Niger

Population facts The population of this African country is more than 21,477,348 people. The majority of Niger's inhabitants reside in Niamey which is the country's most populous city. Niger has a fairly high population when compared to most other countries across the world, its overall population density is approximately 12 people per sq km. The estimated population of Africa is approximately 1,186,178,000 inhabitants, making it the continent with the second largest population in the world. The continents in order of population, starting with highest population first, are: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia (Oceania Region) and Antarctica. The total population of the entire world is in excess of 7.6 billion people.

Capital & major cities The capital city of Niger is Niamey. Other major cities located in this country include Zinder, Maradi, Agadez, Alaghsas and Tahoua.

National symbol(s): zebu

National colors: orange, white and green

National Anthem/Song: La Nigerienne (Translation: The Nigerien)

National Holiday(s): Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

National Motto(s): Fraternité, Travail, Progrès (Translation: Fraternity, Work, Progress)

Map of Niger

Geography

Niger is located on the continent of Africa, where it has a landlocked position and is bordered by Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali and Nigeria. There are seven continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia (Oceania). Africa is the second largest continent in the world, it has 54 countries, spans a total area of 30,370,000 km2 and forms 20.4% of the world's landmass. Niger is a landlocked country that spreads over a total area of approximately 1,267,000 km2. It is the sixth largest country by land area on the continent of Africa.

The following information provides a guideline to the approximate border lengths of Niger:
Algeria 951 km, Benin 277 km, Burkina Faso 622 km, Chad 1,196 km, Libya 342 km, Mali 838 km, Nigeria 1,608 km.

Climate

Niger has a hot, arid desert climate for the most part, and a tropical climate in the southernmost regions. It is one of the world's hottest countries. The geography of Niger is characterized by its sandy, desert and hilly areas in the north and savanna region in the south. The lowest point of Niger is the Niger River at 200m, and the highest point of elevation is Idoukal-n-Taghes at 2,022m.

Culture

The official language of Niger is French. Other languages that are spoken in this country include Hausa and Djerma.

The main religion of Niger is Muslim at approximately 80% of the population. People belonging to the Islamic religion worship Allah. In the English language, the word Allah refers to God in Islam. Those belonging to the religion of Islam believe in one god. Most of Niger’s population are Muslim and follow the practices of Islam. The rest of the population either belongs to other religions or no religion at all.

Economy

Natural resources can be described as materials and substances found naturally occurring on Earth. Natural resources are very important across the world, and can be exploited for economic gain. The level of natural resources present in an individual country depends on varying factors which are influenced by the geography, climate and location of that country. Some countries, such as Russia, The United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada, have many natural resources, where as some other countries have limited to none. Three of the primary uses of natural resources are food, transport and construction. The following examples provide information on the everyday uses of natural resources: Fish occurs naturally in many bodies of water and can be caught for food consumption. Crude oils can be refined into various fuels in order to power vehicles/cars. Wood/timber can be extracted from forests and used to construct houses and furniture. The natural resources of Niger include uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt and petroleum.

The flag

Each country has its own individual culture, history and identity. Flags, emblems, symbols, colors, anthems, songs and mottos represent the national pride and identity of countries across the globe. These national symbols are forged through a nation's unique history and can represent both hardship and prosperity, embodying freedom, strength and unity. Flags, emblems, songs, mottos and colors reflect the past, present and future hopes of a country, and create an important image to the rest of the world. National symbols can include a mixture of things that are symbolic to a country such as animals, birds, flowers, trees, geographical features, tools of agriculture, crops, and tools of war. Here are some important facts on the symbols, songs and colors of Niger: