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PEOPLE

Language
French is the official language, but several local languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	15.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	13.6 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	13.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	13.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	12.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	12.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	11.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	11.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	11.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
58.2 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Niger's herding peoples vary in ethnic origins from Berber Tuareg to Fulani, including the Tibu. The south is dominated by the Hausa, Djerma, Songhai and Kamuri, among others.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Islam, though traditional African religions and a Christian minority are also present in the south.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	17.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	17.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	16.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	16.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	16.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	16.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	16.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	16.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1948
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
38 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	48.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	49.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	49.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	50 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	49.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	49.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +1

Climate description
Dry season from October to May. Dry and cooling from November to January but dusty "harmattan" blowing from the east.

Currency
CFA Franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 227

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	55.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	44.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	44.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	45.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	45.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	56.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	44.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	44.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	45.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	45.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	54.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	44.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	44.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	45.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	45.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	83 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	148 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	150 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	152 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	154 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	156 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	156 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	159 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	176 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	253 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	256 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	259 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	262 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	265 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	270 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	1800 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	1600 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	174	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	177	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	177	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	176	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	174	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	172	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	44 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	44 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	40 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	40 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	29 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	32 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	32 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	42 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	46 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	46 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	59 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	7 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	13 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	20 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	28.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	14.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	17.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	16.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	15.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	42.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	19.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	25.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	24.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	23.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	15.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	9.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	9.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	8.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	8.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	114 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	64 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	36 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	25 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	14 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	0.2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	0.2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	0.3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	115 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	123 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	138 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	126 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	122 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	60.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	60.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	61.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	61.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	61.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	280 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	270 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	220 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	200 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	170 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	170 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	170 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	4.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	3.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	3.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	2.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	2.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	4.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	7.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	-0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	4.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	3.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	7.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	-1.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	3.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	6.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-2.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.8 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
35.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	2 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	3 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	3 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	4 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Chloroquine resistance reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	174 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	171 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	168 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	164 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	161 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	158 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	155 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	152 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	796	UNHCR
2007	827	UNHCR
2006	818	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	655	UNHCR
2004	689	UNHCR
2003	728	UNHCR
2002	834	UNHCR
2001	483	UNHCR
2000	493	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	320	UNHCR
2007	319	UNHCR
2006	317	UNHCR
2005	301	UNHCR
2004	344	UNHCR
2003	328	UNHCR
2002	296	UNHCR
2001	83	UNHCR
2000	58	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2007	96	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	4	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	No data available percent
2004	1.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	1.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	1.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

PEOPLE

USEFUL INFORMATION

STANDARD OF LIVING

ECONOMY & AID

HEALTH

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Countries

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