Niger: flag, capital, currency and history

Flag of Niger

Download the flag of Niger as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇳🇪.

History of Niger

The territory lies across the Sahara and the Sahel, where Neolithic peoples left rock art and later states shaped trade routes. Parts of the area fell within the Songhai Empire and the Kanem-Bornu state, while Hausa city-states and the Tuareg Sultanate of Agadez controlled other regions. France conquered the region at the end of the 19th century and organised it as a military territory and then, in 1922, a colony within French West Africa. Niger became independent in 1960. Later decades brought single-party rule, several military coups and multiparty periods. It is a landlocked republic with Niamey as its capital.

Key dates

1. c. 1500The Songhai Empire controls the Niger River valley in the west of the region.
2. 1900France establishes a military territory in the region after conquests in the 1890s.
3. 1922Niger becomes a separate colony within French West Africa.
4. 1958Niger becomes an autonomous republic within the French Community.
5. 1960Niger becomes fully independent from France on 3 August.
6. 1974A military coup removes the first president, Hamani Diori.
7. 1990sPolitical reforms introduce multiparty politics after protests.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.

Currency of Niger

Niger uses the West African CFA franc (XOF, Fr). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.

Frequently asked questions

Neighbours of Niger

AlgeriaAlgiersBeninPorto-NovoBurkina FasoOuagadougouChadN'DjamenaLibyaTripoliMaliBamakoNigeriaAbuja

More countries in Western Africa

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