Chinandegais a city and the departmental seat ofChinandegadepartment(4,822.42km2) inNicaragua. It is also the administrative centre of the surroundingmunicipalityof the same name. It is Nicaragua's fifth largest city, with a population of 134,720 inhabitants (2015), and with 151,000 in the municipality.
The region around Chinandega produces mostly agricultural products, particularlyoils,flour,peanuts,shrimp,sugarcane, with sugar millsinChichigalpaandEl Viejo, and the production ofliquorswith an international reputation.
The weather is humid and hot because of the tropical climate. Chinandega is about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean.