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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming; only national radio station with national reach is state-run; 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 [time series]

.ne

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

172 (2010) country comparison to the world: 198

Internet users [time series]

115,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 155

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains less than 20 per 100 persons despite a rapidly increasing cellular subscribership base; 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) (2009)

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

83,600 (2010) country comparison to the world: 151

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3.806 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 113

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: $800.4 million (includes $134 million from foreign sources) expenditures: $1.297 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-8.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 79 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

4.3% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 4.3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$1.388 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 -$1.402 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$990.9 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $2.1 billion (2003 est.)

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

34 (2007) country comparison to the world: 94 50.5 (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Niger is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. 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 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. In 2010, the Niger economy was recovering from the effects of a 2009 drought that reduced grain and cowpea production and decimated livestock herds. The economy was also 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

626 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

440 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

200 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 493.51 (2007) 522.59 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$1.04 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Exports - commodities [time series]

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners [time series]

Nigeria 68.3%, US 12.2%, Ghana 9.8% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$5.577 billion (2010 est.)

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

$11.05 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 $10.28 billion (2009 est.) $10.37 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 37% industry: 15.5% services: 47.4% (2010 est.)

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

$700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 221 $700 (2009 est.) $700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

7.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 -0.9% (2009 est.) 9.3% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 28.5% (2007)

Imports [time series]

$1.821 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $1.794 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners [time series]

China 17.8%, France 16.5%, French Polynesia 7.2%, Nigeria 6.7%, Algeria 5.3%, Cote dIvoire 4.9% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 4.3% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

34% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Labor force [time series]

4.688 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 77

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 90% industry: 6% services: 4% (1995)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Oil - consumption [time series]

6,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Oil - imports [time series]

5,443 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Population below poverty line [time series]

63% (1993 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$760.3 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 $655.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.171 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $1.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$715.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $683.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$917.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $782.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

14.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1.267 million sq km country comparison to the world: 22 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: Idoukal-n-Taghes 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 2.18 cu km/yr (4%/0%/95%) per capita: 156 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

740 sq km (2008)

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: 11.43% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 88.56% (2005)

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, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

33.7 cu km (2003)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

adopted 31 October 2010

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 Bisa WILLIAMS embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61 thru 64 FAX: [227] 20-73-31-67

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Djibrilla Maiga TOURE 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 ISSOUFOU Mahamadou (since 7 April 2011) head of government: Prime Minister Brigi RAFINI (since 7 April 2011); appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); candidate must receive a majority of the votes to be elected president; a presidential election to restore civilian rule was held 31 January 2011 with a runoff election between Issoufou MAHAMADOU and Seini OUMAROU held on 12 March 2011 election results: Issoufou MAHAMADOU elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Issoufou MAHAMADOU 58%, Seini OUMAROU 42%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 note: 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 law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 31 January 2011 election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNDS-Tarrayya 39, MNSD-Nassara 26, MODEN/FA-Lumana 24, ANDP-Zaman Lahiya 8, RDP-Jama'a 7, UDR-Tabbat 6, CDS-Rahama 2, UNI 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "La Nigerienne" (The Nigerian) lyrics/music: Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel Francois FRIONNET note: adopted 1961

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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

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

The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly Tuareg rebel group

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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, and promised that elections would be held following a transitional period of unspecified duration. 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, and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Successful government offensives in 2009 limited the rebels' operational capabilities.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 3,329,184 females age 16-49: 3,267,669 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,194,570 females age 16-49: 2,219,416 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 186,348 female: 180,779 (2010 est.)

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

Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 113

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 49.6% (male 4,129,164/female 4,045,412) 15-64 years: 48% (male 3,944,586/female 3,964,249) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 170,741/female 214,734) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

50.54 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

39.9% (2006) country comparison to the world: 5

Death rate [time series]

14.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 39% of population total: 48% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 61% of population total: 52% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 84

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

4,300 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

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

61,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 101

Hospital bed density [time series]

0.31 beds/1,000 population (2005) country comparison to the world: 179

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 112.22 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 3 male: 117.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 107.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.4 years country comparison to the world: 202 male: 52.13 years female: 54.7 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

NIAMEY (capital) 1.004 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

820 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 11

Median age [time series]

total: 15.2 years male: 15 years female: 15.4 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.019 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 188

Population [time series]

16,468,886 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Population growth rate [time series]

3.643% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 34% of population rural: 4% of population total: 9% of population unimproved: urban: 66% of population rural: 96% of population total: 91% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 5 years male: 6 years female: 5 years (2010)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.6 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 3.2% country comparison to the world: 126 male: 4% female: 1.7% (2001)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 17% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Libya claims about 25,000 sq km 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

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Niger is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; caste-based slavery practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships, continue in isolated areas of the country - an estimated 8,800 to 43,000 Nigeriens live under conditions of traditional slavery; children are trafficked within Niger for forced begging, forced labor in gold mines, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and possibly for forced labor in agriculture and stone quarries; women and children from neighboring states are trafficked to and through Niger for domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced labor in mines and on farms, and as mechanics and welders; to a lesser extent, Nigerien women and children are recruited from Niger and transported to Nigeria, North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe for domestic servitude and sex trafficking tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Niger does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government demonstrated marginal efforts to combat human trafficking, including traditional slavery; the transitional government enacted the country's first specific law to address trafficking; however, the government's few efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses during the year came only after receiving complaints from NGOs, and efforts to prosecute cases of traditional slavery and to provide assistance to victims remained weak (2011)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

27 (2010) country comparison to the world: 125

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways [time series]

total: 18,949 km country comparison to the world: 113 paved: 3,912 km unpaved: 15,037 km (2008)

Waterways [time series]

300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2010) country comparison to the world: 94