The 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions of Nicaragua are divided into 153 municipalities.[1] The formation and dissolution of municipalities is governed by the Law of Municipalities (in Spanish: Ley No.40 – Ley de Municipalidades), drafted and approved by the National Assembly on July 2. 1988.
The municipalities are responsible for planning and urban development, collection of municipal taxes, maintenance of public utilities and other services, such as parks, sewerage and public cemeteries. Whilst municipal governments may not be responsible for large highways, small roads and tracks usually come under their control. Additionally, municipal governments may issue permits for the operation of urban and intermunicipal bus services.
Other functions of municipal governments include the establishment of libraries, museums, municipal bands, zoos, the promotion of traditional and folklore festivals and various activities promoting education, culture, sports and tourism in the municipality.
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Municipalities of Nicaragua
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Cities over 20,000 inhabitants in Nicaragua (1995 census)
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Aerial view of Corn Island
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Selva Negra in Matagalpa
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Peñas Blancas, part of the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve in Jinotega.
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Momotombo volcano in La Paz Centro
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Colonial city of Granada
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The bay of San Juan del Sur
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Street in León, next to the Cathedral
List of municipalities
Notes:
- “Year” refers to the date the municipality was created. In some cases, the year refers to the date of the foundation of the municipality seat. This is particularly the case of colonial cities.
| Department | Municipality[1] | Municipality Seat | Population (2005)[3] | Area (km2) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Caribe Norte | Bilwi | Bilwi | 66,169 | 5,984.81 | 1929 |
| Costa Caribe Norte | Bonanza | Bonanza | 18,633 | 2,039 | 1985 |
| Costa Caribe Norte | Mulukukú | Mulukukú | 29,838 | 1,904.53 | 2004 |
| Costa Caribe Norte | Prinzapolka | Prinzapolka | 16,105 | 7,020.48 | 1971 |
| Costa Caribe Norte | Rosita | Rosita | 22,723 | 4,418 | 1989 |
| Costa Caribe Norte | Siuna | Siuna | 64,092 | 5,039.81 | 1969 |
| Costa Caribe Norte | Waslala | Waslala | 49,339 | 1,329.51 | 1989 |
