Statistical information Nicaragua 1998Nicaragua

Map of Nicaragua | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Nicaragua - Introduction 1998
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Background: 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 and again in 1996 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.


Nicaragua - Geography 1998
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Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W

Map referenceCentral America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 129,494 km²
Land: 120,254 km²
Water: 9,240 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New York State

Land boundaries
Total: 1,231 km
Border countries: (2) Costa Rica 309 km; , Honduras 922 km

Coastline: 910 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone
Continental shelf: natural prolongation
Territorial sea: 200 nm

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
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use

Land use
Arable land: 9%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 46%
Forests and woodland: 27%
Other: 17% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 880 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes

Geography


Nicaragua - People 1998
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Population: 4,583,379 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 2.92% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Nicaraguan(s)
Adjective: Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Languages: Spanish (official)
Note: English- and Amerindian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%

Demographic profile
Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,017,190; female 1,000,436)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,191,323; female 1,251,828)
65 years and over: 3% (male 52,836; female 69,766) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.92% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 36.04 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.09 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 42.26 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.62 years
Male: 64.26 years
Female: 69.08 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.28 children born/woman (1998 est.)

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
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 65.7%
Male: 64.6%
Female: 66.6% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


Nicaragua - Government 1998
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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
Conventional short form: Nicaragua
Local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
Local short form: Nicaragua

Government type: republic

Capital: Managua

Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular_departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular_region autonomista; Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*

Dependent areas

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 9 January 1987

Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997): ead of
Government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997)
Cabinet: Cabinet
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note_in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years
Election results: Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, others (18 other candidates) remaining 4.33%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
Election results: percent of vote by party_Liberal Alliance (ruling party_includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party_Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected for a seven-year term by the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
In the us chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 939-6,570
In the us consulates general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ
From the us embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
From the us mailing address: APO AA 34,021
From the us telephone: [505] (2) 666,010 through 666,013, 666,015 through 18, 666,026, 666,027, 666,032 through 33
From the us fax: [505] (2) 669,074

Flag descriptionflag of Nicaragua: 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 REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


Nicaragua - Economy 1998
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Economy overview: The Nicaraguan economy, devastated during the 1980s by economic mismanagement and civil war, is beginning to rebound. In 1991 President CHAMORRO launched an ambitious economic stabilization program that reduced inflation and obtained substantial economic aid from abroad. Economic growth rose sharply in 1995-97, due to surges in exports and efforts to enhance trade liberalization. The program, however, hit some snags, and a 1994-97 IMF Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) signed by the CHAMORRO administration with the Fund lapsed in September 1996 due to non-compliance. In 1997, however, the IMF resumed negotiations for an ESAF with the ALEMAN administration, and agreed to an ESAF in 1998. IMF approval of the ESAF cleared the way for debt relief by the Paris Club later that year and has opened the way for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. Implementation of a 1997 property accord_designed to resolve conflict over properties confiscated by the Sandinistas in the 1980s_should also help inspire international investor confidence. Strong growth is forecast for 1998, with implementation of a 1997 free trade agreement with Mexico expected to boost agricultural exports, although the industrial sector may come under pressure from increased Mexican competition.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $2,100 (1997 est.)

Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 34%
Industry: 21%
Services: 45% (1995)

Agriculture products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear

Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)

Labor force
Total: 1.5 million
By occupation services: 54%
By occupation agriculture: 31%
By occupation industry: 15% (1995 est.)
Labor force

Unemployment rate: 16%; underemployment 36% (1996 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $389 million
Expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)

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: total value:$635 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas
Partners: US, Central America, Germany, Canada

Imports: total value:$1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodoties: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products
Partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $6 billion (1996 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1_9.76 (October 1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72 (1994), 5.62 (1993)


Nicaragua - Energy 1998
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Electricity
Capacity: 457,000 kW (1995)
Production: 1.76 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 416 kWh (1995)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


Nicaragua - Communication 1998
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Telephones: 66,810 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System
Domestic: wire and microwave radio relay
International: satellite earth stations_1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


Nicaragua - Military 1998
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $27.48 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: 1.35% (1996)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


Nicaragua - Transportation 1998
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 185 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 13
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 5 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 172
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 27
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 144 (1997 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines: crude oil 56 km

Railways
Total: 0 km
Narrow gauge: 0 km 1.067-m gauge; note_part of the previous 376 km system was closed and dismantled in 1993 and, in 1994, the remainder was closed, the track and rolling stock being sold for scrap

Roadways

Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


Nicaragua - Transnational issues 1998
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Disputes international: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the disputants to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US


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