Background on Niger

Hi everybody! I'm getting ready to leave for the plane and will not have access to the internet or phone for at least 6 weeks! For those of you who are curious about where I'm headed, here's some quick info. Enjoy!

Niger Quick Facts

* Islam is practiced by 90% of Nigeriens and came to the country in the 12th century

* Niger is a former French colony and gained its independence in 1960

* Niger ranks 177 out of 177 on the 2005 United Nations Development Index, making it one of the poorest countries in the world with an average annual GDP of $185

* Twenty seven percent of adults over age 15 are literate

* Forty six percent of families have access to potable water

* Millet is the stable food source and is pounded into a flour before being made into food; sorghum and rice are also staples in certain regions of the country

* Niger is twice the size of Texas with the northern two thirds in the Sahara and the southern third in the Sahel region; the climate throughout is dry and arid

* Niamey is the capital city with 1 million residents; it is also home to the country's Peace Corps headquarters