Government & politics — Niger
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Government & politics at a glance
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations. Key figure for Niger: Republic of Niger
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Identity & names
- Full Country Name
Republic of Niger
- Country Name
Niger note: pronounced nee-zhair
- Local - Long
Republique du Niger
- Local - Short
Niger
- Etymology- history of name
named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir"
- Independence
3 August 1960 (from France)
- National Holiday
Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960
Political system
- Government Type
semi-presidential republic
- Constitution
- Legal System:
mixed legal system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law
- Executive Branch:
- Legislative Branch:
- Judicial Branch:
- Regions or States:
7 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
- Political Parties and Leaders:
- Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship Criteria:
Capital & time
- Capital Name
Niamey
- Capital - geographic coordinate
13 31 N, 2 07 E
- Capital Time Difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
International role
- International Organization Participation:
- International Law Organization Participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- Diplomatic Representation from US:
- Diplomatic Representation in the US:
