Economy overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked African country whose economy is based on agriculture, livestock, re-export trade, and uranium mining since the 1970s. former main export commodity of the country; however, its production is declining due to falling global demand. The devaluation of the CFA franc by 50% in January 1994 allowed Niger to increase its exports of livestock, sweet peas, onions and small cotton products. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid to cover current costs of public investment, which was suspended after the April 1999 coup d’état. In 2000, the World Bank approved a $35 million loan for tax reform. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $10 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 3.5% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity, $1,000 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 40%; industry: 18%; services: 42% (1998). Proportion of population below the poverty line: 63% (1993 est.). Percentage distribution of family income or consumption: per 10% of the poorest families: 0.8%; by the top 10% of families: 35.4% (1995). Inflation rate at consumer prices: 2.8% (2000 est.). Labor force: 70,000 people constantly receive wages or salaries. Employment structure: agriculture 90%, industry and trade 6%, public administration 4%. Unemployment rate: no data. Budget: revenues: $377 million, including $146 million from foreign sources; expenses: $377 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1999 est.). Spheres of economy: uranium mining, cement and brick production, textile, food, chemical, slaughterhouses. Growth in industrial production: no data available. Electricity generation: 200 million kWh (1999). Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 100%; hydropower: 0%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 401 million kWh (1999). Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999). Electricity import: 215 million kWh (1999). Agricultural products: sweet peas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; livestock, sheep, goats, camels, pox, horses, poultry. Export: $385 million (free on board, 1999) Export items: uranium ore 65%, meat products, sweet peas, onions (1998 est.). Export partners: France 45%, Nigeria 27%, UK 11% (1999). Imports: $317 million (free on board, 1999) Imports: consumer goods, basic raw materials, machinery, vehicles and spare parts, oil, cereals. Import partners: France 22%, Ivory Coast 15%, Nigeria 8%, USA 3%. External debt: $1.3 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid recipient: $341 million (1997V note: IMF approved $73 million in 2000 to alleviate poverty and stimulate growth and pledged $115 million in debt relief under the Indebted Poor Countries Program. Economic aid donor: Currency: franc African Financial Union (CFA franc, Communaute Financiere Africaine franc) note – CFA franc circulation is regulated by the Central Bank of West African countries.Currency code: XOF.Exchange rate: XOF/USD – 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note: since January 1, 1999, the CFA franc has been exchanged for the euro at a ratio of 655.957 CFA francs to 1 euro. Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 16,000 (1997). Mobile cell phones: 13,000 (1995). Telephone system: a small system of landlines, radiotelephone and microwave radio relay stations, concentrated in the southern regions; internal: landlines, radiotelephone and microwave radio relay stations; local satellite system with existing ground stations and 1 planned; international: satellite ground stations – 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean). Broadcast stations: AM – 5, FM – 5, shortwave -4 (1998). Radio receivers: 680,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 10 (and 7 low power relay stations) (1997). TVs: 125,000 (1997). Internet country code: ne Internet service providers: 1 (2000). Number of users: 3,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: 0 km. Roads: total length: 10,100 km; coated: 798 km; unpaved: 9,302 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 300 km of the Niger River – from the city of Niamey to the city of Gaia on the border with Benin – are navigable from mid-December to the end of March. Ports and harbours: none. Airports: 27 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 9; from 2438 to 3047 m:2; from 1524 to 2437 m:6; less than 914 m: 1 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 18; from 1524 to 2437 m:1; from 914 to 1523 m:15; less than 914 m: 2;
Armed forces
Branches of the Armed Forces: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police. See militarynous.com to know more about Niger Military. Enlistment age: 18 years old. Total Military Manpower: Male 15 to 49: 2,202,618 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: men aged 15 to 49: 1,190,787 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: male: 108,993 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $20 million (1996) Military spending as part of GDP: 1.1% (1996).
International Issues
International issues International disputes: Libya claims approximately 19,400 km2. northern Niger; the definition of international borders in the Lake Chad region, the absence of which has led to border incidents in the past, has recently been completed and is due to be ratified by Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
