
I have added department populations from the 1995 census.
"Administrative Subdivisions of Countries" shows Nicaragua divided into sixteen departments. As a sidelight, it mentions that there is an alternative division into six regions and three special zones. Each of the regions and special zones consists of one or more departments, except that Zelaya department is split into two special zones: Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte, and Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur. The FIPS and ISO standards have now begun to treat these special zones as department-level divisions.
Erratum: Population data in the book are 1990 estimates, not a 1991 census.
ISO 3166-2 Newsletter Number I-2 was published on 2002-05-21. For Nicaragua, it replaces Zelaya department with two autonomous regions named Atlántico Norte and Atlántico Sur.

| Short name | NICARAGUA |
| ISO code | NI |
| FIPS code | NU |
| Language | Spanish (es) |
| Time zone | -6 ~ |
| Capital | Managua |
Nicaragua has been independent for the whole 20th century.


Named for Nicarao, chief of the tribe of Nicaraos

Nicaragua is divided into fifteen departamentos (departments) and two regiones autónomas (sing. región autónoma: autonomous regions).
| Department | HASC | FIPS | Population | Area(km.²) | Area(mi.²) | Zone | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boaco | NI.BO | NU01 | 136,949 | 4,177 | 1,613 | C | Boaco |
| Carazo | NI.CA | NU02 | 149,407 | 1,081 | 418 | P | Jinotepe |
| Chinandega | NI.CI | NU03 | 350,212 | 4,822 | 1,862 | P | Chinandega |
| Chontales | NI.CO | NU04 | 144,635 | 6,481 | 2,502 | C | Juigalpa |
| Estelí | NI.ES | NU05 | 174,894 | 2,230 | 861 | C | Estelí |
| Granada | NI.GR | NU06 | 155,683 | 1,040 | 401 | P | Granada |
| Jinotega | NI.JI | NU07 | 257,933 | 9,222 | 3,561 | C | Jinotega |
| León | NI.LE | NU08 | 336,894 | 5,138 | 1,984 | P | León |
| Madriz | NI.MD | NU09 | 107,567 | 1,708 | 660 | C | Somoto |
| Managua | NI.MN | NU10 | 1,093,760 | 3,465 | 1,338 | P | Managua |
| Masaya | NI.MS | NU11 | 241,354 | 611 | 236 | P | Masaya |
| Matagalpa | NI.MT | NU12 | 383,776 | 6,804 | 2,627 | C | Matagalpa |
| Nueva Segovia | NI.NS | NU13 | 148,492 | 3,491 | 1,348 | C | Ocotal |
| Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte | NI.AN | NU17 | 192,716 | 32,820 | 12,672 | A | Bilwi |
| Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur | NI.AS | NU18 | 272,252 | 27,546 | 10,636 | A | Bluefields |
| Río San Juan | NI.SJ | NU14 | 70,143 | 7,540 | 2,911 | A | San Carlos |
| Rivas | NI.RI | NU15 | 140,432 | 2,162 | 835 | P | Rivas |
| 17 divisions | 4,357,099 | 130,373 | 50,337 | ||||
| |||||||

According to the Universal Postal Union, Nicaragua is preparing to implement a system of eleven-digit postal codes. The format will be nnnn-nnn-nnn-n. The first two digits will represent the department.
See the Municipalities of Nicaragua page.
The departments are subdivided into municipios (municipalities). Since 1982-07-26, there has also been a subdivision into six regions and three special zones. However, the departments are still the divisions most often referenced. The regions are:
| Name | Capital | Departments |
|---|---|---|
| Región I | Estelí | Estelí, Madriz, Nueva Segovia |
| Región II | León | Chinandega, León |
| Región III | Managua | Managua |
| Región IV | Jinotepe | Carazo, Granada, Masaya, Rivas |
| Región V | Juigalpa | Boaco, Chontales |
| Región VI | Matagalpa | Jinotega, Matagalpa |
| Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte | Rosita | Zelaya (part) |
| Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur | Bluefields | Zelaya (part) |
| Zona Especial III | San Carlos | Río San Juan |
The parts of Zelaya are also known by their acronyms, RAAN and RAAS; or as Zelaya Norte and Zelaya Sul. In the latest FIPS list, they have separate codes of NU17 and NU18, respectively, superseding Zelaya.



NI.ZE, FIPS NU16, capital Bluefields).| Back to main statoids page | Last updated: 2005-04-12 |
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