# Comparative gendarmerie enlisted ranks of Francophone countries

Rank comparison chart of officers for gendarmeries of Francophone states. In France and some Francophone nations, the gendarmerie is a branch of the armed forces that is responsible for internal security in parts of the territory (primarily in rural areas and small towns in the case of France), with additional duties as military police for the armed forces. In the mid-twentieth century, a number of former French mandates and colonial possessions adopted gendarmeries after independence.

## History

Through the French colonial empire the gendarmerie was employed as a military and policing force throughout French colonies, with Gendarmes from France being deployed in every colony in 1900. The gendarmerie would also recruit personnel from the local populations, entrenching the idea of a gendarmerie in the colonial societies.
In the mid-twentieth century, a number of former French mandates and colonial possessions adopted gendarmeries after independence. These included Algeria, Chad, Djibouti, the Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Madagascar, Morocco, Senegal, Syria, Tunisia, and the Republic of the Congo.

## Enlisted

| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Burkinabè National Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Burkinabè National Gendarmerie vte | Adjudant major | Adjudant major | Adjudant major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | | | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | | | | | | | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | | |
| Cameroonian National Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cameroonian National Gendarmerie vte | Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | | | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Gendarme major | Gendarme major | Gendarme major | Gendarme major | | | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Elève Gendarme | Elève Gendarme |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police vte | Corps sergeant major | Corps sergeant major | Sergeant major | Sergeant major | Sergeant major | Sergeant major | Staff sergeant major | Staff sergeant major | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | | | | | Corporal | Corporal | | | | | | | Constable | Cadet |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police vte | Sergent-major du corps | Sergent-major du corps | Sergent-major | Sergent-major | Sergent-major | Sergent-major | Sergent-major d'état major | Sergent-major d'état major | Sergent d'état-major | Sergent d'état-major | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | | | | | Caporal | Caporal | | | | | | | Gendarme | Cadet |
| Chadian National Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chadian National Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | Sergent major | Sergent major | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | | | | | Caporal | Caporal | Soldat première | Soldat première | Soldat première | Soldat première | Soldat première | Soldat première | Soldat | Soldat |
| Congolese Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Congolese Gendarmerie vte | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | | | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | | | | | | | | | | | | | Èleve gendarme | Èleve gendarme |
| French Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| French Gendarmerie vte | Major | Major | Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | | | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme sous contrat | Gendarme Adjoint Maréchal-des-logis | Gendarme Adjoint Brigadier Chef | Gendarme Adjoint Brigadier Chef | Gendarme Adjoint Brigadier Chef | Gendarme Adjoint Brigadier Chef | Gendarme Adjoint Brigadier | Gendarme Adjoint Brigadier | Gendarme Adjoint première classe | Gendarme Adjoint première classe | Gendarme Adjoint première classe | Gendarme Adjoint première classe | Gendarme Adjoint première classe | Gendarme Adjoint première classe | Gendarme Adjoint | Gendarme Adjoint |
| Ivory Coast Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ivory Coast Gendarmerie vte | Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | | | Maréchal des Logis-Chef | Maréchal des Logis-Chef | Maréchal des Logis-Chef | Maréchal des Logis-Chef | Maréchal des Logis-Chef | Maréchal des Logis-Chef | Maréchal des Logis | Maréchal des Logis | Maréchal des Logis | Maréchal des Logis | Maréchal des Logis | Maréchal des Logis | Brigadier-Chef | Brigadier-Chef | Brigadier-Chef | Brigadier-Chef | Brigadier | Brigadier | Gendarme élève | Gendarme élève | Gendarme élève | Gendarme élève | Gendarme élève | Gendarme élève | | |
| Mauritius Police Force vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mauritius Police Force vte | | | | | | | | | | | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | | | Constable | Constable | Constable | Constable | Constable | Constable | Constable | Constable |
| Army of Monaco vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Army of Monaco vte | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | Maréchal-des-logis-major | Maréchal-des-logis-major | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | | | | | Brigadier | Brigadier | Carabinier de première classe | Carabinier de première classe | Carabinier de première classe | Carabinier de première classe | Carabinier de première classe | Carabinier de première classe | Carabinier de deuxième classe | Carabinier de deuxième classe |
| Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie vte | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | Sergent-major | Sergent-major | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent |
| National Gendarmerie of Niger vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| National Gendarmerie of Niger vte | Major | Major | Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | | | Maréchal des logis chef | Maréchal des logis chef | Maréchal des logis chef | Maréchal des logis chef | Maréchal des logis chef | Maréchal des logis chef | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Gendarme de 1$^{re}$ classe | Gendarme de 1$^{re}$ classe | Gendarme de 1$^{re}$ classe | Gendarme de 1$^{re}$ classe | Gendarme de 2$^e$ classe | Gendarme de 2$^e$ classe | Gendarme de 3$^e$ classe | Gendarme de 3$^e$ classe | Gendarme de 3$^e$ classe | Gendarme de 3$^e$ classe | Gendarme de 3$^e$ classe | Gendarme de 3$^e$ classe | Gendarme de 4$^e$ classe | Gendarme auxiliaire |
| Senegalese Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Senegalese Gendarmerie vte | Adjutant-major | Adjutant-major | Adjutant-major | Adjutant-chef | Adjutant-chef | Adjutant-chef | Adjutant | Adjutant | | | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis-chef | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | Maréchal des logis | | | | | | | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | Gendarme | | |
| Togolese National Gendarmerie vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Togolese National Gendarmerie vte | Major | Major | Major | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | | | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis-chef | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Maréchal-des-logis | Gendarme adjoint | Gendarme adjoint | Gendarme adjoint | Gendarme adjoint | Gendarme adjoint | Gendarme adjoint | Eleve gendarme | Eleve gendarme | Eleve gendarme | Eleve gendarme | Eleve gendarme | Eleve gendarme | Eleve gendarme | Eleve gendarme |
| Tunisian National Guard vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tunisian National Guard vte | وكيل أول Wakil 'awal | وكيل أول Wakil 'awal | وكيل أول Wakil 'awal | وكيل أول Wakil 'awal | وكيل أول Wakil 'awal | وكيل أول Wakil 'awal | وكيل Wakil | وكيل Wakil | | | عريف أول Earif 'awal | عريف أول Earif 'awal | عريف أول Earif 'awal | عريف أول Earif 'awal | عريف أول Earif 'awal | عريف أول Earif 'awal | عريف Earif | عريف Earif | عريف Earif | عريف Earif | عريف Earif | عريف Earif | رقيب أول Raqib 'awal | رقيب أول Raqib 'awal | رقيب أول Raqib 'awal | رقيب أول Raqib 'awal | رقيب Raqib | رقيب Raqib | | | | | | | جندي متطوع Jundiun | جندي متطوع Jundiun |
| Tunisian National Guard vte | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant-chef | Adjudant | Adjudant | | | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent-chef | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Caporal-chef | Caporal-chef | Caporal-chef | Caporal-chef | Caporal | Caporal | | | | | | | Soldat | Soldat |
| Vanuatu Mobile Forces vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vanuatu Mobile Forces vte | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Warrant Officer Class 2 | Staff Sergeant Staf Sajen | Staff Sergeant Staf Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Sergeant Sajen | Corporal Kofol | Corporal Kofol | Corporal Kofol | Corporal Kofol | Lance Corporal | Lance Corporal | Constable Polis | Constable Polis | Constable Polis | Constable Polis | Recruit Rikrut | Recruit Rikrut | Recruit Rikrut | Recruit Rikrut |
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |