Departments of Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a unitary republic, divided for administrative purposes into fifteen departments (Template:Langx) and two autonomous regions (Template:Langx).

Nicaragua has 15 departments

Evolution of Nicaragua's territorial organization

• 1858-08-19: After gaining its independence, Nicaragua drafted the Constitution of 1858, which established seven departments: Chinandega, Chontales, Granada, León, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, and Rivas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• 1883: Masaya Department created.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• 1891: Carazo Department was created in 1891<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• 1891-10-15: Jinotega Department created from Matagalpa Department. Estelí Department created from Nueva Segovia.
• 1894: Mosquito Coast ceded to Nicaragua and the Zelaya Department formed from it.
• 1936-11-11: Madriz Department created from Nueva Segovia Department<ref>Madriz Department</ref>Template:Circular reference
• 1938: Boaca Department is formed from a part of Chontales Department
• 1957: Río San Juan Department created from parts of Chontales and Zelaya departments.<ref>Río San Juan Department</ref>Template:Circular reference
• 1987: Zelaya Department divided into North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (NCCAR) and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (SCCAR).<ref>Zelaya Department</ref>Template:Circular reference

Departments

ISO	Map	Department	Capital	Population (2023)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Area (km2)	Pop. density (km−2)
Template:Mono		Boaco	Boaco
Template:Mono		Carazo	Jinotepe
Template:Mono		Chinandega	Chinandega
Template:Mono		Chontales	Juigalpa
Template:Mono		Estelí	Estelí
Template:Mono		Granada	Granada
Template:Mono		Jinotega	Jinotega
Template:Mono		León	León
Template:Mono		Madriz	Somoto
Template:Mono		Managua	Managua
Template:Mono		Masaya	Masaya
Template:Mono		Matagalpa	Matagalpa
Template:Mono		Nueva Segovia	Ocotal
Template:Mono		Rivas	Rivas
Template:Mono		Río San Juan	San Carlos

Autonomous regions

In 1987, the new constitution established the Charter of Autonomy (limited self-government) for the former department of Zelaya, comprising the entire eastern half of the country. The department was divided into two autonomous regions (communities): the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region and the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. The Charter of Autonomy is largely based on the model used by Spain. The communities are governed by a Governor and a Regional Council.<ref name="CorteIDH">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ISO	Map	Autonomous region	Capital	Population (2023)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Area (km2)	Pop. density (km−2)
Template:Mono	File:RAAN, Nicaragua.svg	North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region	Bilwi
Template:Mono	File:RAAS, Nicaragua.svg	South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region	Bluefields

See also

• ISO 3166-2:NI

Notes

• {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (INETER). {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. March, 2000.
• {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (INIFOM). {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions. ISO 3166-2:NI.

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