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nigermore about niger

niger


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Niger 
  n  1:  an  African  river;  flows  into  the  South  Atlantic  [syn:  {Niger}, 
  {Niger  River}] 
  2:  a  republic  in  West  Africa;  gained  independence  from  France 
  in  1960  [syn:  {Niger}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Niger 
  black,  a  surname  of  Simeon  (Acts  13:1).  He  was  probably  so 
  called  from  his  dark  complexion. 
 
 
  From  Hitchcock's  Bible  Names  Dictionary  (late  1800's)  [hitchcock]: 
 
  Niger,  black 
 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Niger 
 
  Niger:Geography 
 
  Location:  Western  Africa,  southeast  of  Algeria 
 
  Map  references:  Africa 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  1.267  million  sq  km 
  land  area:  1,266,700  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  less  than  twice  the  size  of  Texas 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  5,697  km  Algeria  956  km  Benin  266  km  Burkina 
  628  km  Chad  1,175  km  Libya  354  km  Mali  821  km  Nigeria  1,497  km 
 
  Coastline:  0  km  (landlocked) 
 
  Maritime  claims:  none;  landlocked 
 
  International  disputes:  Libya  claims  about  19,400  sq  km  in  northern 
  Niger;  demarcation  of  international  boundaries  in  Lake  Chad,  the  lack 
  of  which  has  led  to  border  incidents  in  the  past,  is  completed  and 
  awaiting  ratification  by  Cameroon,  Chad,  Niger,  and  Nigeria;  Burkina 
  and  Mali  are  proceeding  with  boundary  demarcation,  including  the 
  tripoint  with  Niger 
 
  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 
 
  Natural  resources:  uranium,  coal,  iron  ore,  tin,  phosphates 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  3% 
  permanent  crops:  0% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  7% 
  forest  and  woodland:  2% 
  other:  88% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  320  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  overgrazing  soil  erosion;  deforestation; 
  desertification  wildlife  populations  (such  as  elephant,  hippopotamus, 
  and  lion)  threatened  because  of  poaching  and  habitat  destruction 
  natural  hazards:  recurring  droughts 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Endangered  Species,  Environmental 
  Modification,  Nuclear  Test  Ban,  Ozone  Layer  Protection,  Wetlands; 
  signed,  but  not  ratified  -  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change, 
  Desertification  Law  of  the  Sea 
 
  Note:  landlocked 
 
  Niger:People 
 
  Population:  9,280,208  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  49%  (female  2,275,338;  male  2,275,999) 
  15-64  years:  49%  (female  2,314,857;  male  2,188,938) 
  65  years  and  over:  2%  (female  107,432;  male  117,644)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  3.4%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  54.8  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  20.8  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  0  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  109.3  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  45.07  years 
  male:  43.42  years 
  female:  46.77  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  7.35  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Nigerien(s) 
  adjective:  Nigerien 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  Hausa  56%,  Djerma  22%,  Fula  8.5%,  Tuareg  8%,  Beri 
  Beri  Kanouri  4.3%,  Arab,  Toubou  and  Gourmantche  1.2%,  about  4,000 
  French  expatriates 
 
  Religions:  Muslim  80%,  remainder  indigenous  beliefs  and  Christians 
 
  Languages:  French  (official),  Hausa,  Djerma 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1988) 
  total  population:  11% 
  male:  17% 
  female:  5% 
 
  Labor  force:  2.5  million  wage  earners  (1982) 
  by  occupation:  agriculture  90%,  industry  and  commerce  6%,  government 
  4% 
 
  Niger:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Niger 
  conventional  short  form:  Niger 
  local  long  form:  Republique  du  Niger 
  local  short  form:  Niger 
 
  Digraph:  NG 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Niamey 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  7  departments  (departements,  singular  - 
  departement);  Agadez  Diffa,  Dosso,  Maradi,  Niamey,  Tahoua,  Zinder 
 
  Independence:  3  August  1960  (from  France) 
 
  National  holiday:  Republic  Day  18  December  (1958) 
 
  Constitution:  approved  by  national  referendum  16  December  1992; 
  promulgated  January  1993 
 
  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:  President  Mahamane  OUSMANE  (since  16  April  1993); 
  election  last  held  17  March  1993  (next  to  be  held  NA  February  1998) 
  head  of  government:  Prime  Minister  Hama  AMADOU  (since  21  February 
  1995) 
  cabinet:  Cabinet;  appointed  by  the  president  on  recommendation  of  the 
  prime  minister 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  National  Assembly:  elected  by  proportional  representation  for  5  year 
  terms;  elections  last  held  12  January  1995  (next  to  be  held  NA); 
  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party  NA  seats  -  (83  total)  MNSD-NASSARA 
  29,  CDS  24,  PNDS  12,  ANDP-Z  9,  UDFP  3,  UDPS  2,  PADN  2,  PPN-RDA  1,  UPDP 
  1 
 
  Judicial  branch:  State  Court  (Cour  d'Etat),  Court  of  Appeal  (Cour 
  d'Apel) 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  National  Movement  of  the  Development 
  Society  (MNSD-NASSARA),  Mamadou  TANDJA  chairman;  Democratic  and 
  Social  Convention  (CDS),  Jacoub  SANOUSSI  Nigerien  Party  for  Democracy 
  and  Socialism  (PNDS),  Mahamadou  ISSOUFOU  Nigerien  Alliance  for 
  Democracy  and  Progress-Zamanlahia  (ANDP-Z),  Moumouni  Adamou 
  DJERMAKOYE  Union  of  Popular  Forces  for  Democracy  and  Progress-Sawaba 
  (UDFP),  Djibo  BAKARY,  chairman;  Union  for  Democracy  and  Social 
  Progress  (UDPS),  Akoli  DAOUEL  Niger  Social  Democrat  Party  (PADN), 
  Malam  Adji  WAZIRI  Niger  Progressive  Party-African  Democratic  Rally 
  (PPN-RDA),  Dori  ABDOULAI  chairman;  Union  of  Patriots,  Democrats,  and 
  Progressives  (UPDP),  Professor  Andre  SALIFOU  chairman 
 
