Niger – country information

Country name	Niger
Official name	Niger Republic
Capital	Niamey
continent	Africa
Area	1,267,000 km
Population	17 129 076 (2012)
The highest mountains	Mount Greboun 2012 m
Longest rivers	Niger 4160 km (in the country 550 km)
State system	a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Niamey (capital) 520,000 (conurbation 850,000), Zinder 160,000, Maradi 150,000
Official language	French
Ethnicity/National Composition	Hausa 54.1%, Songhai/Zerm/Dendi 21.7%, Fulba 10.1%, Tuareg 8.4%, Kanuri 4.2%, Ted 0.2%, others 1.3%
Religious affiliation	Sunni Muslims 95%, traditional faiths 5%
Currency	1 CFA franc (XOF) = 100 centimes
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$807 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	43.76 let (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 37%, mining 5.5%, industry 9.5%, construction 2.5%, services 45.5%

Niger – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Populace
Algeria	Algiers	2,381,740 km	38 700 000
Benin	Porto Novo	112,622 km	10 323 000
Burkina	Ouagadougou	274,000 km	17 322 796
Chad	N’Djamena	1,284,000 km	12 825 000
Libya	Tripoli	1,759,540 km	6 202 000
Mali	Bamako	1,240,190 km	15 302 000
Nigeria	Abuja	923,768 km2	173 615 000

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, the Republic of Niger lies in the heart of North West Africa. This landlocked country shares borders with seven states. Together with them, they form the Sahel region, affected by repeated droughts since the late 1960s.

Niger (Great River) is a state in West Africa. Common borders – in the north – with Algeria, Libya, in the east – with Chad, in the south and southwest – with Nigeria, in the southwest – with Benin, Burkina Faso, in the west – with Mali. Has no access to the sea.

The capital is Niamey. The official language is French. Currency – CFA franc. Religion – Islam.

In general, Niger is one of the hottest countries in the world. Temperature +32*С. February-July +40*С. More than 80% of the country’s territory is located in the Sahara desert. The rest of the country is the semi-desert Sahel, constantly under the threat of drought and desertification.

To obtain a visa, you need to be vaccinated against yellow fever and cholera.

Sights

of Niger The name of the country itself appeared from the Niger River. From the Tamashek language, Niger is translated as the River of Rivers or the Great River.

Niger’s regions boast some of the most beautiful dunes in the Sahara, rugged mountain splendor, and the Tenere Desert, considered one of the most spectacular sights in western Africa. Here are located the ancient cities of the trans-Saharan trade route – Agadez and Zinder with their picturesque labyrinth of brick houses, unusual architecture and amazing locals. All this can undoubtedly serve as an excellent reason to visit this hot country.

Interesting Facts

Scot Mungo Park was the first European to enter Niger in 1805.

More than 60,000 tourists visit the country every year.

Niger is one of the hottest countries in the world.

From 1958 to 2010, the country changed 7 republics and there was one presidential assassination and two military coups. And in July 2011, another coup attempt took place.

They have fun living there.

Country data

Location: Africa

Time zone: CET (during summer time: CET – 1)

Total area: 1,267,000 km²

Land area: 1,266,700 km²

Water area: 300 km²

Length of the state border: 5,697 km

Bordering countries account for:
Algeria: 956 km
Benin: 266 km
Burkina Faso: 628 km
Libya: 354 km
Mali: 821 km
Nigeria: 1,497 km
Chad: 1,175 km

Coastline: 0 km

Capital: Niamey

Regions: 8
Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Telephone code: 00 227 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m

Population

Population: approx. 17.5 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 3.3% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 14

Life expectancy: 54 (male), 56 (female)

Official language: French

Religions:

• 80% Muslim
• 20% other

Climate

The summer months from the beginning of November to the end of May are very hot during the day, with temperatures of up to 45 ° C. At night, on the other hand, it can cool down to 0 ° C.

It only rains very rarely and then only for a short time.

The rainy season lasts from the beginning of June to the end of October. A lot of rain falls, especially in the south of Niger. During this time, too, the daytime temperatures only drop by a few degrees Celsius.

The best time to travel is from November to early March.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: CFA Franc (XOF)

ATMs: not available

International credit cards: Very rarely accepted in a few shops in the capital.

Regulations: Foreign currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts. The import and export of the local currency is limited to an amount of 25,000 CFA francs.

Since it is almost impossible to exchange the local currency back, you should only exchange amounts for what is actually needed.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 1 carton of cigarettes
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

We warn against traveling outside the capital Niamey!

The Islamist terrorist organization Boko Haram repeatedly attacks targets in the southeast of Niger. However, the risk of attack and kidnapping is very high across the country.

We therefore advise against travel to Niger that is not absolutely necessary.

Since there are still minefields from the civil wars in the northern regions, travel there should be avoided.

Entry into Niger is only allowed through border posts with a customs post.

Behavioral advice

Tourist trips in Niger should only be undertaken with experienced guides.

Furthermore, if possible, you should only travel in groups and not take individual excursions.

Economy

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Most of the population (over 80%) are employed in agriculture. Nevertheless, their income is not enough to supply the population.

The country’s most important export is uranium, which makes up around two thirds of all exports.

Industries: chemical industry, oil production, ore mining, food production, light industry, textile industry

Natural resources: iron ores, petroleum, gold, coal, phosphates, uranium, tin

Land use:

• Usable land: 3%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 7%
• Forests: 2%
• other: 88%

Plants

In the north there are almost only desert areas in which only single grasses grow.

Only in the south, where more rain falls, do tamarind, baobab and mahogany trees grow.

Animals

Most of the animals live in the south of the country, as there are still green oases here that serve as a source of food.

Antelopes, buffalo, giraffes and lions are some of the most common animal species to be found.