# Diffa Region

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Region of Niger

Region in Niger

Diffa Region Boys driving mule carts in Diffa Region Location within Niger Coordinates: 14°N 13°E / 14°N 13°E / 14; 13 Country Niger Capital Diffa Government • Governor Unknown Area • Total 156,906 km2 (60,582 sq mi) Population (2020 estimate[1]) • Total 762,700 • Density 4.861/km2 (12.59/sq mi) Time zone UTC+1 (West Africa Time) HDI (2021) 0.386[2] low · 5th of 7

**Diffa** is one of the seven [regions of Niger](/source/Regions_of_Niger), and is located in the southeast of the country. The capital of the region is [Diffa](/source/Diffa).

## Geography

Diffa Region is situated in the extreme southeast of [Niger](/source/Niger) between 10° 30’ and 15° 35’ longitude East and 13° 04’ and 18° 00’ latitude North. It covers 156 906 km², and it borders [Agadez Region](/source/Agadez_Region) to the north, [Chad](/source/Chad) to [the east](/source/Chad-Niger_border), [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria) to the south, and [Zinder Region](/source/Zinder_Region) to the west. The landscape is primarily [Sahelian](/source/Sahelian) in the south, merging into the [Sahara desert](/source/Sahara_desert) in the north of the region. In the far southeast can be found Niger's portion of [Lake Chad](/source/Lake_Chad); formerly extending as far west as [N'guigmi](/source/N'guigmi), the lake has shrunk drastically in recent decades.[3] In the southeast, the [Komadougou Yobe](/source/Komadougou_Yobe) river forms part of the border with Nigeria.[3]

### Settlements

[Diffa](/source/Diffa) is the regional capital. Other major settlements include [Bosso](/source/Bosso%2C_Niger), [Chetimari](/source/Chetimari), [Dungass](/source/Dungass), [Gueskerou](/source/Gueskerou), [Goudoumaria](/source/Goudoumaria), [Kablewa](/source/Kablewa), [Mainé-Soroa](/source/Main%C3%A9-Soroa), [N'Gourti](/source/N'Gourti), [N'Guelbély](/source/N'Guelb%C3%A9ly), [N'guigmi](/source/N'guigmi) and [Toumour](/source/Toumour).[4]

## Administrative subdivisions

Departments of Diffa (Old borders)

Diffa Region is divided into six [Departments](/source/Departments_of_Niger):

- [Bosso Department](/source/Bosso_Department)

- [Diffa Department](/source/Diffa_Department)

- [Goudoumaria Department](/source/Goudoumaria)

- [Maine-soroa Department](/source/Maine-soroa_Department)

- [N'Gourti Department](/source/N'Gourti)

- [N'guigmi Department](/source/N'guigmi_Department)

The Region also includes three [Urban Communes](/source/Communes_of_Niger), a number of Rural Communes, four Cantons, and over twenty *Groupments* (administrative councils of nomadic communities). The Urban Communes are [Diffa](/source/Diffa), [Maïné-Soroa](/source/Ma%C3%AFn%C3%A9-Soroa), [N'guigmi](/source/N'guigmi); while the Rural Communes include [Bosso](/source/Bosso%2C_Niger), [Chétimari](/source/Ch%C3%A9timari), [Goudoumaria](/source/Goudoumaria), [N'Gourti](/source/N'Gourti), [Kabléwa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kabl%C3%A9wa&action=edit&redlink=1), [Nguel beyli](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nguel_beyli&action=edit&redlink=1), and [Gueskérou](/source/Guesk%C3%A9rou).

## Demographics

The main ethnolinguistic groups in the region are [Arabs](/source/Arabs), [Fula](/source/Fula_people), [Hausa](/source/Hausa_people), [Kanuri](/source/Kanuri_people), [Buduma](/source/Buduma_people), and [Toubou](/source/Toubou_people).[5][6]

‹ The [template](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template) *[Historical populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Historical_populations)* is being [considered for merging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Templates_for_discussion/Log/2026_June_24#Template:Infobox_demographics). ›

Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1977 167,382 — 1985 189,091 +13.0% 2001 346,595 +83.3% 2012 593,821 +71.3% source:[7]

### Refugees

Refugees from Nigeria fleeing violence from [Boko Haram](/source/Boko_Haram) are living with local populations in the Diffa Region. As of June 11, 2014, the [International Rescue Committee](/source/International_Rescue_Committee) (IRC) estimated that as many as 1,000 refugees a week were crossing the border into Diffa region; four out of five were women and girls.[8] By October 2015 the number of Nigerian refugees in the region had risen to at least 150,000.[9] After a lull in the fighting in 2017-18, violence increased in 2019, further worsening an already fragile security situation.[10]

## Economy

Landscape of rural Diffa Region, Niger, traveling on the main highway from Diffa to Niamey. (2006)

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The economy of Diffa Region is primarily agricultural, based upon pastoralism and farming. The major crop, grown both for subsistence and sale, is [millet](/source/Millet), especially the drought-tolerant varieties. One third of arable land is devoted to farming: almost 105,000 hectares farmed of the 299,500 hectares of arable land. Areas of the east and south also grow [rice](/source/Rice) and [maize](/source/Maize). Irrigation in the valleys around [Maïné-Soroa](/source/Ma%C3%AFn%C3%A9-Soroa) make this possible, as does the edge of [Lake Chad](/source/Lake_Chad) (3,000 km² in the far east) and the seasonal [Komadougou Yobe](/source/Komadougou_Yobe) river valley in the south. This river valley forms around 150 km of the border with [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria). Despite this, the Diffa Region is among the most unproductive agricultural areas in Niger, and all of West Africa, making it especially vulnerable to drought and famine.

