|RNature and climate:|N There are three natural regions. In the south the area around River Niger and against the border to Nigeria with an arable land that is densely populated. Percipitation 600 mm.
The northern half of Niger is an uninhabited desert, part of the Sahara desert, with a percipitation of less than 100 mm.
Between these two areas is a steppe with low percipitation used as pasture by nomadic people.
Average temperature in January between 15 and 20°C and in July between 30 and 33°C.
|REconomy:|N Agriculture and stockraising occupies more than 90% of the population in Niger that is one of the poorest countries of the world, where only 3% is arable and only 7% can be used for pasture.
Most important crops for food are millet, cassava, durra, beans, onions and rice and for export cotton and peanuts.
Stockraising gives big export revenues, usually about 50% of the total export revenues.
There are many mineral resources within the country, mainly uranium, tin, phosphates, gypsum, iron and coal. Most important is uranium giving 50% of export revenues.
Extraction of the other minerals are difficult due to poorly developed transportation.
Manufacturing is small and aimed at processing the agricultural products.
|RHistory:|N During the Middle Ages Niger alternately belonged to different vast empires based in Mali, Nigeria and Chad.
In the 18th century Tuaregs invaded from the north. They formed several different tribal alliances and finally united with the local Hausa-people.
In the late 19th century France gained influence, occupied vast areas and in 1922 the whole Niger became a French colony.
In 1946 Niger was granted internal selfruling and in 1958 it became an autonomous country within the French Overseas Community. Full independence followed in 1960.
The popularly elected president was ousted in a military coup 1974. In 1991 an interim government was installed with the hope to establish democracy.
Long periods of drought regularly occurs in Niger. There was one period between 1967 and 1973 and another period started at the end of the 1980:s. During these periods most of the cattle dies and the crops fail causing widespread famine.
