Niger Basics: How Geography Has Affected the Nation

(picture: http://www.operationworld.org/nige)

Niger is a developing country in Western Africa named after the Niger River. It’s bordered by Chad in the east, Nigeria and Benin in the south, Libya in the northeast, Burkina Faso and Mali in the west, and Algeria in the northwest. The capital city and only large city in the nation is Niamey, located at 13°32’N 2°05’E. Niger is the largest country in West Africa, with 80% of its total land area covered by the Sahara Desert.

Niger is one of the lowest-ranked nations on the United Nations’ Human Development Index (187^th in 2013).[1] Niger’s geography is made up of the Sahara and Sub-Saharan regions, and has a subtropical climate. The land is primarily desert, with some rolling savanna and hills. The primary animals that thrive in this region are antelopes, gazelles, and sheep.

Niger approved a new constitution for its government in October of 2010. It reestablished the presidential system of government that calls for an election every five years of a president by universal suffrage, who also names a prime minister.[2]

Niger’s geography has substantially affected its culture, government, and economy. The country’s economy is centered on subsistence farming, other forms of agriculture, and the exporting of miscellaneous raw materials found in the region.[3] Niger’s high proportion of desert, landlocked nature, and poor education system has created serious impediments to development. Constant cycles of drought, desertification, and an incredibly high population growth rate have caused the economy of the nation to suffer. While the country possesses some of the earth’s largest uranium deposits, structural barriers to a strong economy have prevented the country from harnessing this natural resource source.[4]

The geography of the nation has also affected its culture significantly. The viability and predominance of small migrant groups throughout the history of the nation has influenced the current culture - Niger has suffered difficulty uniting culturally and politically. Its geographic location has caused it to be often viewed as a fringe nation near other more powerful states. Since Niger gained its independence from France in 1958, the country has suffered multiple civil conflicts and military coups.[5] This instability has hindered Niger’s economic growth and cultural flourishing.

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[1] “Human Development Report 2014,” United Nations Development Programme, last modified 2014, accessed January 21, 2016, http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr14-summary-en.pdf.

[2] “Niger’s Constitution of 2010,” Constitution Program, last modified September 26, 2013, accessed January 21, 2016, http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ner128397.pdf.

[3] “Niger,” African Economic Outlook, last modified May 28, 2015, accessed January 21, 2016, http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/country-notes/west-africa/niger/.

[4] Ibid.

[5] “History of Niger,” History World, accessed January 21, 2016, http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad04.