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Niger is divided into seven regions (French: régions; singular – région), each of which is named after its capital. Additionally, the national capital, Niamey, comprises a capital district.^[1]

Current regions


Region	Area (km²)^[2]	Population (2012 census)	Population (2020 estimate)
Agadez	667,799	487,620	687,540
Diffa	156,906	593,821	837,290
Dosso	33,850	2,037,713	2,873,180
Maradi	41,796	3,402,094	4,796,950
Niamey*	402	1,026,848	1,447,860
Tahoua	113,371	3,328,365	4,692,990
Tillabéri	97,251	2,722,842	3,839,210
Zinder	155,778	3,539,764	4,991,070

*capital district.

Current administrative structure

Each of Niger's regions are subdivided into departments and communes. As of 2005, there were 36 départements, divided into 265 communes, 122 cantons and 81 groupements. The latter two categories cover all areas not covered by urban communes (population over 10000) or rural communes (total population 13 million), and are governed by the department, whereas communes have had elected councils and mayors since 1999. Additional semi-autonomous subdivisions include sultanates, provinces and tributaries (tribus).^[3] The Nigerien government estimates there are an additional 17000 villages administered by rural communes, while there are a number of quartiers (boroughs or neighborhoods) administered by urban communes.^[4]

Restructuring

Prior to the devolution program of 1999–2006, the regions were styled as departments. The current departments used to be called arrondissements.^[5]]

1992 division

The department of Tillabéri was created in 1992, when Niamey Region (then called "department") was split, with the areas immediately outside Niamey renamed as the capital district.^[6]

Historical evolution

Prior to independence, Niger was divided into sixteen cercles as second-level administrative divisions: Agadez, Birni N'Konni, Dogondoutchi, Dosso, Filingué, Gouré, Madaoua, Magaria, Maradi, N'Guigmi, Niamey, Tahoua, Téra, Tessaoua, Tillabéry, and Zinder. Their capitals had the same names as the cercle.

After independence, the 31 December 1961 Law of territorial organization created 31 circonscriptions. The 16 colonial cercles continued to exist, and served as a level of division above these circonscriptions. Four cercles (Dogondoutchi, Filingué, N'Guigmi, and Téra) had only one circonscription. The Law of August 14, 1964 then reorganized the country into seven departments, adopting the French second-level administration naming system, in contrast to neighbor Mali, which retained the colonial cercles and regions.

References

^ "Niger". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
^ Niger at GeoHive Archived 2015-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
^ Loi 2001-23, Article 6
^ GOUVERNEMENT DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DU NIGER. APPUI À LA MISE EN ŒUVRE DU NEPAD–PDDAA, TCP/NER/2908 (I) (NEPAD Ref. 05/24 F), Volume IV de VI : PROFIL DE PROJET D’INVESTISSEMENT BANCABLE, Programme national de développement des infrastructures rurales (PNDIR)^{[permanent dead link]} Government of the Republic of Niger, 24 April 2005, hosted bt the FAO.
^
*Mbaye Mbengue FAYE, Faria Ibrahim GESTION DES DECHETS ISSUS DES SOINS DE SANTE (DISS):RAPPORT PROVISOIRE, World Bank, Niamey, Décembre 2001.
- FONDS AFRICAIN DE DEVELOPPEMENT: ETUDE DE MOBILISATION DES EAUX DANS LA REGION DE MARADI NIGER^{[permanent dead link]}. DEPARTEMENT AGRICULTURE ET DEVELOPPEMENT RURAL, OCAR. African Development Bank Group, MARCH 2003
- [http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/peace/nig19950415.pdf ACCORD ÉTABLISSANT UNE PAIX DÉFINITIVE ENTRE LE GOUVERNEMENT DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE DU NIGER ET L?ORGANISATION DE LA RÉSISTANCE ARMÉE (O. R. A.)
^ According to Statoids Archived 2009-07-24 at the Wayback Machine: "~1992: Tillabéry Region/department split from Niamey (whose FIPS code was NG05 before the change). Status of Niamey changed from department to capital district."

v t e Regions and Departments of Niger
Capital: Niamey in Niamey Capital District
Agadez Region	Aderbissina Department Arlit Department Bilma Department Iferouane Department In-Gall Department Tchirozerine Department
Diffa Region	Bosso Department Diffa Department Goudoumaria Department Maine-soroa Department N'Gourti Department N'guigmi Department
Dosso Region	Boboye Department Dioundiou Department Dogondoutchi Department Dosso Department Falmey Department Gaya Department Loga Department Tibiri Department
Maradi Region	Aguie Department Bermo Department Dakoro Department Gazaoua Department Guidan Roumdji Department Madarounfa Department Maradi City Mayahi Department Tessaoua Department
Tahoua Region	Abalak Department Bagaroua Department Bkonni Department Bouza Department Illela Department Keita Department Madaoua Department Malbaza Department Tahoua Department Tahoua City Tassara Department Tchin-Tabaraden Department Tillia Department
Tillabéri Region	Abala Department Ayourou Department Balléyara Department Banibangou Department Bankilaré Department Filingue Department Gothèye Department Kollo Department Ouallam Department Say Department Téra Department Tillabéri Department Torodi Department
Zinder Region	Belbédji Department Damagaram Takaya Department Dungass Department Goure Department Magaria Department Matameye Department Mirriah Department Takeita Department Tanout Department Tesker Department Zinder City

Articles on first-level administrative divisions of African countries

Table of administrative country subdivisions by country