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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ne

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

134 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

15,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

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

22,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

24,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)

Economy

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: $320 million - including $134 million from foreign sources expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $178 million (2002 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XOF

Debt - external [time series]

$1.6 billion (1999 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

50.5 (1995)

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

$341 million (1997)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, because of declining world demand. 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. In 2000-01, the World Bank approved a structural adjustment loan of $105 million to help support fiscal reforms. However, reforms could prove difficult given the government's bleak financial situation. The IMF approved a $73 million poverty reduction and growth facility for Niger in 2000 and announced $115 million in debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Further disbursements of aid occurred in 2002. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

325.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

100 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

242 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners [time series]

France 42.2%, Nigeria 28.9%, Japan 17.2%, Spain 4.4% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $9.062 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 39% industry: 17% services: 44% (2001)

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

purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)

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

3.8% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners [time series]

France 16.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 13.8%, China 10.5%, Nigeria 7.7%, US 5.5%, Japan 4.9% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA (2001 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

63% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA (2002 est.)

Geography

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 Bagzane 2,022 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, 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; one of the hottest countries in the world: northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture

Irrigated land [time series]

660 sq km (1998 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: 3.54% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 96.45% (2001)

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

Government

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]

a new constitution was adopted 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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise Thomas MATHIEU 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, 72-31-46

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 FAX: [1] (202)483-3169

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government 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 cabinet: 23-member Cabinet appointed by the president 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 election results: TANDJA Mamadou reelected president; percent of vote - TANDJA Mamadou 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%

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, 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

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 (113 seats; note - expanded from 83 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNSD 47, CDS 22, PNDS 17, Social Democratic Rally 7 RDP 6i ANDP 5, Party for Socialism and Democarcy in Niger 1, other 8

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

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

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 [Mamadou TANDJA, 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 Democracy and Progress or RDP [leader NA]; Union of Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua or UPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre' SALIFOU, chairman]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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 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.

Military

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

Army, Air Force, National Intervention and Security Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$21.7 million (2003)

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

1.1% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,460,637 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,333,027 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

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

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 122,363 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47.5% (male 2,749,039; female 2,643,479) 15-64 years: 50.4% (male 2,799,125; female 2,925,133) 65 years and over: 2.1% (male 128,101; female 115,661) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

48.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

21.51 deaths/1,000 population (2004 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

4,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

70,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 122.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 126.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 118.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 42.18 years male: 42.38 years female: 41.97 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 17.6% male: 25.8% female: 9.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 16.2 years male: 15.7 years female: 16.7 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

11,360,538 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.67% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 1.11 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.83 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and ICJ ad hoc judges have been selected to rule on disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over the lake region, which remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and militias

Transportation

Airports [time series]

27 (2003 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 10,100 km paved: 798 km unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Waterways [time series]

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