This post discusses the historical evolution of regions of Niger, Reconstruction, and the current administrative Structure and then the current regions.
REGIONS OF NIGER
Niger is divided into eight regions, each of which is named after its capital.
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 circumscription The 16 colonial cercles continued to exist, and served as a level of division above these circumscription Four cercles (Dogondoutchi, Filingué, N’Guigmi, and Téra) had only one circumscription. 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.
Read: POLITICAL HISTORY OF NIGER
RESTRUCTURING
Prior to the devolution program of 1999–2006, the regions were styled as departments. The current departments used to be called arrondissements.
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.
CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
Each of Niger’s regions is 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). 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.
CURRENT REGIONS
| Region | Area (km2) |
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 |
Additionally, the national capital, Niamey, comprises a special capital district.
Agadez
The region in the northernmost part of the country is the largest region in the country with a surface area of 667,799 square kilometers. The capital of the region is Agadez of the same name. The vast majority of the region consists of the desert, Algeria in the northwest, Libya in the northeast, Chad in the east, Mali in the west, and Niger in the south. According to 2012 data, 487,620 people live in the region. Agarez region is the region where Tuareg people mostly live and the majority of the population is in the country.
Diffa
The region in the southeastern part of the country has a surface area of 156,906 square kilometers. The region has borders with Agadez region in the north, Chad in the east, Nigeria in the south and Zinder region in the west. The border of the region with Nigeria is the Komadugu Yobe River in certain sections. According to 2012 data, 593,821 people live in the region. The region where the Kanuri people live the most is the Diffa region.
Dosso
Located in the southwestern part of the country, the area has a surface area of 33,844 square kilometers. Since the region is located to the south of other parts of the country, it is rainier and the soil is more fertile. Some of the borders of the region are Tillabéri in the north, Tahoua in the northeast, Nigeria in the southeast and Benin in the southwest. According to 2012 data, 2,037,713 people live in the region.
Maradi
The region in the southern part of the country has a surface area of 41,796 square kilometers. Tahoua region in the west, Agadez region in the north, Zinder region in the east and Nigeria in the south form the borders of the region. According to 2012 data, 3,402,094 people live in the region. The region where the Hausa people live the most is the Maradi region. The Maradi region is separated by six.
Niamey
Niamey is the capital of Niger in Africa. Its population is 1,243,500 according to 2018 estimates. It is located in the west of the country, near the Niger River. Niamey is a metropolitan city consisting of five districts. Cattle farming and meat trade occupies an important place in the city. is the capital of Niger in Africa. Its population is 1,243,500 according to 2018 estimates. It is located in the west of the country, near the Niger River. Niamey is a metropolitan city consisting of five districts. Cattle farming and meat trade occupies an important place in the city.
Tahoua
The region in the central part of the western part of the country has a surface area of 113,371 square kilometers. The region has borders with Agadez region in the northeast, Maradi region in the southeast, Tillabéri region and Dosso region in the southwest, Nigeria in the south and Mali in the northwest. According to 2012 data, 3,328,365 people live in the region.
Tillabery
The region on the Sahel belt in the western part of the country has a surface area of 97,506 square kilometers. In the northern part of the Niger River is Mali, the Tahoua region in the east, the Dosso region in the southeast and Benin with a very small border line, and the Burkina Faso in the west. The region also includes the Niamey capital municipality region, which is not connected to any region in the country. According to 2012 data, 2,722,842 people live in the region.
Zinder
The region in the southern part of the country has an area of 155,778 square kilometers. Agadez region in the north, Maradi region in the east, Diffa region in the west and Nigeria in the south. According to 2012 data, 3,539,764 people live in the region.