Nicaragua is divided into 15 areas called Departments and these are as follows: 1. Boaco, 2. Carazo, 3. Chinandega, 4. Chontales, 5. Estelí, 6. Granada, 7. Jinotega, 8. León, 9. Madriz, 10. Managua, 11. Masaya, 12. Matagalpa, 13. Nueva Segovia, 14. Rivas, 15. Río San Juan
+ 2 Caribbean areas- "Autonomous Regions":
16. Autonomous Region of the Northern Atlantic, shortened to RAAN (Spanish word) 17. Autonomous Region of the Southern Atlantic, shortened to RAAS (Spanish word)