Dialing code +227
ISO 2 code NE
ISO 3 code NER
Capital Niamey
Main Language French
Currency Franc (XOF)
GDP $9.8 billion 146th
Population 15,878,271 62nd

Geography

Continent Africa
Location Western Africa southeast of Algeria
Land 1,267,000 km2 22nd
Terrain Predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Climate Desert; mostly hot dry dusty; tropical in extreme south
Natural Hazards Predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
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

Neighbouring Countries

Algeria Benin Burkina Faso Chad Libya Mali Nigeria

History

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 coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. 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. Events have since evolved into a fledging insurgency.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 52.6 years 183rd
Median Age 15.2 years 205th
Birth Rate 51.6 births/1,000 population 1st
Death Rate 14.83 births/1,000 population 21st
Sex Ratio 0.81 male(s)/female 82nd
Literacy 28.7% 203rd
Population

15.9 million

Transportation

Roadways 18550 km 114th
Railways None km
Airports 27 121st
Waterways 300 km 92nd
Heliports None
Airports paved 1 178th

Economy

Currency Franc (XOF)
GDP $9.8 billion 146th
GDP per capita (PPP) $700 198th