COUNTRY INFORMATION |
Introduction |
Landlocked in the west of Africa, Niger is linked to the sea by the Niger river. Saharan conditions prevail in the northern regions, in the area around the Aïr mountains, and, particularly, in the vast uninhabited northeast. Niger was ruled by one-party or military regimes until 1992. A much-troubled democratic process was then disrupted by military coups in 1996 and 1999. It is one of the poorest countries in Africa. |
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Climate |
 |
The Saharan north is virtually rainless. The south, in the Sahel belt, has an unreliable rainy season, preceded by a period of extreme daytime heat. |
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People |
Languages |
Hausa, Djerma, Fulani, Tuareg, Teda, French |
|
URBAN/RURAL POPULATION DIVIDE |
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Considerable tensions exist in Niger between the Tuaregs in the north and the southern groups. The Tuaregs' sense of alienation from mainstream Nigerien politics has increased since the 1973 and 1984 droughts, which disrupted the Tuaregs's nomadic way of life. A five-year rebellion by northern Tuaregs ended in 1995 with a peace agreement. In eastern Niger, Toubou and Arab groups have also been in revolt. A more subtle antagonism exists between the Djerma and Hausa groups. The Djerma elite from the southwest dominated politics for many years until 1993, when control passed to the Hausa majority. Niger is an overwhelmingly Islamic society. Women have, on the whole, only limited rights and restricted access to education. |
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Economy |
GNP (US$) |
1939
|
M |
GNP World rank |
139
|
|
Inflation |
3 |
% |
Unemployment |
3 |
% |
|
StrengthsVast uranium deposits; gold and oil discoveries in late 1990s revived hopes for economic viability. WeaknessesAid-dependent. Collapse of uranium prices in 1980s created large debt burden. Only 3% of land cultivable. Weak infrastructure. Frequent droughts. Political instability. |
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Politics |
Lower house |
Last election |
1999 |
Next election |
2004 |
Upper house |
Last election |
Not applicable |
Next election |
Not applicable |
|
The death in 1987 of the military dictator, President Seyni Kountché, paved the way for pro-democracy demonstrations and eventually led to multiparty elections in 1993. An ensuing power struggle between President Mahamane Ousmane and his political opponents provoked a military coup in 1996. Gen. Ibrahim Barre Mainassara promulgated a new constitution and won a presidential election condemned as fraudulent by the opposition. Mainassara was assassinated by his presidential guard in early 1999. The new military leadership drew up yet another constitution. MNSD leader Mamadou Tandja won the presidential poll later that year. His party, allied with the CDS of former president Ousmane, dominates the new legislature. |
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International Affairs |
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Relations with Libya and Algeria have improved since the end of the Tuareg rebellion in 1995. ECOWAS members and the OAU condemned the 1999 coup, as did all key donors, led by France. |
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Defence |
Expenditure (US$) |
26 |
M |
Portion of GDP |
2 |
% |
|
Army |
No main battle tanks |
Navy |
None |
Airforce |
No combat aircraft |
Nuclear capab. |
None |
|
Niger's armed forces and paramilitary elements total 10,700. Politics has been dominated by the military since 1974. |
|
Resources |
Minerals |
Uranium, tin, gypsum, coal, salt, tungsten, oil, iron, phosphates, gold |
|
Oil reserves (barrels) |
No data |
Oil production (barrels/day) |
Not an oil producer |
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During the 1970s, Niger's uranium mines boomed, but output collapsed in the 1980s when world prices slumped. Other mining is small-scale and oil reserves, discovered in the Lake Chad area, are not yet commercially viable. Salt is a traditionally exploited resource, as are such plant resources as the doum and palmyra palms. |
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Environment |
Protected land |
8 |
% |
Part protected land |
No data |
% |
|
|
Serious droughts intensify desertification. Hunting was banned in 2001, in an effort to preserve the wildlife population. |
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Communications |
Main airport |
Niamey International |
Passengers per year |
84096 |
|
Motorways |
428
|
km |
Roads |
798
|
km |
Railways |
0
|
km |
|
A very small proportion of Niger's road network is paved. There are international airports at Niamey and Agadez. There is no railroad. |
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International Aid |
Donated (US$) |
Not applicable
|
M |
Received (US$) |
211
|
M |
|
France is the principal donor, followed by the IMF and Arab funds. Most aid was frozen immediately following the 1999 coup, but in late 2000 the IMF approved a three-year loan under its Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. |
|
Health |
Life expectancy |
45 |
Life expect. World rank |
176 |
Population per doctor |
20000 |
Infant mortality (per 1000 births) |
114 |
|
|
Principal causes of death |
Malaria, tuberculosis, meningitis, measles, malnutrition |
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In spite of progress in rural health care, immunization, malaria control, and child nutrition are still limited. |
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Education |
Literacy |
16 |
% |
Expend. % GNP |
3 |
%
|
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PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN FULL TIME EDUCATION |
|
Primary |
31 |
% |
Secondary |
7 |
% |
Tertiary |
1 |
% |
|
Local languages are emphasized more strongly than in most francophone states. School attendance is only 30%. |
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Criminality |
Crime rate trend |
Down 36% 1996–1998 |
|
|
Murder |
1 |
per 100,000 population |
Rape |
1 |
per 100,000 population |
Theft |
53 |
per 100,000 population |
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Rural banditry is common, often involving access to grazing and water. Urban crime levels are low, but in border areas smuggling is a way of life. |
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Wealth |
Cars |
4 |
per 1,000 population |
Telephones |
2 |
per 1,000 population |
Televisions |
37 |
per 1,000 population |
|
A small circle of secretive trading families controls much of Niger's wealth. They are successful in evading taxation. |
|
Media |
Newspapers |
There is 1 daily newspaper, Le Sahel, published by the government |
TV services |
3 services: 2 state-owned, 1 independent |
Radio services |
3 services: 1 state-owned, 2 independent |
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|
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Tourism |
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The Aïr mountains, southern Hausa cities, and Saharan Tuareg culture attract some tourists in spite of Niger's limited infrastructure and its instability. |
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History |
The powerful Islamic Sokoto empire dissolved as the French took Niger over between 1883 and 1901. - 1960 Independence.
- 1968 French open uranium mines.
- 1973 Drought; 60% of livestock die.
- 1974 Military coup. Gen. Kountché bans political parties.
- 1984 New drought; Niger river dries up. Uranium boom ends.
- 1987 Kountché dies. Gen. Ali Saibou eases transition to democracy.
- 1990–1995 Tuareg rebellion.
- 1992 Multiparty constitution.
- 1993 Democratic elections.
- 1996 Military coup. Staged elections.
- 1999 Gen. Mainassara assassinated. New constitution. Multiparty elections won by Mamadou Tandja.
- 2001 Hunting banned in effort to save wildlife.
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