Home > Africa > Niger
Niger flag
Republic of Niger
République du Niger
   Niger is a continental country in north-central Africa, it has no access to the sea, but a fair total surface area. Over 2/3 of the territory is desert, only the areas around the Niger River and to a lesser extent along the border with Nigeria offer decent, although not ideal, environmental conditions; this, together with the scarcity of resources of all kinds (excluding the uranium), makes Niger one of the poorest countries in the world.
Government type Semi-presidential republic
Area 1,267,000 km² (489,191 sq mi)
Population 17,139,000 inh. (2012 census)
Population 26,312,000 inh. (2024 est.)
Population density 21 inh/km² (54 inh/mi²)
Capital Niamey (1,492,000 pop.)
Currency West African CFA franc
Human development index 0.400 (189th place)
Languages French (official), Hausa, Zarma-Songhai and other regional languages
Life expectancy M 61 years, F 63 years
Location in Africa

Boundaries:

Libya NORTH-EAST
Algeria NORTH
Mali and Burkina Faso WEST
Benin SOUTH-WEST
Nigeria SOUTH
Chad EAST

GEOGRAPHY DATA OF NIGER


Largest cities
Niamey 1,492,000 pop.
Zinder 355,000 pop.
Maradi 288,000 pop.
Highest mountains
Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m (6,634 ft)
Longest rivers
Niger 4,180 km (2,597 mi) total, 560 km (348 mi) in Niger

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS OF NIGER

   Niger is administratively divided into 7 regions and the capital district; the largely desert region of Agadez constitutes just over half of the territory, but at the same time it is also the least populated; the regions of Zinder, Maradi and Tahoua are the most popolous, all with over 5 million inhabitants.

   Only the capital Niamey boasted a number of inhabitants close to one million in the last census, while other 4 cities had more than one hundred thousand people; as can be clearly seen from the second map, the distribution of the major urban centers is concentrated in the southernmost belt of the country, where the environmental conditions are better.






Niamey