| Costa Caribe Norte | Waspán | Waspán | 47,231 | 9,341.71 | 1956 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | Bluefields | Bluefields | 45,547 | 4,774.75 | 1894 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | Corn Island | Corn Island | 6,626 | 12.9 | 1971 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | Desembocadura de la Cruz de Río Grande | Karawala | 3,585 | 1,978 | 1996 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | El Ayote | El Ayote | 12,417 | 831 | 2000 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | El Tortugero | El Tortugero | 22,324 | 2,471 | 1996 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | Kukra Hill | Kukra Hill | 8,789 | 1,262 | 1989 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | La Cruz de Río Grande | La Cruz de Río Grande | 23,284 | 3,360 | 1982 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | Laguna de Perlas | Laguna de Perlas | 10,676 | 3,876 | — |
| Costa Caribe Sur | Muelle de los Bueyes | Muelle de los Bueyes | 22,082 | 1,391 | 1942 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | Nueva Guinea | Nueva Guinea | 66,936 | 2,774 | 1981 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | Bocana de Paiwas | Bocana de Paiwas | 31,762 | 2,375 | 1974 |
| Costa Caribe Sur | El Rama | El Rama | 52,482 | 5,618 | 1910 |
| Boaco | Boaco | Boaco | 49,839 | 1,086.81 | — |
| Boaco | Camoapa | Camoapa | 34,962 | 1,483.29 | 1858 |
| Boaco | San Lorenzo | San Lorenzo | 23,666 | 559.61 | 1858 |
| Boaco | San José de los Remates | San José de Los Remates | 7,650 | 280.46 | 1848 |
| Boaco | Santa Lucía | Santa Lucía | 8,254 | 120.78 | 1904 |
| Boaco | Teustepe | Teustepe | 26,265 | 645.73 | 1970 |
| Carazo | Diriamba | Diriamba | 57,542 | 348.88 | 1894 |
| Carazo | Dolores | Dolores | 6,761 | 2.62 | 1895 |
| Carazo | El Rosario | El Rosario | 5,317 | 11 | 1848 |
| Carazo | Jinotepe | Jinotepe | 42,109 | 292 | 1883 |
| Carazo | La Conquista | La Conquista | 3,777 | 91 | 1899 |
| Carazo | La Paz de Carazo | La Paz de Carazo | 4,657 | 15.51 | 1858 |
| Carazo | San Marcos | San Marcos | 29,019 | 118.11 | 1905 |
| Carazo | Santa Teresa | Santa Teresa | 16,891 | 194 | 1860 |
| Chinandega | Chichigalpa | Chichigalpa | 44,769 | 222.54 | 1894 |
| Chinandega | Chinandega | Chinandega | 121,793 | 686.61 | 1839 |
| Chinandega | San Juan de Cinco Pinos | Cinco Pinos | 6,781 | 60.38 | 1870 |
| Chinandega | Corinto | Corinto | 16,624 | 70.67 | 1858 |
| Chinandega | El Realejo | El Realejo | 8,838 | 104.54 | 1532 |
| Chinandega | El Viejo | El Viejo | 76,775 | 1,274.91 | 1673 |
| Chinandega | Posoltega | Posoltega | 16,771 | 124 | 1862 |
| Chinandega | San Francisco del Norte | San Francisco del Norte | 6,758 | 120.31 | 1889 |
| Chinandega | San Pedro del Norte | San Pedro del Norte | 4,719 | 71.5 | 1889 |
| Chinandega | Santo Tomás del Norte | Santo Tomás del Norte | 7,124 | 50 | 1889 |
| Chinandega | Somotillo | Somotillo | 29,030 | 1,089 | 1873 |
| Chinandega | Puerto Morazán | Santa Rita de Tonalá | 13,328 | 517 | 1946 |
| Chinandega | Villanueva | Villanueva | 25,660 | 779.88 | 1900 |
| Chontales | Acoyapa | Acoyapa | 16,946 | 1,381.79 | 1862 |
| Chontales | Comalapa | Comalapa | 11,785 | 643.86 | 1752 |
| Chontales | San Francisco de Cuapa | San Francisco de Cuapa | 5,507 | 277 | 1997 |
| Chontales | El Coral | El Coral | 7,039 | 306 | 1997 |
| Chontales | Juigalpa | Juigalpa | 51,838 | 726.75 | 1668 |
| Chontales | La Libertad | La Libertad | 11,429 | 774.55 | 1852 |
| Chontales | San Pedro de Lóvago | San Pedro de Lóvago | 7,650 | 466.50 | 1864 |
