"The Regions of Niger are subdivided into 63 Departments (French: d\u00E9partements). 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."@en . . .