Blank map of Nicaragua by department
All 17 departments of Nicaragua, ready to print on A4, Letter, A3 or Tabloid, or to download as PNG and SVG. Free, no sign-up.
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Mapsfera · data Natural Earth
Nicaragua on the map
Nicaragua is divided into 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions, 17 in all, covering about 129,000 km² (49,900 sq mi) as measured on the map. The largest is Costa Caribe Norte (32,500 km² (12,600 sq mi)) and the smallest, Masaya (560 km² (216 sq mi)): Costa Caribe Norte is about 58 times bigger.
The capital is Managua. The capitals version marks the capital of each department.
What each department borders
Matagalpa borders the most departments: 7 (Costa Caribe Norte, Costa Caribe Sur, Boaco, Estelí, Jinotega, León, and Managua).
Nicaragua borders Honduras and Costa Rica. 5 departments border Honduras: Chinandega, Costa Caribe Norte, Jinotega, Madriz, and Nueva Segovia. 2 departments border Costa Rica: Río San Juan and Rivas.
8 departments have a coastline and 9 don’t: Boaco, Chontales, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, Madriz, Masaya, Matagalpa, and Nueva Segovia.
Number key
Numbers follow alphabetical order, from 1 (Boaco) to 17 (Rivas). Areas are measured on the map and approximate; “Borders” counts neighboring departments.
| No. | Department | Capital | Area (approx.) | Borders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boaco | Boaco | 4,320 km² | 5 |
| 2 | Carazo | Jinotepe | 1,230 km² | 4 |
| 3 | Chinandega | Chinandega | 4,820 km² | 3 |
| 4 | Chontales | Juigalpa | 7,410 km² | 5 |
| 5 | Costa Caribe Norte | Bilwi | 32,500 km² | 3 |
| 6 | Costa Caribe Sur | Bluefields | 25,800 km² | 5 |
| 7 | Estelí | Estelí | 2,370 km² | 5 |
| 8 | Granada | Granada | 2,480 km² | 6 |
| 9 | Jinotega | Jinotega | 9,490 km² | 5 |
| 10 | León | León | 5,350 km² | 4 |
| 11 | Madriz | Somoto | 1,610 km² | 4 |
| 12 | Managua | Managua | 4,250 km² | 6 |
| 13 | Masaya | Masaya | 560 km² | 3 |
| 14 | Matagalpa | Matagalpa | 8,640 km² | 7 |
| 15 | Nueva Segovia | Ocotal | 3,330 km² | 2 |
| 16 | Río San Juan | San Carlos | 9,720 km² | 3 |
| 17 | Rivas | Rivas | 5,280 km² | 4 |
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Frequently asked questions
How many departments does Nicaragua have?
17: 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions.
What is the largest department in Nicaragua?
Costa Caribe Norte, at about 32,500 km² (12,600 sq mi). The smallest is Masaya, at about 560 km² (216 sq mi).
What is the capital of Nicaragua?
Managua.
Which countries border Nicaragua?
Honduras and Costa Rica, according to Natural Earth borders.
Can I use it in class?
Yes, it’s free. Print it, copy it and hand it out as many times as you like. If you post it on a blog or a class website, credit “Mapsfera · data Natural Earth”.
How do I print it on US Letter paper?
Choose Letter in “Paper size” and click “Download PDF”. In the print window, pick Letter paper and 100% scale (“Actual size”). For a bigger map, choose Tabloid (11 × 17 in) or A3.
What order are the numbers in?
Alphabetical, from 1 to the last one. That makes the key easy to follow when you grade, and it’s the same key the worksheet’s answer page uses.
Sources
- Department boundaries: Natural Earth, 1:10m, Admin 1 (public domain)
- Capitals: Natural Earth, Populated Places (public domain); missing ones from OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
- Areas, neighbors and coastlines: calculated from those boundaries (approximate)