Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios [time series]

680,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

small system of wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

13,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

0 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

10 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

125,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $377 million, including $146 million from foreign sources expenditures: $377 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1999 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external [time series]

$1.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$222 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export since the 1970s. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid - which was suspended following the April 1999 coup d'etat - for operating expenses and public investment. Short-term prospects depend on upcoming negotiations with the World Bank and the IMF on debt relief and extended aid.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

363 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

196 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

180 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 670 (January 2000), 560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro

Exports [time series]

$269 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities [time series]

uranium ore 65%, livestock products, cowpeas, onions (1998 est.)

Exports - partners [time series]

US, Greece, Japan, France, Nigeria, Benin

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $9.6 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 40% industry: 18% services: 42% (1998)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 29.3% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$295 million (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports - commodities [time series]

consumer goods, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners [time series]

France, Cote d'Ivoire, US, Benelux, Nigeria

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.8% (1999)

Labor force [time series]

70,000 receive regular wages or salaries

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Niger River 200 m highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

16 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

660 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 5,697 km 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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 2% other: 88% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

recurring droughts

Natural resources [time series]

uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum

Terrain [time series]

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 departments (departements, singular - departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Capital [time series]

Niamey

Constitution [time series]

the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum on 12 May 1996 and again by referendum on 18 July 1999

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

NG

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Barbro OWENS-KIRKPATRICK embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64 FAX: [227] 73 31 67

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (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 note: President Ibrahim BARE was assassinated on 9 April 1999; subsequent elections held under the nine-month provisional government of Major Daouda Mallam WANKE cabinet: 24-member cabinet appointed by President TANDJA elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Mamadou TANDJA elected president; percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 60%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 40%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

3 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (83 seats, members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNSD-Nassara 38, CDS-Rahama 17, PNDS-Tarayya 16, RDP-Jama'a 8, ANDPS-Zaman Lahia 4

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democratic Rally of the People-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; Movement for Development and Progress-Alkwali or MDP-Alkwali [Mai Manga BOUCAR, chairman]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Tandja MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic Renewal or UNIRD [Moutari MOUSSA]; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Democratic Front-Mutunci or FDN-Mutunci [Ide OUMAROU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]; Nigerien Social Democrat Party-Alheri or PSDN-Alheri [Malam Adji WAZIRI]; Party for People's Dignity-Daraja or PDP-Daraja [Ali TALBA, chairman]; Union of Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua or UPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre' SALIFOU, chairman]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress-Amana or UDPS-Amana [Mohamed ABDULLAHI]; Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba or UFPDP-Sawaba [Djibo BAKARY]; Workers' Movement Party-Albarka or PMT-Albarka [Omar Idi ANGO]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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 in December 1999.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$20 million (FY96)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.1% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,137,181 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,155,054 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 105,884 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 48% (male 2,461,391; female 2,373,617) 15-64 years: 50% (male 2,445,369; female 2,563,839) 65 years and over: 2% (male 121,570; female 109,725) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

51.45 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

23.17 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

124.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 41.27 years male: 41.43 years female: 41.11 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 13.6% male: 20.9% female: 6.6% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

10,075,511 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.75% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.16 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger; delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, has been completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

27 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 10,100 km paved: 798 km unpaved: 9,302 km (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

the Niger is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March