females age 16-49: 1,339,413 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 72,366
female: 70,118 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 157
Transnational Issues ::Nicaragua
Disputes - international:
memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the western Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are scheduled for 2007; the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Niger (Africa)
Introduction ::Niger
Background:
Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999, BARE was killed in a coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Events have since evolved into a fledging insurgency.
Geography ::Niger
Location:
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1.267 million sq km country comparison to the world: 22 land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 11.43%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 88.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
730 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
33.7 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.18 cu km/yr (4%/0%/95%)
per capita: 156 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
People ::Niger
Population:
15,306,252 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
Age structure:
0-14 years: 49.6% (male 3,840,379/female 3,758,674)
15-64 years: 48% (male 3,658,361/female 3,690,373)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 159,984/female 198,481) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.2 years
male: 14.9 years
female: 15.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.677% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
Birth rate:
51.6 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
Death rate:
14.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Net migration rate:
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Urbanization:
urban population: 16% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 116.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 5 male: 121.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 111.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.6 years country comparison to the world: 201 male: 51.39 years
female: 53.85 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
60,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups:
Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, KanouriManga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
Religions:
Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%
Languages:
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.7%
male: 42.9%
female: 15.1% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 4 years
male: 5 years
female: 3 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 134
Government ::Niger
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:
adopted 18 July 1999
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Badjo GAMATIE (since 2 October 2009); appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); second round of election last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNSD 76, RSD 15, RDP 7, PNA-Alouma 1, Alkalami 1, Nigerien Party of the Masses for Labor 1, independents 12
Judicial branch:
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Alkalama; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama[Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a DevelopingSociety-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger SocialDemocratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and SocialProgress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE];Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma [Sanousi JACKOU]; NigerienParty for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [IssifouMAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Party of the Masses for Labor; NigerienProgressive Party or PPN-RDA; Rally for Democracy and Progress orRDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally orRSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
The Nigerien Movement for Justice or MNJ, a predominantly Tuareg rebel group
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Djibrilla Maiga TOURE
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61 thru 64
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
Economy ::Niger
Economy - overview:
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking near last on the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. It is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, 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. 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. Uranium prices have increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigeriens.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.29 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $9.398 billion (2007 est.)
$9.097 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.382 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 3.3% (2007 est.)
5.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 222 $700 (2007 est.)
$700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)
Labor force:
4.688 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 78
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 35.7% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.5 (1995) country comparison to the world: 21
Budget:
revenues: $320 million (includes $134 million from foreign sources)
expenditures: $320 million (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
Central bank discount rate:
4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 121 4.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$604.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$193.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$318.9 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Industries:
uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Electricity - production:
150 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Electricity - consumption:
589.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
450 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Oil - imports:
5,367 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Current account balance:
-$321 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 -$321 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$428 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 167 $428 million (2006)
Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:
Japan 80.4%, Nigeria 8.5%, France 2.9% (2008)
Imports:
$800 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 176
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:
France 16.6%, China 10.9%, Algeria 9.6%, Nigeria 7.4%, FrenchPolynesia 6.5%, Belgium 4.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.2% (2008)
Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Niger
Telephones - main lines in use:
24,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 186
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.677 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 129
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity only 13 per 100 persons with cellular subscribership increasing rapidly from a small base; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (2007)
Internet country code:
.ne
Internet hosts:
253 (2009) country comparison to the world: 182
Internet users:
80,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 160
Transportation ::Niger
Airports:
28 (2009) country comparison to the world: 119
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 18,550 km country comparison to the world: 115 paved: 3,803 km
unpaved: 14,747 km (2006)
Waterways:
300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2008) country comparison to the world: 94
Military ::Niger
Military branches:
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, NigerAir Force (Force Aerienne du Niger) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
17-21 years of age for selective compulsory or voluntary military service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried; 2-year service term; women may serve in health care (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,871,868
females age 16-49: 2,696,966 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,019,553
females age 16-49: 2,046,906 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 170,060
female: 163,996 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 122
Transnational Issues ::Niger
Disputes - international:
Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Niger is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; caste-based slavery practices, rooted in ancestral master-slave relationships, continue in isolated areas of the country - an estimated 8,800 to 43,000 Nigeriens live under conditions of traditional slavery; children are trafficked within Niger for forced begging, forced labor in gold mines, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and possibly for forced labor in agriculture and stone quarries; women and children from neighboring states are trafficked to and through Niger for domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced labor in mines and on farms, and as mechanics and welders
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Niger is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking in 2007; in particular, measures to combat and eliminate traditional slavery practices were weak; the government's overall law enforcement efforts have stalled from 2006; while efforts to protect child trafficking victims were steady, the government failed to provide services to or rescue adult victims subjected to traditional slavery practices, and made poor efforts to educate the public about traditional slavery practices in general (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Nigeria (Africa)
Introduction ::Nigeria
Background:
British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history.
