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National Map
Of |
Niger |
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National Flag
Of |
Niger |
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Flag Description:
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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Niger |
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National Anthem
Of |
Niger |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Niger |
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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Western
Africa, southeast of Algeria |
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Geographic coordinates:
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16 00 N,
8 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
less than twice the size of Texas |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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desert;
mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south |
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Terrain:
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predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to
rolling plains in south; hills in north |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m |
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Natural resources:
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uranium,
coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum,
gypsum, salt, petroleum |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 3.54%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 96.45% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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660 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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recurring
droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation;
desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant,
hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of
poaching and habitat destruction |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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11,665,937 (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 47.3% (male 2,811,539/female 2,704,498)
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 2,890,119/female
3,009,281)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 130,953/female
119,547) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
16.25 years
male: 15.8 years
female: 16.72 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.63%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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48.3
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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21.33
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.65
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
121.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 125.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 117.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 43.5 years
male: 43.54 years
female: 43.45 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.75
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.2%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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70,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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4,800
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in
some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
(2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien |
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Ethnic groups:
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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 |
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Religions:
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Muslim
80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian |
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Languages:
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French
(official), Hausa, Djerma |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 17.6%
male: 25.8%
female: 9.7% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Niamey
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Administrative divisions:
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8 regions
(regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital
district* (commune urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso,
Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder |
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Independence:
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3 August
1960 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Republic
Day, 18 December (1958) |
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Constitution:
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new
constitution adopted 18 July 1999 |
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Legal system:
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based on
French civil law system and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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: 27-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% |
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Legislative branch:
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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, RSD 7, RDP 6,
ANDP 5, Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger 1,
other 8 |
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Judicial branch:
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State
Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
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Political parties and leaders:
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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 [TANDJA
Mamadou, 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 Social Democracy or RSD
[Cheiffou AMADOU]; Union of Democratic Patriots and
Progressives-Chamoua or UPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre'
SALIFOU, chairman] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Niger is
one of the poorest countries in the world, a landlocked
Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence
crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest
uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a
3.3% population growth rate, and the drop in world
demand for uranium 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. 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. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$9.716
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.5%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001) |
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Labor force:
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70,000
receive regular wages or salaries (2002 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
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Unemployment rate:
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NA (2002
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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63% (1993
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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50.5
(1995) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3% (2002
est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $320 million - including $134 million from
foreign sources
expenditures: $320 million, including capital
expenditures of $178 million (2002 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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cowpeas,
cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca),
rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses,
poultry |
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Industries:
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uranium
mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing,
chemicals, slaughterhouses |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA (2001
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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266.2
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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327.6
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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80
million kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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5,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Exports:
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$280
million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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uranium
ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions |
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Exports - partners:
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France
41%, Nigeria 22.4%, Japan 15.3%, Switzerland 6%, Spain
4.1%, Ghana 4% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$400
million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum,
cereals |
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Imports - partners:
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France
14.4%, US 10.3%, French Polynesia 9.4%, Nigeria 7.8%,
Cote d'Ivoire 7.5%, Japan 5.2%, China 5.1%, Thailand
4.1% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.6
billion (1999 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$341
million (1997) |
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Currency (code):
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note -
responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West
African States |
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Currency code:
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XOF |
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US
dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002),
733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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22,400
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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24,000
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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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) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 5, FM
6, shortwave 4 (2001) |
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Radios:
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680,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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3 (plus
seven low-power repeaters) (2002) |
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Televisions:
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125,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ne |
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Internet hosts:
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134
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2002)
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Internet users:
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15,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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300 km
note: Niger River is navigable to Gaya between
September and March (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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none |
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Airports:
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27 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Niger
Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army,
National Air Force (2005) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 2 years (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 2,135,680 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 1,180,027 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
126,719 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$33.3
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.1%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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Libya
claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant
dispute; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including
tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and states
expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed
Niger and Mekrou River islands; only Nigeria and
Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's
admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also
includes Chad and Niger |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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