fbpx

KidsKonnect

Niger Facts & Worksheets

Niger is officially known as the Republic of Niger, a landlocked country located in the west of Africa.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /Geography /Countries /Niger Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Niger Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Niger is officially known as the Republic of Niger, a landlocked country located in the west of Africa. The country is named after the Niger River.

See the fact file below for more information on the Niger or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Niger worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

MOTTO AND FLAG

  • The motto of the Republic of Niger is Fraternité, Travail, Progrès or Fraternity, Work, Progress.
  • The Flag of Niger features the national colors orange, white, and green, organized in equal bands horizontally. An orange circle is on the center of the flag.
  • The flag was adopted on November 23, 1959 when Niger declared independence from France.
  • The upper orange band symbolizes the regions of the Sahara Desert.
  • The white band at the center symbolizes purity.
  • The green band at the bottom of the flag represents the idea of hope and fertility.
  • The orange circle at the center of the flag represents the sun or the nation’s independence.

NIAMEY

  • The capital and largest city of the Republic of Niger is Niamey.
  • The city of Niamey lies on the eastern bank of the Niger River.
  • The city of Niamey has an area of 239.30 square kilometers.
  • The Republic of Niger is Governed as a Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic. The laws of Niger are legislated by a National Assembly.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Niger has a total area of 1,267,000 kilometers square kilometers or 489,000 square miles.
  • The country of Niger shares its borders with Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin to the southwest, Mali to the northwest, Burkina Faso to the southwest, and Algeria to the northwest.
  • Niger is the largest country in West Africa.
  • 80% of the Nigerien land is located on the Sahara Desert.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • The demonym used to refer to the citizens of the Republic of Niger are Nigerien.
  • In a 2018 estimate, the Nigerien Populace has grown to 22,442,831.
  • The official language of Niger is French.
  • The Republic of Niger has several national languages.
  • The written and spoken languages in Niger are Arabic, Buduma, Fulfulde, Gourmanchéma, Hausa, Kanuri Zarma & Songhai, Tamasheq, Tasawaq, and Tebu.
  • Most of the Nigerien populace, which is approximately 22 million, predominantly practices Muslim Faith.
  • The primary ethnic groups inhabiting Niger are, Hausa, Zarma/Songhai, and Tuareg.
  • As of 2015, the literacy rate of Niger is 19.1%.

ETYMOLOGY

  • The country of Niger is named after the Niger River.
  • The origin of the river’s name is unclear.
  • However, according to a well-known theory, the river’s name was derived from n’eghirren in Tuareg Language, which means “flowing water.”

HISTORY

  • The first inhabitants of the Sahara, which is technically Niger, are the nomadic Tuareg people.
  • Niger was inhabited by various groups of people beginning 14th century.
  • The Hausa inhabited Niger in the 14th century.
  • The Zerma settled in the 17th century.
  • The Gobir settled in the 18th century.
  • The Fulani settled in the 19th century.
  • The region of Niger became a part of the French West Africa in 1896.
  • In 1922, after several rebellions, Niger officially became a French colony.
  • In 1958, Niger was voted to become an autonomous republic within the French Community.
  • In 1959, Niger adopted a constitution. The following year, Niger withdrew from the French Community and proclaimed its independence.

CULTURE

  • The Nigerien culture was slightly influenced by France. However, the various ethnic groups contribute in the rich tradition of the Nigerien culture.
  • Different festivals to celebrate the arts are also held in Niger.
  • The Guérewol festival takes place in Abalak, Tahoua region or in In’Gall, Agadez Region; it is a courtship ritual done by the Fula People. The ritual features men dressed with intricate ornaments and face painting, singing and dancing for young women.
  • The Cure Salée Festival is hosted by and participated in by the Tuareg and Wodaabe people in In’Gall, Agadez to celebrate the end of rainy season.
  • Nigerien traditional music developed from the ethnic groups residing in the region.
  • The Hausa uses traditional instruments such as the duma (percussion), the molo (lute), ghaïta (shawm), and kakaki (trumpet).
  • Traditional Nigerien sports consists of horse racing, camel racing, and sorro wrestling.
  • Football is a popular sport in Niger’s urban areas.
  • The cuisine of Niger is basically the traditional African cuisine.
  • Nigerien meals include meat, seasonal vegetables, salads, and various sauces.
  • Moringa leaves is a popular ingredient for a Nigerien salad.
  • A frequent Nigerien meal consists of starch, often rice, paired with sauce or stew.

LANDMARKS

  • Gadoufaoua — A fossil graveyard located in the Tenere desert, in the region of Agadez. Bones of extinct animals are found here, including the fossils of Sarcosuchus imperator, a species of crocodile that lived 112 million years ago.
  • Orida Arch — Located in Agadez, a natural arch made of sandstone, rising from the desert.
  • Bura Site — Found in Tera, a burial site with coffins decorated with terracotta statues.
  • Agadez — The city the Tuareg people founded in the 14th century.
  • Agadez Mosque — a historic mosque in Agadez that was constructed in 1515 and restored in 1844.

Niger Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Niger across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Niger worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Niger which is officially known as the Republic of Niger, a landlocked country located in the west of Africa. The country is named after the Niger River.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Niger Facts
  • Ask About Niger
  • Inhabitants by Period
  • Thumbs Up or Down
  • Decoding Landmarks
  • Culture Match
  • Niger in Snapshots
  • Map Sketch
  • Map Study
  • Motto Word Board
  • Curiosity Page

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Niger Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 30, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources