The largest ethnic groups in Niger are the Hausa, who also constitute the major ethnic group in northern Nigeria, and the Zarma Songhay (also spelled Djerma-Songhai), who also are found in parts of Mali. Both groups are sedentary farmers who live in the arable, southern tier. The remainder of the Nigerien people are nomadic or seminomadic livestock-raising peoples--Tuareg, Fulani, Kanouri, and Toubou. With rapidly growing populations and the consequent competition for meager natural resources, lifestyles of these two types of peoples have come increasingly into conflict in Niger in recent years. The Hausa are a people of northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger. ... Zarma is a major Songhay language of Niger with over 2 million speakers. ... The Songhai are an ethnic group living in western Africa. ... For other uses, see Tuareg (disambiguation). ... Categories: Africa-related stubs | Burkina Faso | Cameroon | Ethnic groups of Africa | Fulani Empire | Mali | Nigeria ... The Toubou are an ethnic group in northern Chad. ...

Niger's high infant mortality rate is comparable to levels recorded in neighboring countries. However, the child mortality rate (deaths among children between the ages of 1 and 4) is exceptionally high (274 per 1,000) due to generally poor health conditions and inadequate nutrition for most of the country's children. Niger's very high fertility rate (7.4%), nonetheless, means that nearly half (49%) of the Nigerien population is under age 15. School attendance is very low (34%), including 38% of males and only 27% of females. Additional education occurs through Koranic schools. For early system failures, see failure rate. ...

Demographics of Niger, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

Population: 10,075,511 (July 2000 est.) The population is projected to double by 2026. Image File history File links Niger-demography. ... Image File history File links Niger-demography. ... Headquartered in Rome, Italy, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations programs seek to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living; to improve the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food and agricultural products; to promote rural development; and, by these means, to eliminate hunger. ...

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,461,391; female 2,373,617)
15-64 years: 50% (male 2,445,369; female 2,563,839)
65 years and over: 2% (male 121,570; female 109,725) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.75% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 51.45 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 23.17 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 124.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.27 years
male: 41.43 years
female: 41.11 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 7.16 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien

Ethnic groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Tuareg 8.5%, Fulani 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French expatriates The Hausa are a people of northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger. ... For other uses, see Tuareg (disambiguation). ... Categories: Africa-related stubs | Burkina Faso | Cameroon | Ethnic groups of Africa | Fulani Empire | Mali | Nigeria ... The Arabs ((Arabic: عرب ʻarab) are a large ethnic group widespread in the Middle East and North Africa, originating in the Arabian Peninsula of southwest Asia. ... The Toubou are an ethnic group in northern Chad. ... Gurma, also called Gorma or Gourmantche, is an ethnic group in Fada Ngourma, Burkina Faso. ...

Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians Islām is described as a dīn, meaning way of life and/or guidance. ... History Main article: History of Christianity See also: Timeline of Christianity The history of Christianity is difficult to extricate from that of the European West (and several other culture-regions) in general. ...

Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma, Tamajaq, Fulfulde. Hausa is the Chadic language with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 24 million people, and as a second language by about 15 million more. ... Tamajaq is the Tuareg language of Niger, belonging to southern Berber, spoken by the Kel Tamajaq or Imuhagh, Tuareg. ... Categories: Africa-related stubs | Burkina Faso | Cameroon | Ethnic groups of Africa | Fulani Empire | Mali | Nigeria ...

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 13.6%
male: 20.9%
female: 6.6% (1995 est.)

See also : Niger