Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA chancery : 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles O. CECIL (20 August 1996) embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone : [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64 FAX: [227] 73 31 67
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
Economy - overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose recent GDP growth has barely matched the rapid growth of population. The economy is centered on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Terms of trade with Nigeria, Niger's largest regional trade partner, have improved dramatically since the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994; this devaluation boosted exports of livestock, peas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank. The US terminated bilateral assistance to Niger after the coup of 1996. Other donors have reduced their aid.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $640 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 18% services: 41% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 10.6% (1995 est.)