## See also

- [Regions of Niger](/source/Regions_of_Niger)

- [Departments of Niger](/source/Departments_of_Niger)

- [Communes of Niger](/source/Communes_of_Niger)

- [2010 Sahel famine](/source/2010_Sahel_famine)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Annuaire_statistique_du_Niger_1-0)** [Annuaire statistique du Niger](http://www.stat-niger.org/statistique/file/Annuaires_Statistiques/Annuaire_ins_2011/population.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab"](https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/). *hdi.globaldatalab.org*. Retrieved 24 November 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bradt_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bradt_3-1) Geels, Jolijn, (2006) *Bradt Travel Guide - Niger*, pgs. 227-38

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Carte de référence: Niger - Région de Diffa (30 janvier 2019)"](https://reliefweb.int/map/niger/carte-de-r-f-rence-niger-r-gion-de-diffa-30-janvier-2019) ([PDF](/source/PDF)). REACH Initiative. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sahel_5-0)** [Présentation de la région de Diffa: des potentialités naturelles considérables](http://lesahel.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3323:presentation-de-la-region-de-diffa-des-potentialites-naturelles-considerables&catid=50:special-18-decembre-2009&Itemid=64). Abdou Saïdou, [Le Sahel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Le_Sahel&action=edit&redlink=1) (Niamey). 17 December 2009

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Languages of Niger"](https://www.ethnologue.com/country/ne/languages). [Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue). Retrieved 24 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Niger: Administrative Division population statistics](http://www.citypopulation.de/en/niger/cities/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Damon, Arwa (2014-06-11). ["Where are Nigeria's missing girls? On the hunt for Boko Haram"](http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/10/world/africa/boko-haram-hunt-arwa-damon/index.html?iid=article_sidebar). *CNN.com*. Retrieved 2014-06-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Boko Haram fighters kill two Niger soldiers, wound four in ambush"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160128193358/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-niger-violence-idUKKCN0RW1NF20151002). *Reuters*. 2 October 2015. Archived from [the original](http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-niger-violence-idUKKCN0RW1NF20151002) on January 28, 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["ACAPS Briefing Note: Niger - Displacement in Diffa region (5 April 2019)"](https://reliefweb.int/report/niger/acaps-briefing-note-niger-displacement-diffa-region-5-april-2019). *Relief Web*. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.

- Portions of this article were translated from the French language Wikipedia article [fr:Diffa (région)](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffa_(r%C3%A9gion)), 2008-06-19.

- Decalo, Samuel (1997). *Historical Dictionary of the Niger (3rd ed.)*. Boston & Folkestone: Scarecrow Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8108-3136-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8108-3136-8).: p. 120

- Geels, Jolijn (2006). *Niger*. Chalfont St Peter, Bucks / Guilford, Connecticut: Bradt UK / Globe Pequot Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84162-152-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84162-152-4).: pp.227–238

- [The Wodaabe Of Southeastern Niger](http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/y5115e/y5115e04.htm). In Nikolaus Schareika. Ecological Knowledge And Herd Movement Strategies Among The Wodaabe Of Southeastern Niger. Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz/The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2003) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [92-5-105061-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/92-5-105061-9)

## External links

- [Diffa/Niger : Map of attacks by Boko Haram (as of 04 October 2015)](http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/diffa_incidents_securite_04102015.pdf)

v t e Regions and Departments of Niger Capital: Niamey in Niamey Capital District Agadez Region Aderbissina Department Arlit Department Bilma Department Iferouane Department In-Gall Department Tchirozerine Department Diffa Region Bosso Department Diffa Department Goudoumaria Department Mainé-Soroa Department N'Gourti Department N'guigmi Department Dosso Region Boboye Department Dioundiou Department Dogondoutchi Department Dosso Department Falmey Department Gaya Department Loga Department Tibiri Department Maradi Region Aguie Department Bermo Department Dakoro Department Gazaoua Department Guidan Roumdji Department Madarounfa Department Maradi City Mayahi Department Tessaoua Department Tahoua Region Abalak Department Bagaroua Department Bkonni Department Bouza Department Illela Department Keita Department Madaoua Department Malbaza Department Tahoua Department Tahoua City Tassara Department Tchin-Tabaraden Department Tillia Department Tillabéri Region Abala Department Ayourou Department Balléyara Department Banibangou Department Bankilaré Department Filingue Department Gothèye Department Kollo Department Ouallam Department Say Department Téra Department Tillabéri Department Torodi Department Zinder Region Belbédji Department Damagaram Takaya Department Dungass Department Goure Department Magaria Department Matameye Department Mirriah Department Takeita Department Tanout Department Tesker Department Zinder City

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Diffa Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffa_Region) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffa_Region?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.