About Niger

The map shows Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger (French: République du Niger), an independent landlocked country in West Africa south of Algeria and Libya. The northern part of Niger is located in the southern part of the Sahara, the world's largest hot desert that covers vast parts of North and West Africa. The central part of Niger lies in the Sahel, the semi-arid transition zone between the Sahara in the north and the Sudanese Savannah in the south, the region that includes the more fertile southwest of the country.

Besides Algeria and Libya, Niger borders Benin and Nigeria in the south, Burkina Faso in the southeast, Mali in the west, and Chad in the east.

With an area of 1,267,000 km², the country is more than twice the size of (Metropolitan) France (543,940 km²) or slightly less than twice the size of the U.S. state of Texas.

Population
Niger has a population of 25.4 million people (est. 2023). It is the country with the world's highest birth rate, with almost 7 children per woman. ^{[CIA] [WB]}
The population of Niger is a mix of African tribes like the Hausa people 50%, Zarma/Songhai 21%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.5% and Kanuri 5.9%. Niger has 11 national languages; French is the official language and Hausa the most widely spoken.
The capital and largest city is Niamey, other major cities are Agadez, Maradi and Zinder.

Religion
The vast majority (more than 98%) of the country's population are followers of Islam. ^[state.gov]

More about Niger


Before France incorporated the region as part of its colonial African possessions in the early 20th century, the area was subject to conflicts between various African kingdoms and tribes such as the Songhai Empire, the Kanem-Bornu Empire and semi-nomadic Tuareg (Berber) tribes.

The Colonie Niger (French: Colonie du Niger) was part of French colonial possessions that comprised much of present-day Niger and parts of Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad. The colony existed in various forms from 1900 to 1960.
Niger was also part of French West Africa (French: Afrique-Occidentale française, AOF), a federation of eight French colonial territories, which ceased to exist in 1960. Niger gained independence from France on 3 August 1960.


Geography of Niger
The largest country in West Africa offers diverse geographical features, including mountains in deserts, one major river, the Niger, after which the country was named, and several wildlife conservation areas and national parks. A few seasonal rivers (wadis) drain the country during the rainy season.
The three main regions that determine the country's landscapes and climate are the Sahara Desert, the Sahel and the Sudanese Savannah.

• Mountains
  
  
  The Bagzane Plateau of the Aïr Mountains with Mont Idoukal-n-Taghès, the highest peak in Niger at 2,022 m.
  Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
  
  
  
  The Aïr Massif is a volcanic mountain complex in the southern Sahara. Mont Idoukal-n-Taghès, Niger's highest point at 2,022 m, is situated within the massif. ^[NASA] The Aïr Mountains have a unique ecosystem with a Sahelian climate. Between the mountains are deep valleys known as Koris, where some vegetation allows cattle breeding.
  
  The Termit Massif is a long-stretched, isolated mountainous region south of the dunes of the Tenere desert and the Erg of Bilma.
  
  The Djado Plateau in the northeast of Niger covers an area of about 60,000 km² and reaches heights between 400 and 1,000 meters above sea level. It is a largely uninhabited and arid region, containing salt flats and sandstone formations. North of the Djado Plateau lies the barren Manguéni-Plateau (French: Plateau de Manguéni).
  
   
• Termit Massif:
  This mountain range in eastern Niger is known for its diverse flora and fauna; it has been recognized as a vital conservation area.
  
   
• Sahel Region:
  The central part of Niger is within the Sahel, a transitional zone between the Sahara Desert in the north and the Sudanian Savanna to the south. The belt-like region is up to 1,000 km wide and spans Africa from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east. The Sahel is characterized by semi-arid grasslands, strong climatic variations and irregular rainfalls.
  
   
• Deserts
  To the west of the Aïr Mountains is a dune region known as the Talak Desert. In the central-east of Niger, to the south and east of the Aïr Mountains, is the Tenere Desert (Ténéré), a vast region within the Sahara. It's one of the most arid regions in the world and is known for its large dune landscapes, such as the Erg of Bilma and the Erg of Tenere.
  
   
• 
  View of a village in Niger with the typical dome-shaped granaries of the Hausa people.
  Photo: NigerTZai
  
  
  
  Niger River
  The third-longest river in Africa (4,180 km; 2,600 mi) rises in the Guinea Highlands (Tembakounda) and flows northeast through Mali, where it turns southeast at the Niger Bend and continues through southwestern Niger and Nigeria. The river serves as a crucial source of water for irrigation and transportation in the Sahara and the Sahel. The Niger River Basin covers an area of about 2.13 million square kilometers and is home to over 130 million people. ^{[Water-energy-food.org]}
  
   
• Lake Chad Basin
  The northern basin of Lake Chad (French: Lac Tchad) extends into Niger in the southeast corner of the country. The lake is a critical freshwater source in the Sahel region. The lake, once one of the world's largest water bodies, is disappearing due to climate change and population pressures. The 30 million people living in the Lake Chad region compete over water, and the drying up of the lake could lead to migration and conflicts, according to FAO. ^[UN]
  
   
• Giraffe Zone (Kouré Region)
  Niger's Giraffe Zone is located southeast of Niamey; the area is home to the last remaining population of West African giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta).
  
   
• W National Park
  Named after the W-shaped meander of the River Niger, this park spans three countries, including Niger. It is a UNESCO-listed reserve known for its rich wildlife.
  
   

UNESCO World Heritage Site of Niger

There are three properties inscribed on Niger's world heritage list:

The Historic Centre of Agadez
The desert city of Agadez is famous for being made entirely of mudbrick, and it has been described as "the gateway to the desert." The historic town became a crossroads for the caravan trade in the 15th century and a major center for trans-Saharan cultural interchanges.

The Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves are among the largest protected areas in Africa, covering some 77,000 km² (almost twice the size of Switzerland), located in the Saharan desert of Ténéré. The property includes the volcanic Aïr Mountains, a unique plateau with various landscape formations such as cliffs, canyons, and natural arches can be found. The region is home to several threatened species, including the Saharan cheetah and the dama gazelle.

The W National Park (French: W du Niger) is an important transboundary protected area known as the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex. The complex includes areas of three countries, Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso. The territory serves as a refuge for threatened or endangered animal species and is home to African manatees, cheetahs and leopards; it also hosts the largest African elephant population and the only viable lion population in West Africa.