Facts

Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Area (only Total) total: 1.267 million sq km

Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north

Population: 13,272,679 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): French

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Niamey

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)