National Identity
- Official name
- Republic of Nicaragua
- Official name (in Spanish)
- República de Nicaragua
- Name etymology
16th-century Spanish explorer Gil GONZALEZ Davila is said to have combined the name of a local chieftain, Nicarao, with the Spanish word agua (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua)
Sources:- Consolidated Text, Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua - approved on March 13, 2024 ↗ - National Assembly, Nicaragua - Nicaraguan Legislation
- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
Translated from the National Assembly of Nicaragua The Ensign of the Republic or National Flag is the National Emblem and consists of three equal horizontal stripes: the centre one white and the upper and lower ones blue, with the Coat of Arms in the centre of the white stripe.
The shape of the National Flag is a rectangle with the proportional dimensions of three (3) to five (5). [...] The blue colour corresponds to that commonly known as cobalt blue.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the National Assembly of Nicaragua The blue colour signifies justice and loyalty. The white colour symbolizes purity and integrity.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from El 19 Digital Nicaragua, as part of the United Provinces of Central America, adopted the flag and the coat of arms approved by the National Constituent Assembly of Central America, in accordance with Decree No. 29 of 21 August 1823.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from El 19 Digital The flag of the United Provinces of Central America consisted of Three Horizontal Stripes: the upper and lower ones Blue and the centre one white.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Institute of the Cultures of Peoples and Youth of Nicaragua By Legislative Decree of 5 September 1908, the National Flag of Nicaragua was definitively established.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSources:- legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni ↗ - the National Assembly of Nicaragua
- el19digital.com ↗ - El 19 Digital
- inc.gob.ni ↗ - the Institute of the Cultures of Peoples and Youth of Nicaragua
- National anthem
- Salve a ti, Nicaragua0:56
- Title (in Spanish)
- Salve a ti, Nicaragua
- Title (in English, translated)
- Hail to thee, Nicaragua
- Lyrics
¡Salve a ti, Nicaragua! En tu suelo, Ya no ruge la voz del cañón Ni se tiñe con sangre de hermanos Tu glorioso pendón bicolor, Ni se tiñe con sangre de hermanos Tu glorioso pendón bicolor.
Brille hermosa la paz en tu cielo, Nada empañe tu gloria inmortal Que el trabajo es tu digno laurel Y el honor es tu enseña triunfal, Es tu enseña triunfal.
Source: - Citizens
- Nicaraguans
- Official name:Consolidated Text, Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua - approved on March 13, 2024 ↗ - National Assembly, Nicaragua - Nicaraguan Legislation
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- National flag:legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni ↗ - the National Assembly of Nicaragua
- National flag:el19digital.com ↗ - El 19 Digital
- National flag:inc.gob.ni ↗ - the Institute of the Cultures of Peoples and Youth of Nicaragua
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
- Total area
- 130,370 km²
- Land area
- 119,990 km²
- Water area
- 10,380 km²
- Land borders
- 1,253 km(2 countries)
- Honduras
- 940 km
- Costa Rica
- 313 km
Source:- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Coastline
- 910 km
- Terrain
Extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes - Mean elevation
- 298 m
- Highest point
- 2,085 mMogoton
- Lowest point
- 0 mPacific Ocean
- Climate
Tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands - Avg. temperature
- 25.3 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 22.3 to 29.4 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,769 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 27.8 24 21 61 February 28.6 24.5 21.1 43 March 30 25.4 21.5 36 April 31.4 26.7 22.7 49 May 31 26.6 23.3 196 June 29.7 25.8 23.1 247 July 29.3 25.6 23 209 August 29.7 25.6 22.9 210 September 29.8 25.5 22.7 231 October 29.2 25.1 22.4 256 November 28.4 24.6 21.9 149 December 28 24.3 21.4 80 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable12.5%Perm. crops2.5%Pasture27.4%Forest40.1%Other17.6%
- Arable land
- 1,503,000 hectares (12.5%)
- Permanent crops
- 296,000 hectares (2.5%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 3,292,000 hectares (27.4%)
- Forest
- 4,824,952 hectares (40.1%)
- Other land
- 2,118,048 hectares (17.6%)
Source: - Major lakes
- Lago de Nicaragua8,150 km²Lago de Managua1,040 km²
- Natural hazards2026
- Earthquakes8.2Very high#22/191Tsunamis7.2Very high#21/191Epidemics6.0High#58/191River floods5.0High#99/191Coastal floods4.3Medium#81/191Tropical cyclones4.2Medium#35/191Drought3.9Medium#68/191
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate, Major lakes:The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +1.28% per year+89,827 people/yearWorld Rank81stof 237
- Birth rate
- 18.5 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 4.7 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −1.2 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 26.3 yearsWorld Rank162ndof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years27.9%15-64 years66.3%65 years +5.9%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 5.9%
- Share aged under 18
- 33.5%
- Total dependency ratio
- 51
- Youth dependency ratio
- 42
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 9
- Sex ratio
- 0.97 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.3% 0.6% 70-79 1.1% 1.6% 60-69 2.3% 2.8% 50-59 4.1% 4.5% 40-49 5.8% 6.4% 30-39 7.9% 8.0% 20-29 8.8% 8.6% 10-19 9.5% 9.2% 0-9 9.4% 9.1% - 2026
- 0.06 above the replacement level for Nicaragua ()2.16 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank99thof 237
- 1.04 daughters per woman0.04 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +13.7 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 13.7 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −1.2 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 59.6% live in cities4,232,577 urban residents
- Largest cities2023
- Managua, León, Tipitapa, MasayaRankCity or TownPopulation (2023 estimate)1Managua1,055,1112León177,2703Tipitapa150,5974Masaya140,7215Ciudad Sandino130,3576Chinandega115,6877Matagalpa114,1208Estelí112,1329Granada106,71910Puerto Cabezas86,279Source:
- National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, Nicaragua (2023 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- The overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters.
