Departments of Nicaragua

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Nicaragua is a unitary republic, divided for administrative purposes into fifteen departments (Spanish: departamentos) and two autonomous regions (Spanish: regiones autónomas).

Departments

ISO Map Department or autonomous region Capital Population (2023)[1] Area (km2) Pop. density (km−2)
NI-BO Boaco Boaco 188,809 4,176.68 45.21
NI-CA Carazo Jinotepe 200,894 1,081.40 185.77
NI-CI Chinandega Chinandega 445,784 4,822.42 92.44
NI-CO Chontales Juigalpa 193,827 6,481.27 29.91
NI-ES Estelí Estelí 233,077 2,229.69 104.53
NI-GR Granada Granada 219,244 1,039.68 210.88
NI-JI Jinotega Jinotega 499,289 9,222.40 54.14
NI-LE León León 426,850 5,138.03 83.08
NI-MD Madriz Somoto 181,328 1,708.23 106.15
NI-MN Managua Managua 1,585,801 3,465.10 457.65
NI-MS Masaya Masaya 409,265 610.78 670.07
NI-MT Matagalpa Matagalpa 613,262 6,803.86 90.13
NI-NS Nueva Segovia Ocotal 282,800 3,491.28 81.00
NI-RI Rivas Rivas 185,514 2,161.82 85.81
NI-SJ Río San Juan San Carlos 140,786 7,540.90 18.67

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.[2]

ISO Map Department or autonomous region Capital Population (2023)[3] Area (km2) Pop. density (km−2)
NI-AN North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region Bilwi 563,088 33,105.98 17.01
NI-AS South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region Bluefields 434,270 27,260.02 15.93

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Anuario Estadistico 2022" (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Información de Desarrollo. February 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  2. ^ Clarisa Indiana Ibarra Rivera. "El modelo de justicia en las regiones autónomas de la costa Caribe nicaragüense: ¿utopia o realidad?" (PDF). corteidh.or.cr. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Anuario Estadistico 2022" (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Información de Desarrollo. February 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2024.