Geography ::Nigeria
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin andCameroon
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 923,768 sq km country comparison to the world: 32 land: 910,768 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,047 km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
Coastline:
853 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:
southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 33.02%
permanent crops: 3.14%
other: 63.84% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,820 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
286.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.01 cu km/yr (21%/10%/69%)
per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; flooding
Environment - current issues:
soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea
People ::Nigeria
Population:
149,229,090 country comparison to the world: 8 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.5% (male 31,624,050/female 30,242,637)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 42,240,641/female 40,566,672)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 2,211,840/female 2,343,250) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 19.1 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.999% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Birth rate:
36.65 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Death rate:
16.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Net migration rate:
-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Urbanization:
urban population: 48% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 94.35 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 13 male: 100.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.94 years country comparison to the world: 212 male: 46.16 years
female: 47.76 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.91 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.6 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
170,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis and shistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups:
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Religions:
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (1991) country comparison to the world: 180
Government ::Nigeria
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Abuja
geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra,Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo,Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa,Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger,Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence:
1 October 1960 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1999; effective 29 May 1999
Legal system:
based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA (since 29 May 2007)
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results: Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA elected president; percent of vote - Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011); House of Representatives - last held 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.7%, ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%, other 8.7%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP 27.4%, AD 8.8%, UNPP 2.8%, NPD 1.9%, APGA 1.6%, PRP 0.8%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6, UNPP 2, APGA 2, NPD 1, PRP 1, vacant 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges recommended by the National Judicial Council and appointed by the president); Federal Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government from a pool of judges recommended by the National Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Accord Party [Ikra Aliyu BILBIS]; Action Congress or AC [HassanZUMI]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa AKINFENWA]; AllNigeria Peoples' Party or ANPP [Edwin UME-EZEOKE]; All ProgressivesGrand Alliance or APGA [Victor C. UMEH]; Democratic People's Partyor DPP [Jeremiah USENI]; Fresh Democratic Party [Chris OKOTIE];Labor Party [Dan NWANYANWU]; Movement for the Restoration andDefense of Democracy or MRDD [Mohammed Gambo JIMETA]; NationalDemocratic Party or NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Partyor PDP [Vincent OGBULAFOR]; Peoples Progressive Alliance [ClementEBRI]; Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA];Peoples Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United NigeriaPeoples Party or UNPP [Mallam Selah JAMBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Academic Staff Union for Universities or ASUU; Campaign forDemocracy or CD; Civil Liberties Organization or CLO; Committee forthe Defense of Human Rights or CDHR; Constitutional Right Project orCRP; Human Right Africa; National Association of Democratic Lawyersor NADL; National Association of Nigerian Students or NANS; NigerianBar Association or NBA; Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC; NigerianMedical Association or NMA; the Press; Universal Defenders ofDemocracy or UDD
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT,MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Baba Gana WIKIL
chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin SANDERS
embassy: 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
mailing address: P. O. Box 5760, Garki, Abuja
telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
Economy ::Nigeria
Economy - overview:
Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, has undertaken several reforms over the past decade. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 95% of foreign exchange earnings and about 80% of budgetary revenues. Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, after failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it ineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. Since 2008 the government has begun showing the political will to implement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as to modernize the banking system, to curb inflation by blocking excessive wage demands, and to resolve regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the oil industry. In 2003, the government began deregulating fuel prices, announced the privatization of the country's four oil refineries, and instituted the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, a domestically designed and run program modeled on the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for fiscal and monetary management. In November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club approval for a debt-relief deal that eliminated $18 billion of debt in exchange for $12 billion in payments - a total package worth $30 billion of Nigeria's total $37 billion external debt. The deal requires Nigeria to be subject to stringent IMF reviews. Based largely on increased oil exports and high global crude prices, GDP rose strongly in 2007 and 2008. President YAR'ADUA has pledged to continue the economic reforms of his predecessor with emphasis on infrastructure improvements. Infrastructure is the main impediment to growth. The government is working toward developing stronger public-private partnerships for electricity and roads.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$336.2 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $319.3 billion (2007 est.)
$300.1 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$207.1 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 6.4% (2007 est.)
6.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $2,200 (2007 est.)
$2,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18.1%
industry: 50.8%
services: 31.1% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
51.04 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 10%
services: 20% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Population below poverty line:
70% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32.4% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.7 (2003) country comparison to the world: 48 50.6 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Budget:
revenues: $19.76 billion
expenditures: $24.72 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
13.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 20% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 5.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 46 9.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.48% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 31 16.94% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$35.29 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 25 $26.82 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$32.04 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 36 $22.78 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$49.51 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 49 $35.68 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$49.8 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 51 $86.35 billion (31 December 2007)
$32.82 billion (31 December 2006)