Background: The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821, and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. By 1978, violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought a civil-military coalition to power in 1979, spearheaded by Marxist Sandinista guerrillas led by Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista Contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, ORTEGA was elected president in 2006, 2011, 2016, and most recently in 2021. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. Democratic institutions have lost their independence under the ORTEGA regime as the president has assumed full control over all branches of government, as well as cracking down on a nationwide pro-democracy protest movement in 2018 and shuttering over 3,300 civil society organizations between 2018 and 2024. In the lead-up to the 2021 presidential election, authorities arrested over 40 individuals linked to the opposition, including presidential candidates, private sector leaders, NGO workers, human rights defenders, and journalists. Only five lesser-known presidential candidates from mostly small parties allied to ORTEGA's Sandinistas were allowed to run against ORTEGA. He then awarded the Sandinistas control of all 153 of Nicaraguan municipalities in the 2022 municipal elections, consolidating one-party rule.

Area
Total: 130,370 km²
Land: 119,990 km²
Water: 10,380 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than New York State

Land boundaries
Total: 1,253 km
Border countries (2): (2) Costa Rica 313 km; Honduras 940 km

Coastline: 910 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: natural prolongation

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
Highest point: Mogoton 2,085 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 298 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 42.3% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 27.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 40.1% (2023 est.)
Other: 17.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,990 km² (2012)

Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m) is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica

Geography
Note: largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

Population
Total: 6,676,948 (2024 est.)
Male: 3,273,900
Female: 3,403,048
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
Growth rate: 0.95% (2024 est.)

Languages: Spanish (official) 99.5%, Indigenous 0.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.1% (2020 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: English and indigenous languages found on the Caribbean coast

Religions: Roman Catholic 44.9%, Protestant 38.7% (Evangelical 38.2, Adventist 0.5%), other 1.2%, (includes Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ), believer but not belonging to a church 1%, agnostic or atheist 0.4%, none 13.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2020 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 25.1% (male 855,256/female 818,714)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 2,240,297/female 2,360,244)
65 years and over: 6% (2024 est.) (male 178,347/female 224,090)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 45.1 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 36.4 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 11.4 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 29 years (2024 est.)
Male: 28.1 years
Female: 29.9 years

Population growth rate: 0.95% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 16.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 59.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.095 million MANAGUA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 60 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 73.2 years
Female: 76.4 years

Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Rural: 33.5% of population

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.6% (2024 est.); 4.8% (2023 est.); 5% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Managua
Geographic coordinates: 12 08 N, 86 15 W
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name comes from Lake Managua, whose name is composed of the Guaraní words ama (rain) and nagua (spirit) and refers to a local deity

Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

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

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
Head of government: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
Most recent election date: 7 November 2021
2021: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a fourth consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 75.9%, Walter ESPINOZA (PLC) 14.3%, Guillermo OSORNO (CCN) 3.3%, Marcelo MONTIEL (ALN) 3.1%, other 3.4%
2016: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a third consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7%
Expected date of next election: 1 November 2026
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 91 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 11/7/2021
Parties elected and seats per party: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) (75); Liberal and Constitutionalist Party (PLC) (9); Other (6)
Percentage of women in chamber: 54.9%
Expected date of next election: November 2026

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 has a triangle with the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA in an arc over it and AMERICA CENTRAL in an arc underneath

National anthem
Title: 'Salve a ti, Nicaragua' (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)
Lyrics/music: Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO
History: music was approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 3.6% (2024 est.); 4.4% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.6% (2024 est.); 4.4% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 80.6% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 12.3% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 40.5% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -58.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 14.4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 27.6% (2024 est.)
Services: 46.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining

Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 3.225 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.6% (2024 est.); 4.8% (2023 est.); 5% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.6% (2024 est.); 4.8% (2023 est.); 5% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $3.856 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $3.382 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 19.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $8.135 billion (2024 est.); $8.248 billion (2023 est.); $7.87 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: garments, gold, insulated wire, coffee, beef (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $11.437 billion (2024 est.); $10.519 billion (2023 est.); $10.213 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: garments, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, plastic products, fabric (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 1.849 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 4.654 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.125 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 839 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 86.5% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 100%
Access electrification - rural areas: 66.3%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 35.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 12.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 14.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 20.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Imports: 22 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 200 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.806 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.806 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 10.66 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 234,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 7.22 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 371,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 39 (2025)

Merchant marine
Total: 5 (2023)
By type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 3