Where?

Niger

The Republic of Niger is the largest country in West Africa.  It sits on the southern side of the great Sahara desert – in fact, over 80% of Niger’s landmass is the desert itself.

With an estimated population touching 16 million, one might assume people are fairly thin on the ground – and at just 33 people per square mile (compared, for example, to around 662 in the UK) this is true for vast swathes of the country.  However, the majority of the population live along the southern edge of the country, which borders the Niger river (shared with Nigeria to the south.)

The official language of Niger is French, and it was a French colony until independence was declared in 1960.  However, much of the population speak a variety of tribal languages, reflected the population’s makeup of several large tribes across Western Africa.  Over half of the population are Hausa, who also dominate northern Nigeria; next are the Zarma-Songhai, also found in Mali.  Along with the Gourmantche, these groups farm much of Niger’s south.  However, other nomadic tribes such as the Fulani and Tuareg make up nearly 20% of the population.

Niger is considered one of the least developed countries in the world by the UN.  The child mortality rate is very high – nearly 1 in 4 will die before the age of 4.  Nevertheless, nearly half of the population are under the age of 15.  There are around 3 doctors per 100,00 people (compared to 200 in the UK.)