economy - overview:

As a poor, Sub-Saharan nation with no coastline, subsistance agriculture form the basis of the economy, as well as some livestock .

Uranium is becoming less important since the decline in world demand. In 1994 the West African franc was devalued by half and assisted the export of animals and crops such as cowpeas and onions, as well as cotton products.

Niger is reliant on bilateral and multilateral aid to function, and overseas initiatives have tried to help reduce poverty and encourage growth. Growth in the future may come from the development of the mineral resources such as oil, gold, and coal.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

$USD8.7 billion (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - actual growth rate: 3 percent (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - per head of population: $USD900 (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector: agriculture: 40 percent industry: 15 percent services: 45 percent (2001) Population below poverty line: 60 percent (1993 estimate)

Rate of inflation: 5 percent (2002 estimate) Labour force: 50,000 receive regular wages or salaries Labour force - by occupation: agriculture 85 percent, industry and commerce 8 percent, government 7 percent Rate of unemployment: NA percent

Budget information on Niger

Incomes: $USD300 million – spending : $USD300 million, Industries: Production of uranium, also textiles, food production, livestock, meat works & processing, cement and brick manufacture.

Agriculture - products: Crops, including cotton, cowpeas, peanuts, millet, sorghum wheat. Also, cassava (tapioca) and rice. Livestock, such as cattle, sheep, camels and also poultry.

Exports

$USD300 million Exports: Uranium, meat produce, crops Exports - partners: France 40 percent, Nigeria 33 percent, Japan 17 percent (2002)

Imports

$USD370 million Imports: Good such as food items, machinery, vehicles and parts, petrol. Imports -most important trading partners: France 17 percent, Cote d'Ivoire 15 percent, China 10 percent, Nigeria 7 percent, United States 5 percent, Japan 4 percent, India 4 percent (2002)

Foreign Indebtedness

$USD1.5 billion (1999 estimate) National Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); Currency Abbreviation: XOF

Communications information on Niger

Telephones landlines: 25,000 (2001) Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 6, Frequency Modulation 5, shortwave 3 (2001) Television broadcast stations: 4 Internet country code: .ne

Transportation in & travel information on Niger

Railroad networks: 0 kilometres Roading System: Total: 10,000 kilometres Airports & airfields: 27 (2002)

Military system of Niger

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Intervention and Security Force Military spending : - $USD20 million (Fiscal Year02) Military spending : percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP): 1.percent (Fiscal Year02)

International Issues Niger Disputes - international:

Approximately 25,000 sq. kilometres, most of the Benin-Niger boundary, have been claimed by Libya. Currently the dispute is not active but the area has not been officially allocated. Lake Chad Commission set up in 2001 to handle dispute over the Niger River islands between Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigera, however violence continues amongst local factions.

More information on Niger, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of Niger | Map of Niger | Learn French in Niger |

Information on Niger
Source: All info sourced and adapted from CIA Factbook
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