Administrative divisions of Niger

Prior to the 1999-2006 project, Niger's subdivisions were administered via direct appointment from the central government in Niamey.

Citizens now elect local committee representatives in each commune, chosen by subdivisions of the commune: "quarters" in towns and "villages" in rural areas, with additional groupings for traditional polities and nomadic populations.

The central government oversees this process through the office of the Minister of State for the Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization.

[8] Prior to independence, Niger was divided into sixteen cercles as second level administration divisions: Agadez, Birni N'Konni, Dogondoutchi, Dosso, Filingué, Gouré, Madaoua, Magaria, Maradi, N'Guigmi, Niamey, Tahoua, Téra, Tessaoua, Tillabéry, and Zinder.

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.