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Compare Niger (2007) - Lesotho (2004)

Compare Niger (2007) z Lesotho (2004)

 Niger (2007)Lesotho (2004)
 NigerLesotho
Administrative divisions 8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Age structure 0-14 years: 46.9% (male 3,083,871/female 2,969,201)


15-64 years: 50.6% (male 3,354,783/female 3,174,039)


65 years and over: 2.4% (male 155,430/female 157,541) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 350,288; female 345,815)


15-64 years: 57.2% (male 521,434; female 545,183)


65 years and over: 5.5% (male 41,903; female 60,417) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Airports 28 (2007) 28 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 19


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 14


under 914 m: 3 (2007)
total: 25


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Area total: 1.267 million sq km


land: 1,266,700 sq km


water: 300 sq km
total: 30,355 sq km


land: 30,355 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Texas slightly smaller than Maryland
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. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002.
Birth rate 50.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 26.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $320 million (includes $134 million from foreign sources)


expenditures: $320 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $625.4 million


expenditures: $675.2 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (2003 est.)
Capital name: Niamey


geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Maseru
Climate desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution new constitution adopted 18 July 1999 2 April 1993
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Niger


conventional short form: Niger


local long form: Republique du Niger


local short form: Niger
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho


conventional short form: Lesotho


former: Basutoland
Currency - loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
Death rate 20.59 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 24.79 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $2.1 billion (2003 est.) $735 million (2002)
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] 20-73-31-69


FAX: [227] 20-73-55-60
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. LOFTIS


embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)


mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho


telephone: [266] 312666


FAX: [266] 310116
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


FAX: [1] (202)483-3169
chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI


chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536


FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
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 none
Economic aid - donor - ODA $4.4 million
Economic aid - recipient $515.4 million (2005) $41.5 million (2000)
Economy - overview Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 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 a 2.9% population growth rate, 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. Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. As the number of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years, a small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries and a rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The economy is still primarily based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock, although drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme inequality in the distribution of income remains a major drawback. Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF.
Electricity - consumption 437.7 million kWh (2005) 40 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 220 million kWh (2005) 40 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Electricity - production 234.1 million kWh (2005) 0 kWh NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Niger River 200 m


highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m


highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Environment - current issues overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
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
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Touareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census) Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
Exchange rates Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002) maloti per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999); Prime Minister Seyni OUMAROU (since 3 June 2007) was 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%
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995, while his father was in exile


head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May 1998)


cabinet: Cabinet


elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution, which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch
Exports NA bbl/day NA (2001)
Exports - commodities uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)
Exports - partners France 34.8%, US 26.6%, Nigeria 18.3%, Russia 11.3% (2006) US 97.6%, Canada 1.5%, France 0.5% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
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 divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.583 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 39%


industry: 17%


services: 44% (2001)
agriculture: 15.3%


industry: 43.3%


services: 41.4% (2003)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.5% (2006 est.) 4% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 16 00 N, 8 00 E 29 30 S, 28 30 E
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 landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level
Highways - total: 5,940 km


paved: 1,087 km


unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 0.8%


highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
lowest 10%: 0.9%


highest 10%: 43.4%
Imports NA bbl/day NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000)
Imports - partners US 14%, France 12%, China 7.8%, Nigeria 7.7%, French Polynesia 7.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.9% (2006) Hong Kong 36.6%, Taiwan 36.2%, China 12%, Germany 9.9% (2003)
Independence 3 August 1960 (from France) 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 5.1% (2003 est.) 15.5% (1999)
Industries uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 116.83 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 120.78 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 112.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: 85.22 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.19 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.2% (2004 est.) 6.1% (2003 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, 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, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land 730 sq km (2003) 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Labor force 70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the public sector (2002 est.) 838,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 90%


industry: 6%


services: 4% (1995)
86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
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
total: 909 km


border countries: South Africa 909 km
Land use arable land: 11.43%


permanent crops: 0.01%


other: 88.56% (2005)
arable land: 10.87%


permanent crops: 0.13%


other: 89% (2001)
Languages French (official), Hausa, Djerma Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Legal system based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNSD 47, PNDS 25, CDS 22, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 80 to 120 in the May 2002 election


elections: last held 25 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54%, BNP 21%, LPC 7%, other 18%; seats by party - LCD 76, BNP 21, LPC 5, other 18
Life expectancy at birth total population: 44.03 years


male: 44.05 years


female: 44 years (2007 est.)
total population: 36.81 years


male: 36.81 years


female: 36.81 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 28.7%


male: 42.9%


female: 15.1% (2005 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 84.8%


male: 74.5%


female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Location Western Africa, southeast of Algeria Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Military - note - the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs
Military branches Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Niger Air Force (2007) Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; with Army and Air Wing)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $32.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.3% (2006) 2.6% (2003)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 465,827 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 253,974 (2004 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 18 December (1958) Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Nationality noun: Nigerien(s)


adjective: Nigerien
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)


adjective: Basotho
Natural hazards recurring droughts periodic droughts
Natural resources uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Net migration rate -0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomy or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU] Basotho Congress Party or BCP [Tseliso MAKHAKHE]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Phebe MOTEBANO, chairwoman; Pakalitha MOSISILI, leader] - the governing party; Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles MOFELI]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP and Setlamo Alliance [Vincent MALEBO]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE]; Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]
Political pressure groups and leaders Coalition Against a High Cost of Living [Nouhou ARZIKA] NA
Population 12,894,865 (July 2007 est.) 1,865,040


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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line 63% (1993 est.) 49% (1999)
Population growth rate 2.898% (2007 est.) 0.14% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors - none
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Religions Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20% Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.039 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.057 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.987 male(s)/female


total population: 1.047 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger


domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; 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)
general assessment: rudimentary system


domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system; a cellular mobile telephone system is growing


international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 24,000 (2005) 28,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 323,900 (2005) 92,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 7 repeaters) (2002) 1 (2000)
Terrain predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Total fertility rate 7.37 children born/woman (2007 est.) 3.44 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 45% (2002)
Waterways 300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya between September and March) (2005) -
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