_#_Language: French (official); Hausa, Djerma

_#_Literacy: 28% (male 40%, female 17%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 2,500,000 wage earners (1982); agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%; 51% of population of working age (1985)

_#_Organized labor: negligible

_*Government #_Long-form name: Republic of Niger

_#_Type: republic; presidential system in which military officers hold key offices

_#_Capital: Niamey

_#_Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular—departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder

_#_Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)

_#_Constitution: adopted NA December 1989 after 15 years of military rule