37 Departments of Niger

The regions of Niger are subdivided into 63 departments. Before the devolution program on 1999-2005, these departments were styled arrondissements. Confusingly, the next level up (regions) had, before 2002-2005 been styled departments. Prior to a revision in 2011, there had been 36 departments. A draft law in August 2011 would expand that number to 63. Until 2010, arrondissements remained a proposed subdivision of departments, though none were used. The decentralisation process, begun in the 1995-1999 period replaced appointed Prefects at Departmental/Arrondisement level with elected councils, first elected in 1999. These were the first local elections held in the history of Niger. Officials elected at commune level are then selected as representatives at Departmental, regional, and National level councils and administration. The Ministry of Decentralisation was created to oversee this task, and to create a national consultative council of local officials.

Abalak is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Abalak. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 112,273 people.

Aguie is a department of the Maradi Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Aguie. Among the commune subdivisions within the Department are the "Rural Communes" of Saé Saboua, Arnagou and Giratawa. Nearby villages include Dan Kiri, Dan Gao, Gamji Karama, Dan Rago, Doromawa, Guidan Tonio, and Guidan Kodao.

Arlit is a department of the Agadez Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Arlit. As of 2012, the department had a total population of 105,025 people.

Bilma is a department of the Agadez Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Bilma. As of 2012, the department had a total population of 17,935 people.

Birni-N'Konni is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Birni-N'Konni. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 504,783 people.

Boboye is a department of the Dosso Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Birni N'Gaouré. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 372,904 people.

Bouza is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Bouza, and also includes the town of Déoulé. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 386,093 people.

Dakoro is a department of the Maradi Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Dakoro. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 606,862 people.

Diffa is a department of the Diffa Region in Niger. It is bordered by Chad to the east. Its capital lies at the city of Diffa. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 209,249 people.

Dogondoutchi is a department of the Dosso Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Dogondoutchi. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 682,289 people.

Dosso is a department of the Dosso Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Dosso. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 488,509 people.

Filingue is a department of the Tillabéri Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Filingue, and includes the towns of Kourfey, Bonkoukou, Tabala, and Tondikandia. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 553,127 people.

Gaya is a department of the Dosso Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Gaya. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 349,794 people.

Goure is a department of the Zinder Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Goure. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 318,861 people.

Groumdji is a department of the Maradi Region of Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Guidan Roumdji. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 485,743 people.

Illela is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Illela.As of 2011, the department had a total population of 366,704 people.

Keita is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Keita. The Keita Department is located in the centre of the Republic of Niger and covers an area of more than 4,860 km2 characterised by plateaux with rocky slopes and valleys forming a complex system of watersheds exposed to strong winds and water erosion. The sahelian climate with an average temperature about of 29 °C, a short rainy season and a yearly average rainfall between 400 and 500 mm, represents one of the most limiting factors.

Kollo is a department of the Tillabéri Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Kollo, and includes the towns of N'Dounga, Fakara, Hamdallay, Karma, Kirtachi, Kouré, Lamordé, Liboré, and Namaro. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 443,371 people.

Loga is a department of the Dosso Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Loga. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 184,843 people.

Madaoua is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Madaoua. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 443,902 people.

Madarounfa is a department of the Maradi Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Madarounfa. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 612,798 people.

Magaria is a department of the Zinder Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Magaria. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 696,717 people.

Mainé-Soroa is a department of the Diffa Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Mainé-Soroa.

Matameye is a department of the Zinder Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Matameye. The chief town lies 72 km from Magaria. It also includes the town of Kantché.As of 2011, the department had a total population of 345,637 people.

Mayahi Department is a department of the Maradi Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Mayahi. In the mid-1990s, the Department had a population of 125,000, with 2,200 in Mayahi town. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 546,826 people.

Mirriah is a department of the Zinder Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Mirriah, although its largest city is Zinder. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 1,080,589 people.

N'guigmi is a department of the Diffa Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of N'guigmi. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 77,748 people.

Ouallam is a department of the Tillabéri Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Oullam, which is designated an Urban Commune. The department also includes the Rural Communes of Simiri and Tondikiwindi, as well as the towns of Bani Bangou and Dingazi. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 383,632 people.

Say is a department of the Tillabéri Region in Niger. Its capital city is Say, and includes the towns of Guéladjo, Tamou, and Torodi. It abuts the urban Region of Niamey, and lies across the Niger River to the southwest of the capital. It extends to the Burkina Faso border over 60 km to the west, and the northernmost border with Benin in the south. The Say area is today divided between the riverine valley in the east of the Department, and the more sparsely populated areas to the west, which are intercut with a series of eastward flowing tributaries. The Niger river, a broad shallow channel at Niamey and at Say, passes through a series of gorges and cataracts, called the "W" bend for the shape the river takes, in the south of the Say Department. To the west of these rapids lies what is now the W Regional Park, a sparsely populated area historically plagued by insect borne diseases of both humans and cattle. Now a park and tourist attraction, its history as a "no mans land" has made it a refuge for remaining wild animals, as well as several undisturbed archeological sites. From at least the 16th century CE, the Zarma people moved south into this area from the northern plateau around what is now Oullam. The inhabitants at the time were related to the Gourma people, who form most of the population of the northwestern part of the Department today. In the 18th and 19th century, the town of Say was founded by Fulani migrants from the Gao region of modern Mali, with others expanding from what is now northeast Burkina Faso. Between 1810 and the arrival of European writer Heinrich Barth in 1854, Fulani Muslims led by Alfa Mohamed Diobo of Djenné had established the Emirate of Say. The reputation for piety and learning of Mohamed Diobo and his followers helped turn Say from a small river village into a town of 30,000, famed across West Africa as a center of learning.

Tahoua is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Tahoua. It includes the towns of Bambay and Kalkou. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 500,361 people.

Tanout is a department of the Zinder Region in Niger. Its administrative seat is the city of Tanout. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 475,125 people.

Tchintabaraden is a department of the Tahoua Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Tchintabaraden. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 124,337 people.

Tchirozerine is a department of the Agadez Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Tchirozerine. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 328,018 people.

Téra is a department of the Tillabéri Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Téra. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 579,658 people.

Tessaoua is a department of the Maradi Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Tessaoua. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 479,384 people.

Tillabéri is a department of the Tillabéri Region in Niger. Its capital lies at the city of Tillabéri, and contains the Communes of Ayorou, Anzourou, Dessa, Kourteye, and Sinder. Tillabéri is also the capital of Tillabéri Region. The western border of the Department is formed by the Niger River. As of 2011, the department had a total population of 295,898 people.