NIGER STATISTICS

* Second poorest country in the world (Second only to West African war-torn neighbor, Sierra Leone).

* Niger is roughly the size of California and Texas combined.

* The bulk of the population, and all Peace Corps volunteers, are concentrated in the southern third of the country. This transitional zone, known as the Sahel, is a semi-arid area between the savannas to the south and the Sahara to the north. The northern two-thirds is desert with a few oasis towns (such as Agadez) and some seasonal grazing land used by nomads.

* Only four to five percent (4-5%) of land is considered arable.

* Sixty percent (60%) of the Nigerien government’s operating budget comes from foreign donors, mainly France and other European Union countries.

* The GDP per capita, as measured in 2000, was $150.

* Highest infant mortality rate in the world—thirty percent (30%) of children die before the age of five.

* Niger women claim the highest birth rate in the world at 7.5 children per woman.

* Forty seven percent (47%) of the country’s women are married by the age of 15. Ninety six percent (96%) by the age of 22.

* Women aged 18-45 are pregnant twenty eight percent (28%) of the time.

* The rural population accounts for eighty five percent (85%) of the country’s 11 million citizens

* There exists one medical doctor for every 75,000 inhabitants.

* Eighty-five percent (85%) of medical doctors live in Niger’s cities (Niamey, Dosso, Konni, Maradi, Zinder, Tahoua, Agadez).

* Eighteen percent (18%) of children receive vaccinations.

* Seven percent (7%) of the country is HIV positive.

* Annual per capita spending on health: US - approx. $4500; Niger - approx. $10.

* A former French colony, Niger has been an independent country since 1960.

* Fourteen percent of Nigeriens are literate. Of that 14%, only 7% are female.

* One third of primary school age children attend school. As for high-school-age children, only 4.2% of these kids attend school.

* Ninety eight percent (98%) of the population is Muslim.