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Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Population
6.9M
Rank #108Source: World Bank
Capital
Managua
Source: REST Countries
Region
Americas
Latin America & Caribbean
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$19.69B
Rank #128Source: World Bank
Land Area
130.4K km²
Rank #97Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
74.947 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 130,373 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation: mean elevation: 298 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,085 m
Natural Hazards: destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanesvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m), which last erupted in 1999, is one of Nicaragua's...
Environmental Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; drought
Land Use: agricultural land: 42.2% (2011 est.) forest: 25.3% (2011 est.) other: 32.5% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
Natural Resources
goldsilvercoppertungstenleadzinctimberfish
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.22
Population
6.9M
Ethnic Groups
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) (69%)White (17%)Black (9%)Amerindian (5%)
Religions
Roman Catholic (50%)Evangelical (33.2%)other (2.9%)unspecified (13.2%)none (0.7%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$2,847.54
GDP per Capita PPP
8,708.8
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
2,510
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
46.2
(2014)
(2014)
Unemployment
4.98%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
4.625%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
88.3%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
50.4%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
5.739 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
4.29 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
69.509%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
25.823% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
58.231%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
105.843%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
5.43%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
Not Available
Container Port Traffic
153,390 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
N/A
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
24,781 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Army of Nicaragua (Ejercito de Nicaragua, EN; includes Navy, Air Force)
Personnel Strength
the Army of Nicaragua has approximately 12,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,200 Air Force)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.11B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
0.55%
Military Expenditure History
0.7% of GDP (2019) 0.6% of GDP (2018) 0.6% of GDP (2017) 0.6% of GDP (2016) 0.8% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the Nicaraguan military's inventory includes mostly Russian/Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia is the leading arms supplier to Nicaragua (2019 est.)
Service Age & Obligation
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; tour of duty 18-36 months; requires Nicaraguan nationality and 6th-grade education
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
69.044%
(2020)
(2020)
Primary Enrollment
109.536%
(2023)
(2023)
Secondary Enrollment
70.175%
(2023)
(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
30.364%
(2023)
(2023)
Education Spending
2.866% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
87.345%
(2014)
(2014)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Not Available
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.682
(2018)
(2018)
Safe Water Access
Not Available
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
13.4 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
21.17 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
77.675
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
70
(2023)
(2023)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
6.6%
(2014)
(2014)
Food Insecurity
17.3%
(2022)
(2022)
Youth NEET Rate
8.461%
(2014)
(2014)
Governance
Women in Government
53.846%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-1.39
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.13
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-1.08
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.88
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-1.28
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.39
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; 70 members in multi-seat constituencies and 20 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by proportional...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers) judge selection and term of...
National Symbols
Flag Description
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE...
National Symbols
turquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white
National Anthem
name: "Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua) lyrics/music: Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO note: although only officially adopted in 1971, the music...
Safety
Homicide Rate
11.347 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Travel Information
Language(s): Spanish
Currency: NIO (C$)
Timezone(s): UTC-06:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +505
Car Sign: NIC
Week Starts: Monday
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data