Nicaragua is divided into 15 departments plus two autonomous regions, which together form the country's primary administrative division. These departments serve as the principal level of subnational governance, functioning as intermediaries between the national government and municipal authorities. Each department is headed by a delegate appointed by the President and maintains responsibility for coordinating public services, implementing national policies at the regional level, and overseeing local development programs. Departments handle matters including education, healthcare infrastructure, road maintenance, and civil registration. They also serve as electoral districts and statistical units for census data collection. The departmental structure facilitates the distribution of government resources and enables more localized administration across Nicaragua's diverse geographic regions, from the Pacific lowlands to the Caribbean coast.