| Chontales | Santo Domingo | Santo Domingo | 12,182 | 681.71 | 1951 |
| Chontales | Santo Tomás | Santo Tomás | 16,404 | 546.6 | 1861 |
| Chontales | Villa Sandino | Villa Sandino | 13,152 | 676.51 | 1942 |
| Estelí | Condega | Condega | 28,481 | 398 | 1962 |
| Estelí | Estelí | Estelí | 112,084 | 795.7 | 1685 |
| Estelí | La Trinidad | La Trinidad | 20,140 | 261 | 1967 |
| Estelí | Pueblo Nuevo | Pueblo Nuevo | 20,620 | 222 | — |
| Estelí | San Juan de Limay | San Juan de Limay | 13,455 | 530.9 | 1891 |
| Estelí | San Nicolás | San Nicolás | 6,768 | 163 | 1892 |
| Granada | Diriá | Diriá | 6,375 | 26 | — |
| Granada | Diriomo | Diriomo | 22,352 | 50.08 | — |
| Granada | Granada | Granada | 105,171 | 531 | 1524 |
| Granada | Nandaime | Nandaime | 34,288 | 372.01 | 1890 |
| Jinotega | El Cuá | El Cuá | 43,305 | 637 | 2002 |
| Jinotega | Jinotega | Jinotega | 99,382 | 1,119 | 1891 |
| Jinotega | La Concordia | La Concordia | 6,486 | 122 | 1851 |
| Jinotega | San José de Bocay | San José de Bocay | 42,029 | 3,990 | 2002 |
| Jinotega | San Rafael del Norte | San Rafael del Norte | 17,789 | 606 | 1848 |
| Jinotega | San Sebastián de Yalí | San Sebastián de Yalí | 26,979 | 311 | 1908 |
| Jinotega | Santa María de Pantasma | Santa María de Pantasma | 37,880 | 563 | 1989 |
| Jinotega | Wiwilí de Jinotega | Wiwilí de Jinotega | 57,485 | 2,444.7 | 1989 |
| León | San José de Achuapa | San José de Achuapa | 13,797 | 416.24 | 1870 |
| León | El Jicaral | El Jicaral | 10,326 | 434 | 1834 |
| León | El Sauce | El Sauce | 27,900 | 629.97 | 1858 |
| León | La Paz Centro | La Paz Centro | 28,118 | 606 | 1610 |
| León | Larreynaga | Malpaisillo | 27,898 | 882 | 1936 |
| León | León | León | 174,051 | 820.19 | 1524 |
| León | Nagarote | Nagarote | 32,303 | 598.38 | 1548 |
| León | Quezalguaque | Quezalguaque | 8,591 | 86 | 1865 |
| León | Santa Rosa del Peñón | Santa Rosa del Peñón | 9,529 | 227.6 | 1858 |
| León | Telica | Telica | 23,266 | 400 | 1858 |
| Madriz | Las Sabanas | Las Sabanas | 4,136 | 69 | 1942 |
| Madriz | Palacagüina | Palacagüina | 12,825 | 192 | — |
| Madriz | San José de Cusmapa | San José de Cusmapa | 7,072 | 130 | — |
| Madriz | San Juan del Río Coco | San Juan del Río Coco | 21,114 | 182 | 1964 |
| Madriz | San Lucas | San Lucas | 12,975 | 139 | 1913 |
| Madriz | Somoto | Somoto | 33,788 | 466 | 1867 |
| Madriz | Telpaneca | Telpaneca | 19,025 | 300 | 1626 |
| Madriz | Totogalpa | Totogalpa | 11,927 | 137 | 1911 |
| Madriz | Yalagüina | Yalagüina | 9,597 | 53 | 1725 |
| Managua | Ciudad Sandino | Ciudad Sandino | 75,083 | 51.11 | 2000 |
| Managua | El Crucero | El Crucero | 13,656 | 975.3 | 2000 |
| Managua | Managua | Managua | 937,489 | 289 | 1819 |
| Managua | Mateare | Mateare | 28,775 | 297.4 | 1898 |
| Managua | San Francisco Libre | San Francisco Libre | 9,416 | 756 | 1961 |
| Managua | San Rafael del Sur | San Rafael del Sur | 42,417 | 357.3 | 1956 |
| Managua | Ticuantepe | Ticuantepe | 27,008 | 60.79 | 1974 |
| Managua | Tipitapa | Tipitapa | 101,685 | 975.17 | 1755 |
| Managua | Villa El Carmen | Villa El Carmen | 27,449 | 562.01 | 1907 |
