Departments of Nicaragua

• 1858-08-19: After gaining its independence, Nicaragua drafted the Constitution of 1858, which established seven departments: Chinandega, Chontales, Granada, León, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, and Rivas.^[1]
• 1883: Masaya Department created.^[2]
• 1891: Carazo Department was created in 1891^[3]
• 1891-10-15: Jinotega Department created from Matagalpa Department. Estelí Department created from Nueva Segovia.
• 1894: Mosquito Coast ceded to Nicaragua and the Zelaya Department formed from it.
• 1936-11-11: Madriz Department created from Nueva Segovia Department^{[4][circular reference]}
• 1938: Boaco Department is formed from a part of Chontales Department
• 1957: Río San Juan Department created from parts of Chontales and Zelaya departments.^{[5][circular reference]}
• 1987: Zelaya Department divided into North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (NCCAR) and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (SCCAR).^{[6][circular reference]}

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.^[8]

• ISO 3166-2:NI