Niger Statistics
- Second poorest country in the world (Second only to West African war-torn neighbor, Sierra Leone).
- Niger is roughly the size of California and Texas combined.
- The bulk of the population, and all Peace Corps volunteers, are concentrated in the southern third of the country. This transitional zone, known as the Sahel, is a semi-arid area between the savannas to the south and the Sahara to the north. The northern two-thirds is desert with a few oasis towns (such as Agadez) and some seasonal grazing land used by nomads.
- Only four to five percent (4-5%) of land is considered arable.
- Sixty percent (60%) of the Nigerien government’s operating budget comes from foreign donors, mainly France and other European Union countries.
- The GDP per capita, as measured in 2000, was $150.
- Highest infant mortality rate in the world—thirty percent (30%) of children die before the age of five.
- Niger women claim the highest birth rate in the world at 7.5 children per woman.
- Forty seven percent (47%) of the country’s women are married by the age of 15. Ninety six percent (96%) by the age of 22.
- Women aged 18-45 are pregnant twenty eight percent (28%) of the time.
- The rural population accounts for eighty five percent (85%) of the country’s 11 million citizens
- There exists one medical doctor for every 75,000 inhabitants.
- Eighty-five percent (85%) of medical doctors live in Niger’s cities (Niamey, Dosso, Konni, Maradi, Zinder, Tahoua, Agadez).
- Eighteen percent (18%) of children receive vaccinations.
- Seven percent (7%) of the country is HIV positive.
- Annual per capita spending on health: US – approx. $4500; Niger – approx. $10.
- A former French colony, Niger has been an independent country since 1960.
- Fourteen percent of Nigeriens are literate. Of that 14%, only 7% are female.
- One third of primary school age children attend school. As for high-school-age children, only 4.2% of these kids attend school.
- Ninety eight percent (98%) of the population is Muslim.
