Statistical information Nicaragua 1999

Nicaragua in the World
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 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.
top of pageLocation: 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 reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 129,494 km²
Land: 120,254 km²
Water: 9,240 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundariesTotal: 1,231 km
Border countries: (2) Costa Rica 309 km;
, Honduras 922 kmCoastline: 910 km
Maritime claimsContiguous 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land useArable land: 9%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 46%
Forests and woodland: 27%
Other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 880 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 4,717,132 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 50.3% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: 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 profileAge structure0-14 years: 44% (male 1,037,269; female 1,018,909)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,236,326; female 1,297,356)
65 years and over: 2% (male 54,706; female 72,566) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.04 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.06 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 40.47 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 67.08 years
Male: 64.7 years
Female: 69.56 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: 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 educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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 areasIndependence: 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note_the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note_the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet
Elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket 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 [ruling party]_includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (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 seven-year terms by the National Assembly
Political parties and leadersInternational 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, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn 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
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) 662,298, 666,010, 666,012, 666,013, 666,015, 666,018, 666,026, 666,027, 666,032, 666,033
From the us FAX: [505] (2) 669,074
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 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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, Nicaragua had been pursuing a number of impressive economic reforms and had begun to shed the legacy of a decade of civil war and economic mismanagement by posting strong annual growth numbers. The storm has put the reform effort on hold and has changed economic forecasts for the foreseeable future_Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane. Nicaragua sustained approximately $1 billion in damages and will probably see GDP growth slow by at least one percentage point in 1999. Hardest hit was the all-important agriculture sector, which is responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to roughly $900 million. Significant aid and relief have helped to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and other creditors have offered substantial debt relief. Nevertheless, additional financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch condition.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $2,500 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 32%
Industry: 24%
Services: 44% (1997)
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: 1.5 million
By occupation services: 54%
By occupation agriculture: 31%
By occupation industry: 15% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14%; underemployment 36% (1997 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 50.3% (1993 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $389 million
Expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $704 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas
Partners: US, Central America, Germany, Canada
Imports: $1.45 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products
Partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $6 billion (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1_11.14 (December 1998), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 48.95%
Production by source hydro: 21.02%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 30.03% (1996)
Consumption: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 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 mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $26 million (1998)
Percent of gdp: 1.2% (1998)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 184 (1998 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 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 171
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 27
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 143 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 56 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Merchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes 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 personsIllicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US