- Ethnic groups
- Mestizo69.0%White17.0%Black9.0%Indigenous5.0%
Mestizo denotes mixed Indigenous and White ancestry.
Source:- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Religions2020
- Roman Catholic44.9%Protestant38.7%Other1.2%Believer but not belonging to a church1.0%Agnostic or atheist0.4%None13.7%Unspecified0.2%
- Protestant
- 38.7%
- Evangelical
- 38.2%
- Adventist
- 0.5%
Other includes Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ.
Source:- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Languages
- Spanish (Español)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, Nicaragua (2023 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe Presidency is held jointly by a Co-President (male) and a Co-President (female), elected by direct suffrage by relative majority for six years; the State is called "revolutionary, free, sovereign and independent" (Arts. 13, 121, 123).
- System of government
- PresidentialThe Presidency exercises the headship of state and of government and appoints and removes ministers alone; the text provides no confidence vote, no removal by the National Assembly, and no dissolution (Arts. 117, 125, 124, 130).
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Parliament (in Spanish)
- Capital
- Managua1.1 million people(2023)
- National holidays
- 10 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- ThuApr 2Maundy Thursday
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- SatMay 30Mother's Day
- SunJul 19Revolution Day
- MonSep 14Battle of San Jacinto Day
- TueSep 15Independence Day
- TueDec 8Immaculate Conception
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- CSTCentral Standard TimeUTC−6
- Currency
- Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +505
- Internet TLD
- .ni
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- NI, NIC
- Infrastructure
- Aircraft registration prefix
- YN
Source:- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- 2025
- 14 / 100World Rank175thof 182
Significant declinerDown 15 points since 2012, when it scored 29.
Confidence intervalCorruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 29 26 32 2013 28 24 32 2014 28 25 31 2015 27 23 31 2016 26 23 29 2017 26 24 28 2018 25 23 27 2019 22 20.1 23.9 2020 22 20.5 23.5 2021 20 18.4 21.6 2022 19 17.3 20.7 2023 17 15.4 18.6 2024 14 11.6 16.4 2025 14 11.6 16.4 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitución Política de la República de Nicaragua, texto íntegro con la renumeración ordenada por la Ley N.º 1234, Ley de Reforma Parcial a la Constitución Política, La Gaceta, Diario Oficial N.º 32 de 18 de febrero de 2025 ↗ - National Assembly of Nicaragua
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Lower middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +3.8% per yearWorld Rank66thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $3,732 (140th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services45.2% of GDPIndustry29.3% of GDPAgriculture14.5% of GDPManufacturing12.6%part of industry
- Households
- +76.1%
- Government
- +11.4%
- Investment
- +25.8%
- Exports
- +41.6%
- Imports
- −54.9%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 3.5%up 1.4 percentage points1.4pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 3.3 million (47% of population)World Rank105thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 66.0% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 5.0%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 9.6% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $9.2 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 2.3% of GDP surplus
- Current account
- 6.4% of GDP, $1.6 billion surplus
Source: - Debt2024
- Government debt39.1% of GDPHousehold debt16.5% of GDPCompany debt12.5% of GDPInterest on debt2% of GDPCentral government debt39.1% of GDP
- Trade2024
- Goods$6.8 billion84%
- Services$1.3 billion16%
- Total exports
- $8.1 billion
- Change from 2023
- down 1.4 percent on the previous year1.4%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- 2024
- −0.90World Rank111thof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +1.3% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2023
- Coffee (green), Plantains and cooking bananas, Beans (dry), and 7 more
- 1Coffee (green)11.9×
- 2Plantains and cooking bananas7.1×
- 3Beans (dry)5.5×
- 4Raw cane or beet sugar (centrifugal only)3.8×
- 5Groundnuts (in shell)3.5×
- 6Molasses3.3×
- 7Sugar cane3.2×
- 8Meat of cattle with the bone (fresh or chilled)2.1×
- 9Palm oil1.7×
- 10Raw milk of cattle1.6×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Gold reserves2025
- NoneNo gold in official reserves
- Industries
- food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade, Gold reserves:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2014latest available
- NIO 9,898 per month$381 (USD), $948 (PPP)
- Median
- NIO 6,953 per month($268)
- Men
- NIO 9,422 per month($363)
- Women
- NIO 10,792 per month($416)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2024
- NIO 7,693 per month, gross$210 (USD), $565 (PPP)
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.706HighWorld Rank123rdof 193NicaraguaWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Nicaragua World 1990 0.515 0.608 1991 0.526 0.611 1992 0.531 0.614 1993 0.534 0.617 1994 0.540 0.620 1995 0.549 0.625 1996 0.559 0.631 1997 0.568 0.636 1998 0.569 0.641 1999 0.585 0.646 2000 0.593 0.651 2001 0.601 0.657 2002 0.609 0.662 2003 0.615 0.669 2004 0.623 0.675 2005 0.630 0.681 2006 0.636 0.688 2007 0.642 0.694 2008 0.646 0.698 2009 0.646 0.701 2010 0.651 0.707 2011 0.657 0.713 2012 0.664 0.717 2013 0.668 0.721 2014 0.674 0.726 2015 0.679 0.731 2016 0.684 0.735 2017 0.688 0.739 2018 0.690 0.741 2019 0.690 0.745 2020 0.676 0.742 2021 0.682 0.742 2022 0.701 0.752 2023 0.706 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2014latest available
- 46.2
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 9.9 years
- Expected for a child today
- 11.5 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2014
- 87.3% of adults
- Education expenditure2023
- 2.9% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 17.7%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2024
