Discovering the World
Niger 🇳🇪
Basic facts
Official name: République du Niger (Republic of the Niger)
Capital city: Niamey
Population: 26.3 million (2023)
Demonym: Nigerien
Type of government: unitary republic
Head of state: Abdourahamane Tchiani (President)
Head of government: Ali Lamine Zeine (Prime Minister)
Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $42.73 billion (2023)
Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 34% (medium) (2014)
Human Development Index: 0.394 (low) (2022)
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Fun fact: It has the highest fertility rate in the world.
Etymology
The country’s name comes from the Niger River. The origin of its name is uncertain, but Alexandrian geographer Ptolemy wrote a description of the river valley Gir and the Ni-Gir (“lower Gir”), possibly the Niger River.
Geography
Niger is located in West Africa and borders Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Niger to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest.
There are two main climates: hot steppe in the south and hot desert in the rest. Temperatures range from 10 °C (50 °F) in winter to 41 °C (105.8 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 28 °C (82.4 °F).
The country is divided into seven regions (régions), which are further divided into 63 departments (départements) and a capital district (district de la capitale). The largest cities in Niger are Niamey, Maradi, Zinder, Tahoua, and Agadez.
History
700-1380: Kanem Empire
1235-1670: Mali Empire
1380-1893: Bornu Empire
1404-1906: Sultanate of Agadez
1430s-1591: Songhai Empire
1591-1901: Dendi Kingdom
1731-1895: Sultanate of Damagaram
1804-1903: Sokoto Caliphate
1895-1958: French West Africa
1958-present: Republic of the Niger
1974: coup d’état
1990-1995: Tuareg rebellion
2007-2009: Tuareg rebellion
2009-2010: constitutional crisis
2010: military coup
2023: coup
Economy
Niger mainly imports from France, China, and India and exports to France, Mali, and Nigeria. Its top exports are uranium ore, onions, and palm oil.
It has coal, iron, and phosphate reserves. Agriculture represents 44.3% of the GDP, followed by services (40.8%) and industry (14.9%).
Niger is a member of the African Union, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, and the Economic Community of West African States.
Demographics
The Hausa are the largest ethnic group (53.1%), followed by the Songhai (21.2%), Tuareg (11%), Fulani (6.5%), and Kanuri (5.9%). The main religion is Islam, practiced by 99.3% of the population, 80% of which is Sunni.
It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 6.8 children per woman. 16.9% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 60 years and the median age is 14.8 years. The literacy rate is 35.1%.
Languages
The official language of the country is French. There are ten recognized national languages, namely, Arabic, Buduma, Fulani, Gourmanché, Hausa, Kanuri, Songhai, Tamasheq, Tasawaq, and Tebu.
Culture
Nigerien culture has different influences, as the country was at the crossroads of several cultural areas. Values such as generosity and sharing are very important.
Men traditionally wear a loose robe (boubou), pants, and a cloth cap or turban. Women wear a blouse, a matching wraparound skirt, and a headscarf.
Architecture
Traditional houses in Niger are made of mud bricks and have flat roofs. They are often decorated with geometric patterns.
Cuisine
The Nigerien diet is based on meat, rice, and vegetables. Typical dishes include chakery (sweet couscous with milk and sugar), dambou (a dish made from cereals, meat, and moringa leaves), djerma (a stew of chicken, carrots, onions, and peanut butter), doungououri soko (a stew of white beans, lamb, peppers, and tomatoes), and fonio (a kind or rice soaked in water with a nutty flavor).
Holidays and festivals
Like other Christian and Muslim countries, Niger celebrates Easter Monday, Christmas Day, Islamic New Year, Eid al-Adha, Mawlid, Laylat al-Qadr, and Eid al-Fitr. It also commemorates New Year’s Day and Labor Day.
Specific Nigerien holidays include Concord Day on April 24, Independence Day on August 3, and Republic Day on December 18.
Independence Day
Other celebrations include the Cure Salée, a gathering of Tuareg people that marks the end of the rainy season; Guérewol, a courtship ritual, and the International Storytelling Festival.
Guérewol
Landmarks
There are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserve, Historic Center of Agadez, and W-Arly-Pendjari Complex.
Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserve
Other landmarks include the Dabous Giraffes, the Gadabedji Faunal Reserve, the Niamey Grand Mosque, the Palace of the Zarmakoye of Dosso, and the Termit and Tin Toumma National Nature Reserve.
Zarmakoy Palace
Famous people
Adamou Idé - poet and writer
Aïchatou Mindaoudou - politician
Amadou Sadou - movie director
Bombino - singer
Kamilou Daouda - soccer player
Nafissa Souleymane - athlete
Nafissatou Moussa Adamou - swimmer
Oum Ramatou - writer
Rabiou Guero Gao - athlete
Safiath - singer
Bombino
You can find out more about life in Niger in this post and this video.
