Agadez Region is one of the seven regions of Niger. At , it covers more than half of Niger's land area, and is the largest region in the country, as well as the largest African state subdivision. The capital of the region is Agadez.
History
The region is a centre for palaeontology, with numerous dinosaur skeletons being found here, including the Ouranosaurus nigeriensis. The Aïr Mountains, the tallest peaks in Niger, are also located here.
Administrative subdivisions
Agadez is subdivided into six departments:
{| class=wikitable
|+ Administrative subdivisions
! Department !! Area !! Population (2012) !! Chief town !! Cantons
|-
|Aderbissinat
|51,360 km<sup>2</sup>
|35,320 inhabitants
|Aderbissinat
|
|-
| Arlit|| 61,180 km<sup>2</sup>|| 105,025 inhabitants || Arlit||
|-
| Bilma|| 277,700 km<sup>2</sup>|| 17,935 inhabitants || Bilma|| Bilma, Djado, Fachi, Kawar
|-
|Iferouane
|32,731 km<sup>2</sup>
|32,731 inhabitants
|Iferouane
|
|-
|In-Gall
|61,170 km<sup>2</sup>
|51,903 inhabitants
|In-Gall
|
|-
| Tchirozérine || 30,960 km<sup>2</sup> || 244,706 inhabitants || Tchirozérine ||
|}
Demographics
Agadez has a large area but is sparsely populated. Its 487,620 inhabitants (as per the 2012 census) account for only 2.8% of the total population of Niger, with a population density of . Much of its population comprises nomadic or semi-nomadic peoples, including Arabs, Fulani, Kanuri, Dazaga Toubou and various Tuareg groups. The Tagdal language and Tasawaq language, thought to be mixed Songhai-Tuareg languages, are also spoken.
Economy
thumb|right|The Aïr Mountains near Timia
Traversed for centuries by the Trans-Saharan trade routes, the oasis towns of the Aïr and the eastern Kaouar Cliffs are known for their gardens, salt manufacture, and date cultivation. Arlit is the centre of Niger's uranium industry, a prominent economic sector in the region with uranium pits and mines operated by foreign companies providing substantial revenue for the country. The French discovered Niger's first uranium deposits in the Tim Mersoi Basin of the Agadez Region in 1958 and since then French companies such as Areva have maintained a large footprint in the region, employing a large quantity of locals. Depressed uranium prices since the 1980s have hit the region hard, though uranium remains one of the main foreign exchange earners for the country and a main export. The region is less poor than other regions of the country, having the second-highest Human Development Index and the second-lowest incidence of extreme poverty according to World Bank data from 2018.
Agadez had historically been one of the main centres of tourism in Niger, with visitors attracted by the desert scenery, archaeological sites and the Air Mountains. However Tuareg rebellions and activities of Islamist militants in Agadez region have severely reduced the numbers of tourists, with most third party governments advising against travel to the region.
See also
- Communes of Niger
- Departments of Niger
- Regions of Niger