The Republic of Nicaragua is a unitary state divided into 15 provinces, 2 autonomous regions, and municipalities.
I. Province
1. The province of Boaco (Spanish: Departamento de Boaco) is a province of Nicaragua located in the center of the country, on the northern shore of Lake Nicaragua. It has an area of 4,244 square kilometers and a population of 186,284. The capital is Boaco. It was separated from the province of Jontales in 1938. It is divided into 6 cities.
2. The province of Carazo (Spanish: Departamento de Carazo) is a province of Nicaragua located on the Pacific coast in the western part of the country. It has an area of 1,050 square kilometers and a population of 198,395. The capital is Diriamba. It is divided into 6 cities.
3. The province of Chinandega (Departamento de Chinandega) is a province of Nicaragua located on the Pacific coast of the northwest of the country. It has an area of 4,926 square kilometers and a population of 441,897. The capital is Chinandega. It is divided into 13 cities.
4. The province of Chontales (Departamento de Chontales) is a province of Nicaragua located on the eastern shore of Lake Nicaragua in the center of the country. It has an area of 6,378 square kilometers and a population of 191,856. The capital is Juigalpa. It is divided into 10 cities.
5. Departamento de Estelí is a province of Nicaragua located in the north of the country. It has an area of 2,335 square kilometers and a population of 230,953. The capital is Estelí. It is divided into 6 cities.
6. The province of Granada (Departamento de Granada) is a province of Nicaragua located in the western part of the country, northwest of Lake Nicaragua. It has an area of 929 square kilometers and a population of 190,600 people. The capital is Granada. It is divided into 4 cities.
7. The province of Chinotega (Spanish: Departamento de Jinotega) is a province of Nicaragua located in the north of the country, across the Coco River from Honduras to the north. It has an area of 9,755 square kilometers and a population of 483,404. The capital is Jinotega. It is divided into 8 cities.
8. The province of León (Departamento de León) is a province of Nicaragua located in the western part of the country. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and occupies the western half of Lake Managua. It has an area of 5,107 square kilometers and a population of 423,012. The capital is León. It is divided into 10 cities.
9. The province of Madrids (Spanish: Departamento de Madriz) is a province of Nicaragua located in the north of the country. It has an area of 1,602 square kilometers and a population of 176,920. The capital is Somoto. Built in 1936, the name of the province is in honor of the 21st president, José Madrids. It is divided into 9 cities.