| Economy - overview: | Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, a landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a 3.3% population growth rate, and the drop in world demand for uranium 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. 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. A drought and locust infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million Nigeriens. |
| GDP - per capita | $900 (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate (%) | 3.8% (2005 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry |
| GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 39%, industry: 17%, services: 44% (2001) |
| Industries | uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses |
| Economic aid - recipient | $453.3 million (2003) |
| Debt - external | $2.1 billion (2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line (%) | 63% (1993 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4% |
Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
