, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WADB (regional),
WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph
DIATTA FAX: [1] (202)483-3169 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Barbro OWENS-KIRKPATRICK embassy: Rue
B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone:
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

Economy Niger

Economy - overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation,
whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry,
reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, because of declining
world demand. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January
1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products of
Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and
multilateral aid - which was suspended following the April 1999 coup
d'etat - for operating expenses and public investment. In 2000-01, the
World Bank approved a structural adjustment loan of $105 million to help
support fiscal reforms. However, reforms could prove difficult given the
government's bleak financial situation. The IMF approved a $73 million
poverty reduction and growth facility for Niger in 2000 and announced
$115 million in debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
(HIPC) initiative.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.4 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $820 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 17% services:
42% (2000)

Population below poverty line: 63% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index: 50.5 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.2% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 70,000 receive regular wages or salaries

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%,
government 4%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $320 million, including $134 million from foreign
sources expenditures: