@Niger (Africa)
Introduction ::Niger
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,
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 (MNJ), and attacked several military
targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008.
Successful government offensives in 2009 limited the rebels'
operational capabilities.
Geography ::Niger
Location:
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Africa
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
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
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains
in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m
Natural resources:
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum,
salt, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 11.43%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 88.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
730 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
33.7 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.18 cu km/yr (4%/0%/95%)
per capita: 156 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts
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
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
People ::Niger
Population:
15,878,271 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Age structure:
0-14 years: 49.6% (male 3,840,379/female 3,758,674)
15-64 years: 48% (male 3,658,361/female 3,690,373)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 159,984/female 198,481) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.2 years
male: 15 years
female: 15.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.66% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Birth rate:
51.08 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Death rate:
14.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Urbanization:
urban population: 16% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 114.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 3
male: 119.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 109.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.99 years
country comparison to the world: 204
male: 51.75 years
female: 54.26 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.68 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
60,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
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)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 5 years
male: 5 years
female: 4 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 124
Government ::Niger
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district*
(communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua,
Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding
of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in
1960
Constitution:
adopted 18 July 1999
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Djibo SALOU, chairman of the Supreme Council for the
Restoration of Democracy, and a leader of the military coup that
deposed President Mamadou TANDJA on 18 February 2010
head of government: Prime Minister Mahamadou DANDA (since 19
February 2010); appointed by the president and shares some executive
responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president (Cabinet
dissolved following the 18 February 2010 coup)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); second round of election last held on
4 December 2004; a presidential election to restore civilian rule is
scheduled for 31 January 2011
election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of
vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MNSD 76, RSD 15, RDP 7, PNA-Alouma 1, Alkalami 1, Nigerien Party of
the Masses for Labor 1, independents 12
Judicial branch:
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Alkalama; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama
[Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing
Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social
Democratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social
Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE];
Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien
Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou
MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Party of the Masses for Labor; Nigerien
Progressive Party or PPN-RDA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or
RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or
RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly Tuareg
rebel group
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS (suspended), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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
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
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
National anthem:
name: "La Nigerienne" (The Nigerian)
lyrics/music: Maurice Albert THIRIET/Robert JACQUET and Nicolas Abel
Francois FRIONNET
note: adopted 1961
Economy ::Niger
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. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.58 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$10.22 billion (2009 est.)
$10.35 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.603 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
-1.2% (2009 est.)
9.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
$700 (2009 est.)
$700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)
Labor force:
4.688 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 77
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 35.7% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1995)
country comparison to the world: 21
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$782.6 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
$617.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$844.6 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$683.6 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 158
$313.5 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice;
cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Industries:
uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing,
chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - production:
150 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Electricity - consumption:
589.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
450 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Oil - imports:
5,367 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Current account balance:
-$321 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Exports:
$428 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 170
Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:
France 52.63%, Nigeria 22.43%, US 18.24% (2009)
Imports:
$800 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 177
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:
China 16.32%, France 15.95%, Netherlands 7.66%, Algeria 7.15%,
French Polynesia 6.11%, Nigeria 5.48%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.15%, US 4.05%
(2009)
Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04
(2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has
been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro;
West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in
countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa,
even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Niger
Telephones - main lines in use:
65,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.599 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 121
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 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)
Broadcast media:
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:
.ne
Internet hosts:
172 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 198
Internet users:
115,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155
Transportation ::Niger
Airports:
27 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 123
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 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 18,949 km
country comparison to the world: 113
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) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
Military ::Niger
Military branches:
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army,
Nigerien Air Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2010)
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)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,202,237
females age 16-49: 3,151,521 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,104,378
females age 16-49: 2,129,985 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 177,985
female: 172,180 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 117
Transnational Issues ::Niger
Disputes - international:
Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in
the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint
with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; 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
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 - 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
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Niger does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking and is not making any significant efforts to do so; the
government demonstrated marginal efforts to combat human
trafficking, including traditional slavery, during the last year
(2009)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Nigeria (Africa)
Introduction ::Nigeria
Background:
British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and
Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A
series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater
autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of
military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a
peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The
government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a
petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through
corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In
addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and
religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential
elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence,
Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian
rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked
the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's
history. In January 2010, Nigeria assumed a nonpermanent seat on the
UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.
Geography ::Nigeria
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and
Cameroon
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 923,768 sq km
country comparison to the world: 32
land: 910,768 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,047 km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger
1,497 km
Coastline:
853 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:
southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains
in southeast, plains in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium,
lead, zinc, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 33.02%
permanent crops: 3.14%
other: 63.84% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,820 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
286.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.01 cu km/yr (21%/10%/69%)
per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; flooding
Environment - current issues:
soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water
pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil;
has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land;
rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements: