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Niger

Niger

Niger officially the Republic of Niger is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east.

Country name:

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

Nationality:

  • noun: Nigerien(s)
  • adjective: Nigerien

Capital:

  • name: Niamey
  • geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
  • time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Independence:

  • 3 August 1960 (from France)

Population:

  • 13,272,679 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

  • 2.878% (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

  • 1.2% (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups:

  • Haoussa 55.4%
  • Djerma Sonrai 21%
  • Tuareg 9.3%
  • Peuhl 8.5%
  • Kanouri Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)

Religions:

  • Muslim 80%
  • Other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%

Languages:

  • French (official)
  • Hausa
  • Djerma

Literacy:

  • definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  • total population: 28.7%
  • male: 42.9%
  • female: 15.1% (2005 est.)

Government type:

  • Republic

Location:

  • Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Area - comparative:

  • Slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate:

  • Desert is mostly hot, dry, dusty
  • Tropical in extreme south

Natural resources:

  • Uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Economy - overview:

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking near last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. It is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, and a 2.9% population growth rate, 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. In December 2005, Niger received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the forgiveness of approximately US $86 million in debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. 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. Uranium prices have increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigeriens.

GDP (official exchange rate):

  • $4.174 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

  • 3.2% (2007 est.)

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 coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. 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. A predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007. Events have since evolved into a budding insurrection.

Environment - current issues:

  • Overgrazing; soil erosion, deforestation, desertification
  • Wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
 

For more info please contact:
African Studies
(310) 825-3686
africa@international.ucla.edu