Niger's economy is primarily dependent on agriculture. Agriculture provides employment and is the main source of livelihood for the domestic population. The government has taken steps in recent years to encourage foreign investment.

(Source: estandardsforum.org, page: 1)

Niger’s primary sector contributed 40.3% of GDP, the secondary sector contributed 15.2% of GDP and the tertiary sector contributed 37.9% of GDP in 2009.

(Source: Statistics of Niger, page: 17)

Niger’s exports include uranium, livestock, gold, cowpeas and onions. Niger’s import include consumer goods, petroleum, foodstuffs and industrial products.

(Source: state.gov)

Gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices

Niger’s GDP at current prices in 2009 amounted to FCFA 2,480.50 billion compared to FCFA 2,404.20 billion in 2008, increasing by 3.17% over a year.

The GDP growth rate fluctuated between 2005 and 2009. The GDP growth rate in 2009 dipped to 3.2% from 16.9% in 2008.

(Source: Statistics of Niger, page: 3)

GNI per capita, PPP

In 2010, GNI per capita PPP was USD 675 compared to USD 653 in 2005.

(Source: UNDP)

Income tax rate

The income tax rate was 35% in 2010.

(Source: Heritage.org)

Corporate tax rate

The corporate tax rate was 30% in 2010.

(Source: Heritage.org)

Inflation rate

The inflation rate in 2010 was 1.77% compared to -0.62% in 2009.

(Source: IMF.org)

FDI Inflow

FDI inflows to Niger amounted to USD 739 million in 2009.

(Source: heritage.org)

Banking sector assets

Banking sector assets in 2009 reached FCFA 505.1 billion, an increase of 16.73% from FCFA 432.7 billion in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 21)

Consumer price index

The CPI in 2011 (till Feb) was 102.8 compared to 94.57 in 2010.

(Source: IMF, National Statistics)

Interest rates on deposits

The interest rate on deposits in 2009 was 3.5% and remained the same from rates in 2008.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Money supply (currency in circulation)

The money supply in 2009 was FCFA 187.9 billion, an increase of 27.22% from FCFA 147.7 billion in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 21)

Government expenditure

The total expenditure in 2009 was FCFA 598.9 billion, an increase of 9.31% from FCFA 547.9 billion 2008.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 18)

Official exchange rate

FCFA per US dollar rate in 2011 (till Feb) was 496.7 compared to 495 in 2010.

(Source: National Statistics, worldbank.org)

Government finances

Fiscal balance

Niger had a fiscal deficit in 2009. The fiscal deficit in 2009 was FCFA 122.8 billion compared to a surplus of FCFA 36.1 in 2008. Revenues in 2009 decreased from the previous year along with an increase in expenditure, resulting in a fiscal deficit.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 18)

Total revenue

(Source: National Statistics, page: 18)

Total revenue in 2009 was FCFA 476.1 billion compared to FCFA 584 billion in 2008.

Tax revenue

The tax revenue in 2009 was FCFA 317.5 billion compared to FCFA 281.1 billion in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 18)

Total grants

The total grants in 2009 amounted to FCFA 144.4 billion compared to FCFA 142 billion in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 18)

Current account balance

Niger registered a current account deficit in the past two years. In 2009, the current account deficit was FCFA 374.8 million.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 20)

Balance of payment

(Source: National Statistics, page: 20)

Labour force

The labour force in Niger was 4,593,125 in 2008, an increase of approximately  2.95% from the previous year’s 4,461,657.10 labour population.

(Source: World Bank)

Labour force participation rate

The labour force participation rate was 62% in 2008. The labour force participation rate for women was 38% of the female population above the age of 15  and the participation rate for men was 88% of the male population above the age of 15 in 2008.

(Source: World Bank, World Bank, World Bank)

Unemployment rate

The unemployment rate was 1.5% in 2009.

(Source: heritage.org)

Minimum wage

Niger’s minimum wage was FCFA 28,000 per month, with an additional FCFA 1,000 per month added per child in 2011. The applicable minimum wage rate is set for each class and category within the formal sector.

(Source: minimum-wage.org)

Level of unionisation

Niger's main trade unions are Confédération Démocratique des Travailleurs du Niger (CDTN), Confédération Nigérienne du Travail (CNT) and Union des Syndicats des Travailleurs du Niger (USTN).

(Source: icftu.org)

Government stability

Niger is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic. The president of Niger is the head of state; the prime minister is head of the government. Niger has a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the government and the national assembly.

The prime minister of Niger is Mamadou Danda. The prime minister is appointed by the president.  The national assembly consists of 105 members in 8 multi-member constituencies. Niger uses a party list system in a multi-member constituency with proportionel representation. There are also 8 special single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system. Members are elected by popular vote through a parallel system. These members serve for a term of 5 years.

The National Movement for a Developing Society party has 44 seats and the Nigerien party for Democracy and Socialism has 25 seats. There are 24 registered political parties and 10 are represented in the national assembly.

