Niger

Niger is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world’s largest uranium deposits. Drought, desertification, and strong population growth have undercut the economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger’s annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. In December 2005, Niger received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which translates into the forgiveness of approximately US $86 million in debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC. In 2010, the Niger economy was recovering from the effects of a 2009 drought that reduced grain and cowpea production and decimated livestock herds. The economy was also hurt when the international community cut off non-humanitarian aid in response to TANDJA’s moves to extend his term as president. Nearly half of the government’s budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources.

$10.58 billion (2010 est.)

$10.22 billion (2009 est.)

$10.35 billion (2008 est.)

$5.603 billion (2010 est.)

3.5% (2010 est.)

-1.2% (2009 est.)

9.3% (2008 est.)

$700 (2010 est.)

$700 (2009 est.)

$700 (2008 est.)

4.688 million (2007)

NA%

63% (1993 est.)

50.5 (1995)

0.1% (2007 est.)

4.25% (31 December 2009)

4.75% (31 December 2008)

NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

$782.6 million (31 December 2009)

$617.9 million (31 December 2008)

$1.038 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$844.6 million (31 December 2008 est.)

$683.6 million (31 December 2009)

$313.5 million (31 December 2008)

$NA

cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses

5.1% (2003 est.)

150 million kWh (2007 est.)

589.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

450 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

5,367 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

-$321 million (2007 est.)

$428 million (2006)

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

France 52.63%, Nigeria 22.43%, US 18.24% (2009)

$800 million (2006)

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

China 16.32%, France 15.95%, Netherlands 7.66%, Algeria 7.15%, French Polynesia 6.11%, Nigeria 5.48%, Cote d’Ivoire 4.15%, US 4.05% (2009)

$2.1 billion (2003 est.)

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)