Nayarit is a state in western Mexico, divided into twenty municipalities. According to the 2020 Mexican census, it is the fourth least populated state with 1,235,456 inhabitants and the 23rd largest by land area spanning 27,856.5 square kilometres (10,755.5 sq mi).[1][2]
Municipalities in Nayarit are administratively autonomous of the state according to the 115th article of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.[3] Every three years, citizens elect a municipal president (Spanish: presidente municipal) by a plurality voting system who heads a concurrently elected municipal council (ayuntamiento) responsible for providing all the public services for their constituents. The municipal council consists of a variable number of trustees and councillors (regidores y síndicos).[4] Municipalities are responsible for public services (such as water and sewerage), street lighting, public safety, traffic, and the maintenance of public parks, gardens and cemeteries.[5] They may also assist the state and federal governments in education, emergency fire and medical services, environmental protection and maintenance of monuments and historical landmarks. Since 1984, they have had the power to collect property taxes and user fees, although more funds are obtained from the state and federal governments than from their own income.[5]
The largest municipality by population is the state capital Tepic, with 425,924 residents, while the smallest is San Pedro Lagunillas with 7,683 residents.[1] The largest municipality by land area is Del Nayar which spans 5,142.40 km2 (1,985.49 sq mi), and the smallest is Tuxpan with 313.90 km2 (121.20 sq mi).[2] The newest municipality is Bahía de Banderas, established in 1989.[6]