Location: Africa
Status: UN Country
Capital City: Niamey
Main Cities: Zinder
Population: 8,813,000
Area: 1,267,000 km2
Currency: 1 CFA franc = 100 centimes (no longer used)
Languages: French, Hausa, Djerma
Religions: Sunni Muslim, Animist
More about
Niger: a landlocked republic in West Africa: important since earliest times for its trans-Saharan trade routes; made a French colony in 1922 and became fully independent in 1960; exports peanuts and livestock. Official language: French. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: franc. Capital: Niamey. Pop.: 12 415 000 (2004 est.). Area: 1 267 000 sq. km (489 000 sq. miles)