Niger

At a glance Land People Economy Achievements and challenges Links with Australia Niger at a glance Did you know? Slavery did not become illegal in Niger until May 2004 and, despite this, many slaves are still owned by nomadic groups in the north. Region West Africa Population 12,894,865(July 2007 estimate) Land Geography: Desert plains with hills in the north Climate: Hot, dry and dusty desert conditions, tropical climate in the far south People Religion: Muslim, 80%; other (indigenous beliefs and Christian), 20% Language: French (official), Hausa, Djerma Economy GDP per person: (PPP): US$1,000 GDP by sector: Agriculture 39% Industry 17% Services 44% : Government Republic Land Physical geography Niger is a land-locked country which has borders with seven other countries. With an area of 1,267,000 square kilometres, it is larger than South Australia (983,482 square kilometres) and smaller than Queensland (1,730,648 square kilometres). The Hamada Manguene Highlands dominate the country in the north-east and the Massif de l'Air rises in the centre. To the east and west of the central massif are Saharan desert plains. Sand or thin, sandy soil covers much of west, north and central Niger, but around the Niger River basin in the west, and in the south-east corner near Lake Chad, soils are rich and fertile. Niger 's highest peak is Mt Bagzane (2,022 metres) in the centre of the country. Climate The dry and dusty Harmattan wind from the Sahara blows in the north, where desert conditions prevail and where temperatures can rise to more than 45°C during May. Annual rainfall there can be as little as 2 millimetres per year, with rain often evaporating before it hits the ground. Although the central area of the country is still dry it can receive up to 25 millimetres. The annual rainy season occurs between May and September, but rainfall patterns and amounts differ from year to year, causing problems for agriculture. In the capital, Niamey, in the Niger River basin, the daily temperature fluctuates between 31°C (August) and 41°C (April). Environment Much of Niger is already desert but deforestation, overgrazing and recurring drought are leading to the southwards creep of the desert, and threatening to cover what small amounts of productive land exist. Wildlife populations are threatened by both poaching for ‘bush food' and destruction of their habitats. Threatened species include the addax, cheetah and dama gazelle. The Sahara oryx has become extinct in the wild. People Approximately 75% of the population lives near the southern border. About 20% of the population lives in cities, the capital Niamey (225,314 ), Zinder (58,436), Maradi (45,852 ), Tahoua (31,265) and Agadéz (20,475) which are concentrated in the south of the country. About 25% of the total population live traditional nomadic lives in the dry north. People Culture and identity The ethnic composition of the population of Niger is Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou and Gourmantche 1.2%. Muslim culture has had a major effect on the culture of Niger, although it is a secular state and not governed under religious laws. The Hausa live in the central and southern areas of Niger where they are known for their skills in farming (growing millet and peanuts) and working with leather and textiles. The Tuaregs come from a warrior background and now herd camels, goats, sheep and cattle. Their nomadic lifestyle is under threat from persistent drought and the loss of grazing land. The Fula, who are spread throughout west Africa, are also herders who have a rich musical culture of song with drums, hoddu (a plucked skin-covered lute similar to a banjo) and riiti (a one-string bowed instrument similar to a violin). Health Life expectancy in Niger is only 44.3 years and the infant mortality rate is 116.83 deaths for every 1,000 live births. Only 32% of the population lives within one hour's travel of medical care, although there are mobile medical units serving remote areas. Niger 's lack of development contributes to the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, diarrhoea, hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera and meningitis. Less than half the people have access to clean drinking water and only 13% have access to sanitation. Food shortages mean that many people (especially young children) are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Religion and beliefs Over 80% of the population are Muslim, most of them Sunnis. Islamic celebrations take place at the end of Ramadan, the Feast of the Sacrifice, the Birthday of the Prophet, the Muslim New Year and Independence Day. Christians account for less than 5% of the population, and the remaining percentage is made up of people who practise traditional, indigenous religions. The Niger government is committed to allowing religious freedom. Food and shelter Rice is a staple food and is served with fish, chicken and other meats. Manioc (cassava) and beans also feature in the diet of the people of Niger . Among the northern nomadic groups, millet porridge is a staple food. There is a major shortage of arable land in Niger and less than 1000 square kilometres are irrigated. Recurring droughts lead to food insecurity even in years of average rainfall. Economy Wealth and poverty Niger is among the poorest of the world's countries, ranking lowest on the UN's human poverty index for developing countries. The GDP per capita is US$1000 but there is a big difference between the richest 10% who share 35.4% of wealth while the poorest 10% share on 0.8%. Almost 70% of the population lives below the poverty line. Nearly half of Niger 's annual budget comes from aid and donations and it receives enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries, which means that Niger has reduced obligations to pay interest on debts and foreign loans. Education and work Schooling in Niger is free and compulsory between the ages of 7 and 12, but children spend an average of only 2.3 years at school. Teacher shortages and the widely-spread population mean that fewer than one-third of primary school-age children attend school and only 7% are enrolled in secondary school. Abdou Moumouni Dioffo University in Niamey is Niger 's only university. Only 28.7% of the total population is literate and there is a wide disparity between the literacy rates of males, 43%, and females, 15% (2004). The labour force is made up of 90% agriculture, 6% industry and 4% services. A quarter of the population aged between 10 and 14 and half of the population aged over 64 are active in the workforce. Industries and products Agricultural products include cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca) and rice; as well as cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses and poultry. Niger is the third-highest uranium producer in the world behind Canada and Australia . Other natural resources found in Niger include coal, iron ore, tin and gold, while exploration for oil in the Lake Chad area is ongoing. Niger 's industries include mining (uranium and coal), production of bricks, cement and chemicals, textile manufacture and food processing. Trade In 2004 Niger exported uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas and onions worth US$222 million to France 47.9%, Nigeria 21.4%, US 20.3%. It imported foodstuffs, machinery, petroleum, cereals, vehicles and vehicle parts worth $588 million. Niger has a growing trade relationship with China : China exports rice, textiles and telecommunication materials to Niger , and provides employment through development projects such as dam construction, telecommunication establishment and well drilling. Achievements and challenges Niger experiences many natural disasters, including drought (2005) and locust invasions (2004), which have led directly to food-supply crises. Population pressure and dam building have radically altered the river flows. Improved management including restoring the river flow and sediment transport through controlled water release, replanting vegetation to limit erosion and building sandbanks to retain rain water and raising the water table have resulted in the restoration of 10,000 hectares over two years and provided employment to 60,000 people. Low-cost, labour-intensive farming methods, such as planting small sustainable gardens, using hand-operated water pumps, applying animal dung for fertiliser, and planting and protecting nitrogen-fixing trees that are resistant to drought, have increased the income of small farmers by enabling them to produce surpluses. A Health Development Plan has been devised and will be implemented until 2010. With the help of foreign aid, this Plan has already contributed to a sharp growth in the number of health facilities and better training for doctors, midwives and nurses. Niger is now enjoying a period of political stability after President Mamadou Tandja won a second term in office in late 2004; coups and assassinations were common before his election in 1999. Links with Australia Australia has provided aid for Niger through the World Food Programme (emergency food aid) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (aid to combat locust plagues). Main sources: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html http://www20.sbs.com.au/worldguide/index.php http://hdr.undp.org/ http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/index.html

The family arrives for a baptism celebration at this small settlement in the north of Niger . © World Vision