| Masaya | Catarina | Catarina | 7,524 | 11.49 | — |
| Masaya | La Concepción | La Concepción | 31,950 | 73 | 1889 |
| Masaya | Masatepe | Masatepe | 31,583 | 62 | — |
| Masaya | Masaya | Masaya | 139,582 | 141 | 1819 |
| Masaya | Nandasmo | Nandasmo | 10,732 | 13 | 1976 |
| Masaya | Nindirí | Nindirí | 38,355 | 142.91 | 1500 |
| Masaya | Niquinohomo | Niquinohomo | 14,847 | 31.69 | 1870 |
| Masaya | San Juan de Oriente | San Juan de Oriente | 4,734 | 13.8 | 1585 |
| Masaya | Tisma | Tisma | 10,681 | 108 | 1883 |
| Matagalpa | Ciudad Darío | Ciudad Darío | 41,014 | 432 | 1920 |
| Matagalpa | El Tuma-La Dalia | La Dalia | 56,681 | 462 | 1989 |
| Matagalpa | Esquipulas | Esquipulas | 15,877 | 216 | 1944 |
| Matagalpa | Matagalpa | Matagalpa | 133,416 | 619.36 | 1538 |
| Matagalpa | Matiguás | Matiguas | 41,127 | 1,710 | 1920 |
| Matagalpa | Muy Muy | Muy Muy | 14,721 | 375 | 1751 |
| Matagalpa | Rancho Grande | Rancho Grande | 26,223 | 648 | 1989 |
| Matagalpa | Río Blanco | Río Blanco | 30,785 | 700 | 1974 |
| Matagalpa | San Dionisio | San Dionisio | 16,273 | 152 | 1830 |
| Matagalpa | San Isidro | San Isidro | 17,412 | 282.71 | 1862 |
| Matagalpa | San Ramón | San Ramón | 30,682 | 424 | 1905 |
| Matagalpa | Sébaco | Sébaco | 32,221 | 289.81 | 1989 |
| Matagalpa | Terrabona | Terrabona | 12,740 | 248.89 | 1715 |
| Nueva Segovia | Ciudad Antigua | Ciudad Antigua | 4,868 | 154 | 1611 |
| Nueva Segovia | Dipilto | Dipilto | 5,207 | 108 | 1942 |
| Nueva Segovia | El Jícaro | El Jícaro | 25,901 | 278 | 1874 |
| Nueva Segovia | Wiwilí de Nueva Segovia | Wiwilí de Nueva Segovia | 16,344 | 398 | 1970 |
| Nueva Segovia | Jalapa | Jalapa | 54,491 | 629 | 1891 |
| Nueva Segovia | Macuelizo | Macuelizo | 6,076 | 250 | 1815 |
| Nueva Segovia | Mozonte | Mozonte | 6,795 | 242 | — |
| Nueva Segovia | Murra | Murra | 14,847 | 479 | 1872 |
| Nueva Segovia | Ocotal | Ocotal | 34,580 | 85.64 | 1780 |
| Nueva Segovia | Quilalí | Quilalí | 26,461 | 339 | 1920 |
| Nueva Segovia | San Fernando | San Fernando | 8,549 | 269 | 1897 |
| Nueva Segovia | Santa María | Santa María | 4,404 | 168 | 1850 |
| Río San Juan | El Almendro | El Almendro | 13,363 | 993 | 1974 |
| Río San Juan | El Castillo | Boca de Sábalos | 19,864 | 1,656 | — |
| Río San Juan | Morrito | Morrito | 6,570 | 677 | 1989 |
| Río San Juan | San Carlos | San Carlos | 37,461 | 1,462 | 1949 |
| Río San Juan | San Juan de Nicaragua | San Juan de Nicaragua | 1,307 | 1,462 | — |
| Río San Juan | San Miguelito | San Miguelito | 17,031 | 923 | 1850 |
| Rivas | Altagracia | Altagracia | 19,955 | 211.21 | — |
| Rivas | Belén | Belén | 16,428 | 246.26 | 1892 |
| Rivas | Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires | 5,420 | 75.22 | 1717 |
| Rivas | Cárdenas | Cárdenas | 6,990 | 226.63 | — |
| Rivas | Moyogalpa | Moyogalpa | 9,729 | 63 | — |
| Rivas | Potosí | Potosí | 11,904 | 146 | — |
| Rivas | Rivas | Rivas | 41,080 | 280.54 | 1835 |
| Rivas | San Jorge | San Jorge | 8,024 | 22 | 1852 |
| Rivas | San Juan del Sur | San Juan del Sur | 14,741 | 411.05 | 1851 |
| Rivas | Tola | Tola | 22,012 | 474 | 1750 |