Statistical information Nicaragua 1992
Nicaragua in the World
Nicaragua - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: Settled as a colony of Spain in the 1520s Nicaragua gained its independence in 1821. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990 saw the Sandinistas defeated.
Nicaragua - Geography 1992
top of pageLocation
Geographic coordinates
Map reference
Area
Total: 129,494 km²
Land: 120,254 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than New York State
Land boundaries: 1,231 km total; Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain)
Continental shelf: not specified
Territorial sea: 200 nm
Disputes:
territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San
Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; unresolved maritime boundary in
Golfo de Fonseca
Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; unresolved maritime boundary in
Golfo de Fonseca
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
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use
Land use: arable land: 9%; permanent crops: 1%; meadows and pastures 43%; forest and woodland 35%; other 12%; including irrigated 1%
Irrigated land
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards
Geography
Nicaragua - People 1992
top of pagePopulation: 3,878,150 (July 1992), growth rate 2.8% (1992)
Nationality: noun - Nicaraguan(s; adjective - Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%
Languages: Spanish (official; English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
Population growth rate
Birth rate: 37 births/1000 population (1992)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1992)
Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1000 population (1992)
Population distribution
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate: 57 deaths/1000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 66 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1992)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures
Literacy: 57% (male 57%, female 57%) age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Nicaragua - Government 1992
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
Government type: republic
Capital: Managua
Administrative divisions:
9 administrative regions encompassing 17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua,
Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva
Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua,
Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva
Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
Dependent areas
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: January 1987
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage: universal at age 16
National Assembly:
last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held
February 1996); results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats - (92 total) UNO 51, FSLN 39, PSC 1, MUR 1
February 1996); results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats - (92 total) UNO 51, FSLN 39, PSC 1, MUR 1
President:
last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results - Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA
Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5%
Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5%
Communists: 15,000-20,000
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) and municipal courts
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU,
LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU,
LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Ernesto PALAZIO; Chancery at 1627
New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009; telephone (202) 939-6,570
New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009; telephone (202) 939-6,570
US:
Ambassador Harry W. SHLAUDEMAN; Embassy at Kilometer 4.5 Carretera
Sur., Managua (mailing address is APO AA 34,021); telephone 505 (2) 666,010 or 666,013, 666,015 through 18, 666,026, 666,027, 666,032 through 34; FAX 505 (2) 666,046
Sur., Managua (mailing address is APO AA 34,021); telephone 505 (2) 666,010 or 666,013, 666,015 through 18, 666,026, 666,027, 666,032 through 34; FAX 505 (2) 666,046
Diplomatic representation
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 NICARAGUA on the top and: AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
National symbols
National anthem
National heritage
Nicaragua - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although the CHAMORRO government has pledged to greatly reduce intervention. Four private banks have been licensed, and the government has liberalized foreign trade and abolished price controls on most goods. Over 50% of the agricultural and industrial firms remain state owned. Sandinista economic policies and the war had produced a severe economic crisis. The foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7% in 1989 and 4% in 1990, and remained about even in 1991. The agricultural sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 15% of GDP and 80% of export earnings. Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and contributes about 25% to GDP, showed a drop of 7% in 1989, fell slightly in 1990, and remained flat in 1991; output still is below pre-1979 levels.
External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In 1991 the inflation rate was 766%, down sharply from the 13,490% of 1990.
External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In 1991 the inflation rate was 766%, down sharply from the 13,490% of 1990.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion, per capita $425; real growth rate - 1.0% (1991 est.)
Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products: accounts for 15% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash crops - coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans; variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy; normally self-sufficient in food
Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA; accounts for about 25% of GDP
Labor force: 1,086,000; service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)
Organized labor: 35% of labor force
Labor force
Unemployment rate: 13%; underemployment 50% (1991)
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget: revenues $347 million; expenditures $499 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1991)
Taxes and other revenues
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports: $342 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals
Partners: OECD 75%, USSR and Eastern Europe 15%, other 10%
Imports: $738 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing
Partners: Latin America 30%, US 25%, EC 20%, USSR and Eastern Europe 10%, other 15% (1990 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates: cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 25,000,000 (March 1992), 21,354,000 (1991), 15,655 (1989), 270 (1988), 102.60 (1987)
Nicaragua - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity
Production: 423,000 kW capacity; 1,409 million kWh produced, 376 kWh per capita (1991)
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Nicaragua - Communication 1992
top of pageTelephones
Telephone system
Broadcast media
Internet
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Nicaragua - Military 1992
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Percent of gdp:
exchange rate conversion - $70 million, 3.8% of
GDP (1991 budget)
GDP (1991 budget)
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Nicaragua - Transportation 1992
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports:
228 total, 155 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways; none
with runways over 3,659 m; 2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways over 3,659 m; 2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Heliports
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km
Railways
Roadways
Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Merchant marine:
2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161
GRT/2,500 DWT
GRT/2,500 DWT
Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft
Ports and terminals
Nicaragua - Transnational issues 1992
top of pageDisputes international
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
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