Niger

Broadcast media

state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming; state-run radio has only radio station with a national reach; 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

.ne

Internet hosts

454 (2012) country comparison to the world: 186

Internet users

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

Telephone system

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 only about 30 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

85,900 (2011) country comparison to the world: 148

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.743 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 110

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.655 billion (2012 est.) expenditures: $1.927 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 75 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 4.3% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.628 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 -$1.697 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$1.451 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $1.342 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34 (2007) country comparison to the world: 91 50.5 (1995)

Economy - overview

Niger is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Agriculture contributes about 40% of GDP and provides livelihood for about 90% of the population. 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 reduced 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 translated into the forgiveness of approximately US$86 million in debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. The economy was 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. The government, however, has made efforts to secure a new three-year extended credit facility with the IMF following the one that completed in 2011. Oil revenue to the government has fallen well short of its budgeted level. Strikes risk undermining political stability. Food security remains a problem in Niger and is exacerbated by refugees from Mali.

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 514.1 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.) 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008)

Exports

$1.654 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $1.249 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners

US 49.2%, Nigeria 29.4%, Russia 10.3%, Ghana 4.1% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.556 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$13.53 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $11.82 billion (2011 est.) $11.56 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 39.6% industry: 17.1% services: 43.2% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 $800 (2011 est.) $800 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

14.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 2.3% (2011 est.) 8% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$2.491 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $2.217 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners

France 15.6%, China 9.7%, Nigeria 8.9%, French Polynesia 8.5%, Belgium 6.9%, India 6.1%, Togo 4.7% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 2.9% (2011 est.)

Labor force

4.688 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 84

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

63% (1993 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.201 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $1.171 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.04 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $825.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.064 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $939.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.796 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Crude oil - production

6,712 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Crude oil - proved reserves

NA bbl

Electricity - consumption

695.3 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - imports

500 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Electricity - installed generating capacity

145,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - production

210 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Refined petroleum products - consumption

5,629 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,330 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Area

total: 1.267 million sq km country comparison to the world: 22 land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Niger River 200 m highest point: Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note

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

740 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

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

Location

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts

Natural resources

uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

33.7 cu km (2003)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Constitution

adopted 31 October 2010

Country name

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

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Mamon Sambo SIDIKOU chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227 FAX: [1] (202)483-3169

Executive branch

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 description

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

republic

Independence

3 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court (7 judges with 6-year terms, nominated by the President); Court of Cassation (highest court dealing with judicial matters); Council of State (highest court dealing with administrative matters); Court of Finances (highest court dealing with public finances)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

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

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

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; note: the SPLM and SPLM-DC are banned political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 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. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou emerged victorious from a crowded field in the election following the coup and was inaugurated in April 2011. 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. The Nigerien Movement for Justice, a predominately Tuareg ethnic group, emerged in February 2007, and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Successful government offensives in 2009 limited the rebels' operational capabilities. Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya and spillover from the rebellion in Mali.

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 112

Military service age and obligation

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 50.1% (male 4,134,198/ female 4,056,350) 15-64 years: 47.3% (male 3,847,984/ female 3,874,984) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 219,011/ female 212,160) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

47.6 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Death rate

13.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Education expenditures

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

Ethnic groups

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

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

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

Health expenditures

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

Hospital bed density

0.31 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

total: 89.7 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 7 male: 94.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 84.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 53.8 years country comparison to the world: 204 male: 52.51 years female: 55.13 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

NIAMEY (capital) 1.004 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

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 rate

590 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 13

Median age

total: 15.2 years male: 15 years female: 15.4 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Physicians density

0.019 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

16,344,687 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Population growth rate

3.36% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

7.16 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 52,875 (Mali - 49,748 are Malians, 3,127 are Nigeriens) (2012) IDPs: undetermined (unknown how many of the 11,000 people displaced by clashes between government forces and the Tuareg militant group, Niger Movement for Justice, in 2007 are still displaced; inter-communal violence) (2012)

Trafficking in persons

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; 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; the government has not shown evidence of increasing efforts to address human trafficking; however, Niger was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is devoting sufficient resources to that plan; during the year, the government took some steps to finalize a national legal framework to combat trafficking and the president spoke publicly about the government's commitment to pursue vigorous law enforcement action against slavery, child prostitution, exploitive child begging, and other forms of human trafficking (2012)

Airports

30 (2012) country comparison to the world: 115

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 2 (2012)

Roadways

total: 18,949 km country comparison to the world: 112 paved: 3,912 km unpaved: 15,037 km (2008)

Waterways

300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2012) country comparison to the world: 94