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Niger is divided into sevenregions (French:régions; singular – région), each of which is named after its capital. Additionally, the national capital,Niamey, comprises acapital district.[1]
| 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.
Each of Niger's regions are subdivided intodepartments andcommunes. As of 2005, there were 36départements, divided into 265 communes, 122 cantons and 81groupements. 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 ofquartiers (boroughs or neighborhoods) administered by urban communes.[4]
Prior to the devolution program of 1999–2006, the regions were styled as departments. The current departments used to be calledarrondissements.[5]]
The department of Tillabéri was created in 1992, whenNiamey Region (then called "department") was split, with the areas immediately outside Niamey renamed as thecapital district.[6]
Prior to independence, Niger was divided into sixteencercles 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 thecercle.
After independence, the31 December 1961 Law of territorial organization created 31circonscriptions. The 16 colonialcercles continued to exist, and served as a level of division above thesecirconscriptions. Fourcercles (Dogondoutchi, Filingué, N'Guigmi, and Téra) had only onecirconscription. TheLaw of August 14, 1964 then reorganized the country into seven departments, adopting the French second-level administration naming system, in contrast to neighborMali, which retained the colonialcercles andregions.
