Departments of Nicaragua

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nicaragua
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Nicaragua

President of Nicaragua Enrique Bolaños National Assembly Political parties Elections General election 2006 Departments Foreign relations
Other countries • Politics Portal view • talk • edit

Nicaragua is a unitary republic. For administrative purposes it is divided into 15 departments (departamentos) and two self-governing regions (autonomous communities) based on the Spanish model:

(Department capitals in parenthesis)

Boaco (Boaco)
Carazo (Jinotepe)
Chinandega (Chinandega)
Chontales (Juigalpa)
Estelí (Estelí)
Granada (Granada)
Jinotega (Jinotega)
León (León)
Madriz (Somoto)
Managua (Managua)
Masaya (Masaya)
Matagalpa (Matagalpa)
Nueva Segovia (Ocotal)
Rivas (Rivas)
Río San Juan (San Carlos)
Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte (Bilwi)
Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur (Bluefields)

[edit] Zelaya

In 1986, 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 Charter of Autonomy is largely based on the model used by Spain. The communities are governed by a Governor and a Regional Council. Defense, etc. is the responsibility of the Central Government in Managua.