Niger

The Republic of Niger is a landlocked country in the Saharan Desert in northern Africa, bordered by Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Benin, Libya, Mali, and Nigeria. It takes its name from the Niger River, which runs through its southwestern tip. Like its neighbors Chad and Mali, it has a very low population density and low rates of urbanization, concentrated in the capital Niamey. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and relies heavily on mining exports, particularly uranium ore.

Niger's religious history is closely tied to that of North Africa, evidenced by the high percentages of Muslims and the minimal presence of Christian groups. Modern-day Niger spans an area that was home to four distinct cultural regions before colonization: the Djerma civilization in ...