1. The Nigerien economic outlook has been improving since 1999. After a long period of decline in per capita income, growth accelerated through 2007, attaining an annual average of 4 percent, or about 1 percent in per capita terms. Economic reforms and political stability have attracted external aid and higher domestic and external private investment. The total investment-to-GDP ratio has increased from an average of 12 percent in 1997-99 to 22 percent in 2005-07 (Table 1)