  Member  of:  ACCT,  ACP,  AfDB  CCC,  CEAO,  ECA,  ECOWAS  Entente,  FAO,  FZ 
  G-77,  GATT,  IAEA,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICRM,  IDA,  IDB,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO, 
  IMF,  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  ITU,  NAM,  OAU,  OIC,  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO, 
  UNIDO  UPU,  WADB,  WCL,  WFTU  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Adamou  SEYDOU 
  chancery:  2204  R  Street  NW  Washington,  DC  20008 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  483-4224  through  4227 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  John  S.  DAVISON 
  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 
 
  Flag:  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 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  Niger  is  one  of  the  world's  poorest  countries,  with  GDP 
  growth  lagging  behind  the  rapid  growth  of  population.  The  economy  is 
  centered  on  subsistence  agriculture,  animal  husbandry,  and  reexport 
  trade  and  increasingly  less  on  uranium,  its  major  export  throughout 
  the  1970s  and  1980s.  Uranium  revenues  dropped  by  almost  50%  between 
  1983  and  1990  with  the  end  of  the  uranium  boom.  Terms  of  trade  with 
  Nigeria,  Niger's  largest  regional  trade  partner,  have  improved 
  dramatically  since  the  50%  devaluation  of  the  African  franc  in  January 
  1994;  this  devaluation  boosted  exports  of  livestock,  peas,  onions,  and 
  the  products  of  Niger's  small  cotton  industry.  The  government  relies 
  on  bilateral  and  multilateral  aid  for  operating  expenses  and  public 
  investment  and  is  strongly  induced  to  adhere  to  structural  adjustment 
  programs  designed  by  the  IMF  and  the  World  Bank. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $4.6  billion  (1993 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  1.4%  (1993  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $550  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  NA% 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  NA% 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $188  million 
  expenditures:  $400  million,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $125 
  million  (1993  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $246  million  (f.o.b.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  uranium  ore  67%,  livestock  products  20%,  cowpeas,  onions 
  partners:  France  77%,  Nigeria  8%,  Cote  d'Ivoire,  Italy 
 
  Imports:  $286  million  (c.i.f.,  1993  est.) 
  commodities:  consumer  goods,  primary  materials,  machinery,  vehicles 
  and  parts  petroleum,  cereals 
  partners:  France  23%,  Cote  d'Ivoire,  Germany,  Italy,  Japan 
 
  External  debt:  $1.2  billion  (December  1991  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  -2.7%  (1992  est.);  accounts  for  15% 
  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  60,000  kW 
  production:  200  million  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  42  kWh  (1992) 
 
  Industries:  cement,  brick,  textiles,  food  processing,  chemicals, 
  slaughterhouses,  and  a  few  other  small  light  industries;  uranium 
  mining  began  in  1971 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  roughly  40%  of  GDP  and  90%  of  labor  force; 
  cash  crops  -  cowpeas,  cotton,  peanuts;  food  crops  -  millet,  sorghum, 
  cassava,  rice;  livestock  -  cattle,  sheep,  goats;  self-sufficient  in 
  food  except  in  drought  years 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $380  million; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $3.165  billion;  OPEC  bilateral  aid  (1979-89),  $504  million; 
  Communist  countries  (1970-89),  $61  million 
 
  Currency:  1  CFA  franc  CFAF  =  100  centimes 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Communaute  Financiere  Africaine  francs  CFAF  per  US$1 
  -  529.43  (January  1995),  555.20  (1994),  283.16  (1993),  264.69  (1992), 
  282.11  (1991),  272.26  (1990) 
  note:  the  official  rate  is  pegged  to  the  French  franc,  and  beginning 
  12  January  1994,  the  CFA  franc  was  devalued  to  CFAF  100  per  French 
  franc  from  CFAF  50  at  which  it  had  been  fixed  since  1948 
 
  Fiscal  year:  1  October  -  30  September 
 
  Niger:Transportation 
 
  Railroads:  0  km 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  39,970  km 
  paved:  bituminous  3,170  km 
  unpaved:  gravel,  laterite  10,330  km  earth  3,470  km  tracks  23,000  km 
 
  Inland  waterways:  Niger  River  is  navigable  300  km  from  Niamey  to  Gaya 
  on  the  Benin  frontier  from  mid-December  through  March 
 
  Ports:  none 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  29 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  2 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  6 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  3 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  1 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  16 
 
  Niger:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  14,260  telephones;  small  system  of  wire, 
  radiocommunications,  and  radio  relay  links  concentrated  in 
  southwestern  area 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  wire,  radiocommunications,  and  radio  relay;  3  domestic 
  satellite  links,  with  1  planned 
  international:  2  INTELSAT  (1  Atlantic  Ocean  and  1  Indian  Ocean)  earth 
  stations 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  15,  FM  5,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  18 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Niger:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Army,  Air  Force,  National  Gendarmerie,  Republican  Guard, 
  National  Police 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  1,908,767;  males  fit  for 
  military  service  1,029,384;  males  reach  military  age  (18)  annually 
  94,506  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $32  million,  1.3%  of 
  GDP  (FY92/93) 
 
 
 




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