(Source: state.gov, estandardsforum.org, page: 4, africanelections.tripod.com)

Some of the political parties in Niger are ANDP - Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress, ANDPS-Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress, ANDP-Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress and ARD Adaltchi-Mutunchi - Alliance for Democratic Renewal.

(Source: africanelections.tripod.com)

The Economic Freedom score of Niger is 54.3, making its economy the 126^th freest in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. Niger ranked 25^th out of 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, and its overall score is above the regional average.                               

(Source: heritage.org)

Corruption perception

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a survey to measure the perceived level of corruption across countries worldwide. Niger is ranked 123^rd with a score of 2.6 which indicates that the corruption levels in the public departments in Niger is fairly high.

 (Source: transparency.org)

Freedom of information

In 2010, Niger ranked 106^th on the Press Freedom Index with a score of 28.50. The state controls much of the nation's broadcasting, although private radio stations have proliferated.

(Source: rsf.org, BBC)

Newspapers

The main newspapers in Niger include -

·         Le Sahel

·          Le Republicain

(Source: BBC)

Judicial system

Niger’s judicial system includes four courts:

·         Court of Appeals

·         Supreme Court

·         High Court of Justice

·         Constitutional Court

The Supreme Court is divided into three high courts which are the Administrative Court, a Supreme Court of Justice and an Audit Court.

(Source: traveldocs.com, apnacafrica.org)

The state is governed by a judicial system that consists of the executive, the judicial and the legislative branches. Niger has 25 local government areas to facilitate maintenance of law and order, rural development and political administration.  The ministries are headed by commissioners who specialize in the respective areas of jurisdiction.

(Source: Niger Judiciary)

Population

The population of Niger in 2010 was 15.2 million  compared to 14.19 million in 2009.

(Source: IMF, National Statistics: page i)

Gender balance

In 2010, the gender ratio was 102.6 men per 100 women.

(Source: undp.org, page: 195)

Population age structure

In 2009, 28% of the population was in the  0-14 year age group of. The population above the age of 60 included 5.9% women and 6.1% men in the same period.

(Source: UN)

Median age

The median age of the population increased from 17.1 years in 1990 to 18.6 years in 2010, primarily due to increasing life expectancy.

(Source: UNDP, page: 195)

Life expectancy

In Niger, life expectancy at birth in 2010 (p) was 58 years. Between 2005-2010, the life expectancy at birth for males and females was 50.3 years and 52 years respectively.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 11, UN)

Mortality rate

The mortality rate of infants was 81 per 1,000 live births in 2010 (p).

(Source: National Statistics, page: 11)

Death rate and birth rate

The crude death rate was 15% and crude birth rate was 53% in 2009.

(Source: UNICEF)

Migration and urbanisation

The international migrant stock in mid-2010 was 202,200 people, which accounted for only 1.3% of the total population.

Approximately 20.4% of Niger’s population lived in urban areas in  2010 (p). Between 2005-2010, the urban and rural population grew at an annual average rate of 4% and 3.4% respectively.

(Source: data.un.org, National Statistics, page: 11)

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in Niger include Hausa, Djerma (Zarma), Fulani, Tuareg, Beri Beri (Kanuri), Arab, Toubou and Gourmantche. Religions are Islam, traditional religions and Christianity.

(Source: state.gov)

Human development index

Niger is ranked 133^rd and scored 0.321 on UNDP (United Nations Development Program)’s Human Development Index (HDI) 2010. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

(Source: undp.org)

Literacy rate

The literacy rate in 2008 was 29%. For women it was 17.1% and for men 42.8%.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 15)

Education

The education system in Niger is based on the French model. The system consists of primary schools, secondary schools and higher education institutions. Each of these is known as a cycle. In some areas schooling is free and in some areas no schools are available. So the literacy rate is quite low. Education facilities are being expanded in Niger with aid from France and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to increase the literacy rate.

(Source: stateuniversity.com)

(Source: National Statistics, page: 15)

Healthcare

In Niger, only one third of the population has access to health services and the majority of the people rely on traditional medicines. The health system is mainly funded through external resources.

(Source: WHO)

Niger’s health system includes:

·         National hospitals

·         Regional hospitals

·         District hospitals

·         Maternity referral

·         Integrated health centers type I

·         Integrated health centers type II

·         Health huts

(Source: National Statistics)

Public Transit

The main modes of transport in Niger is road transport, air transport and water transport.

(Source: National Statistics)

Roadways

The total roadway length in Niger was 18,949 km in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics, page: 1)

Ports

The main port in Niger is Port of Niamey.

(Source: worldportsource.com)

Airports

The main airports in Niger are:

(Source: aircharft-charter-world)

Telecommunication

Niger 65,000 had fixed telephone line subscribers in 2009, an increase of 0.40% from 64,738 in 2008.

 (Source: ITU)

There were 2,599,000 mobile phone subscribers in 2009, an increase of 36.96% from 1,897,628 in 2008.

 (Source: ITU)

There were 115,900 internet users in June 2010 which was  0.7% of the total population.

(Source: internetworldstats.com)