- 61.4% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 53.3%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 7.3 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 244,832
- Fixed broadband
- 5.8 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2024
- 4% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 14%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 23%
- Mobile-money account
- 8%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 16%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Inbound tourists2022
- Official tourism site817,900 arrivalsdown 37% against 201937% below 2019World Rank89thof 139
- Per resident
- 1.2 arrivals per 10 residents
- Same-day visitors
- 114,800 arrivals
- $510.9 million(2024)
- Residents' trips abroad
- 699,000 overnight trips
- $359.7 million(2024)
- Hotel beds
- 21,575
- Average hotel stay
- 6 nights
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2022A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 2 sites2 cultural
Site Ruins of León Viejo León Cathedral Source:- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2023
- Medium by global standards5.5 per 100,000 peopleWorld Rank31stof 115
- Crime rates
- 4 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 5.5 372 2023 Serious assault 15.1 982 2019 Sexual violence 32.4 2,099 2019 Kidnapping 0.0 3 2019 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2018
- 326.8 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 20,918
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 75.4 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 8.3% of GDP$217 per person
- Physicians2018
- 0.68 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2022
- 1 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 10.2 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 60 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 3.9 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 16.9 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 5.74 Mt per yearup 3.7 percent on the previous year3.7% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 0.9 t per personWorld Rank157thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.01%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 10.5 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 2.61 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 0.27 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 19.2 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 17.4 µg/m³ of PM2.51.2 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted76thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- deforestation
- soil erosion
- water pollution
- drought
Source:- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- International agreements
- 18 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 86 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2017 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1996 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1993 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1993 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1996 CITES in force 1977 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2003 Nagoya Protocol in force 2020 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 1997 World Heritage Convention in force 1980 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1998 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1997 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2008 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2006 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 2000 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) not a party MARPOL 73/78 in force 2001 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 13% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 165 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 24,443 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 5% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 1.3 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 85%
- Water stress
- 2% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 19.2% of the population1.3 million people
- Obesity2024
- 34.9% of adults
- Men
- 28.7%
- Women
- 40.3%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2012
- 4.6% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 13.8 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 0.01%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 16% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- Imports only, 0.9 TWh imported, nothing exported in 20244.5 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 4.5 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 4.4 TWh per year
- Imports
- 0.9 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Production endedlast produced in 2020Consumption202435,626 b/dImports201812,960 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 0.5% of GDP$105.3 million, 1.9% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 12,000active Armed Forces
- Military service2025
- Voluntaryno conscription; ages 18–30, 16–20 for cadets; tour of duty 18–36 months
- Space program2025
- National Secretariat for Extraterrestrial Space Affairs, The Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Secretaría Nacional para Asuntos del Espacio Ultraterrestre, la Luna y otros Cuerpos Celestes, established 2021; operates under the military’s control)
Stated mission is to promote the development of space activities with the aim of broadening the country’s capacities in education, industry, science, and technology; has cooperated with China and Russia; is a signatory of the convention establishing the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
- 1994
- Joined UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
- 2017
- Russia opened a satellite navigation system monitoring station in Nicaragua
- 2021
- Signed convention establishing the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
- 2024
- Joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station project, which aims to establish a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s
Key milestones
Source:- The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service, Space program:The World Factbook: Nicaragua - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
