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| Overview | People | Geography | Economy | Government | Communications | Transport | Military | Map |
| Country | Niger |
| Flag |  |
| Capital | name: Niamey geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Population | 15,306,252 (July 2009 est.) |
| GMT | +1 |
| Location | Western Africa, southeast of Algeria see map |
| Area | total: 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km |
| Ethnic groups | Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census) |
| Religions | Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20% |
| Languages | French (official), Hausa, Djerma |
| Government type | republic |
| National holiday | Republic Day, 18 December (1958) |
| Constitution | new constitution adopted 18 July 1999 |
| Legal system | based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Background | Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Events have since evolved into a fledging insurgency. |
| Internet country code | .ne |
