: Spanish (official) note: English and indigenous languages
on Atlantic coast

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 68.2% (1999) male: 67.1% female: 70.5% (2000 est.)

Government Nicaragua

Country name: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua

Government type: republic

Capital: Managua

Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular
- departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas,
singular - region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales,
Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa,
Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000

Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative
acts

Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since
10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January
2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January
2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note
- the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president and
vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November
2006) election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president -
56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PC) 1.4%;
Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional
(93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve
five-year terms) elections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held
by November 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal
Alliance (ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%,
FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party - Liberal
Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PC 1, PLI 1,
AU 1, UNO-96 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for
five-year terms by the National Assembly)