Nicaragua is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 6.92M people. The capital and largest city is Managua, with 937K residents. Nicaragua shares land borders with Honduras and Costa Rica.
Nicaragua ranks 131/197 by GDP ($19.7B) and 141/197 by GDP per capita ($2,848). The top export category is textiles & consumer goods, while the top import is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
Nicaragua
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
7124343
|
107/197 |
| GDP |
$19.7B
2024 |
131/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$2,848
2024 |
141/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$8,709
2024 |
138/197 |
| Government debt |
$7.71B
2024 |
135/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
39.1%
2024 |
136/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$1,115
2024 |
138/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$2,318
2026 |
153/197 |
| Land area | 46,464 sq mi | 98/197 |
| Population density | 152.8 ppl/mi² | 131/197 |
| Fertility rate | 2.22 | 88/196 |
| Median age | 26.6 years | 125/196 |
| Life expectancy | 75.4 years | 91/197 |
Nicaragua trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,693,982,968 |
| 2023 | $17,805,842,284 |
| 2022 | $15,634,572,502 |
| 2021 | $14,209,020,362 |
| 2020 | $12,726,422,432 |
| 2019 | $12,699,023,614 |
| 2018 | $13,025,221,974 |
| 2017 | $13,785,893,007 |
| 2016 | $13,286,093,388 |
| 2015 | $12,756,696,261 |
| 2014 | $11,880,438,824 |
| 2013 | $10,982,988,249 |
| 2012 | $10,532,017,232 |
| 2011 | $9,774,329,333 |
| 2010 | $8,758,602,233 |
| 2009 | $8,298,702,489 |
| 2008 | $8,496,967,597 |
| 2007 | $7,423,375,015 |
| 2006 | $6,763,672,381 |
| 2005 | $6,321,324,279 |
| 2004 | $5,792,932,838 |
| 2003 | $5,322,228,351 |
| 2002 | $5,223,727,303 |
| 2001 | $5,351,752,034 |
| 2000 | $5,109,587,050 |
| 1999 | $4,856,026,259 |
| 1998 | $4,635,347,386 |
| 1997 | $4,389,973,490 |
| 1996 | $4,308,351,903 |
| 1995 | $4,140,470,000 |
| 1994 | $3,863,185,119 |
| 1993 | $1,756,454,248 |
| 1992 | $1,792,800,000 |
| 1991 | $1,488,804,124 |
| 1990 | $1,009,455,484 |
| 1989 | $1,013,184,756 |
| 1988 | $2,630,900,096 |
| 1987 | $3,851,200,118 |
| 1986 | $2,885,799,994 |
| 1985 | $2,683,699,935 |
| 1984 | $3,117,599,872 |
| 1983 | $2,753,100,058 |
| 1982 | $2,454,499,872 |
| 1981 | $2,474,700,227 |
| 1980 | $2,144,300,006 |
| 1979 | $1,567,599,982 |
| 1978 | $2,127,699,979 |
| 1977 | $2,226,999,874 |
| 1976 | $1,836,899,999 |
| 1975 | $1,581,599,959 |
| 1974 | $1,521,400,012 |
| 1973 | $1,092,900,015 |
| 1972 | $878,570,045 |
| 1971 | $828,569,953 |
| 1970 | $778,569,939 |
| 1969 | $750,000,003 |
| 1968 | $692,859,985 |
| 1967 | $657,140,011 |
| 1966 | $607,140,010 |
| 1965 | $564,290,020 |
| 1964 | $347,119,918 |
| 1963 | $297,324,163 |
| 1962 | $269,283,804 |
| 1961 | $244,144,237 |
| 1960 | $227,223,322 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/nicaragua | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,848 |
| 2023 | $2,609 |
| 2022 | $2,323 |
| 2021 | $2,138 |
| 2020 | $1,938 |
| 2019 | $1,959 |
| 2018 | $2,035 |
| 2017 | $2,183 |
| 2016 | $2,132 |
| 2015 | $2,074 |
| 2014 | $1,958 |
| 2013 | $1,835 |
| 2012 | $1,785 |
| 2011 | $1,680 |
| 2010 | $1,527 |
| 2009 | $1,467 |
| 2008 | $1,524 |
| 2007 | $1,350 |
| 2006 | $1,248 |
| 2005 | $1,183 |
| 2004 | $1,099 |
| 2003 | $1,021 |
| 2002 | $1,014 |
| 2001 | $1,052 |
| 2000 | $1,017 |
| 1999 | $980 |
| 1998 | $949 |
| 1997 | $913 |
| 1996 | $911 |
| 1995 | $892 |
| 1994 | $849 |
| 1993 | $394 |
| 1992 | $411 |
| 1991 | $350 |
| 1990 | $242.5 |
| 1989 | $249.2 |
| 1988 | $662 |
| 1987 | $992 |
| 1986 | $761 |
| 1985 | $724 |
| 1984 | $861 |
| 1983 | $780 |
| 1982 | $714 |
| 1981 | $740 |
| 1980 | $659 |
| 1979 | $495 |
| 1978 | $691 |
| 1977 | $744 |
| 1976 | $633 |
| 1975 | $561 |
| 1974 | $557 |
| 1973 | $413 |
| 1972 | $341 |
| 1971 | $331 |
| 1970 | $321 |
| 1969 | $319 |
| 1968 | $304 |
| 1967 | $297.9 |
| 1966 | $284 |
| 1965 | $272.3 |
| 1964 | $172.7 |
| 1963 | $152.5 |
| 1962 | $142.3 |
| 1961 | $132.9 |
| 1960 | $127.5 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/nicaragua | CC BY
Nicaragua's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 75.4 |
| 2025 | 75.3 |
| 2024 | 75.1 |
| 2023 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 74.5 |
| 2021 | 70.5 |
| 2020 | 70.8 |
| 2019 | 73.8 |
| 2018 | 73.9 |
| 2017 | 73.4 |
| 2016 | 73.2 |
| 2015 | 72.9 |
| 2014 | 72.8 |
| 2013 | 72.6 |
| 2012 | 72.4 |
| 2011 | 72 |
| 2010 | 71.8 |
| 2009 | 71.5 |
| 2008 | 71.4 |
| 2007 | 71.2 |
| 2006 | 71 |
| 2005 | 70.4 |
| 2004 | 69.5 |
| 2003 | 68.7 |
| 2002 | 68 |
| 2001 | 67 |
| 2000 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 65.9 |
| 1998 | 64.1 |
| 1997 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 64.5 |
| 1993 | 64.1 |
| 1992 | 63.7 |
| 1991 | 63.3 |
| 1990 | 62.5 |
| 1989 | 61.9 |
| 1988 | 59.8 |
| 1987 | 57.3 |
| 1986 | 57.6 |
| 1985 | 56.4 |
| 1984 | 56.1 |
| 1983 | 56.9 |
| 1982 | 58.7 |
| 1981 | 58.3 |
| 1980 | 58 |
| 1979 | 50.8 |
| 1978 | 53.5 |
| 1977 | 56.1 |
| 1976 | 56.1 |
| 1975 | 55.8 |
| 1974 | 55.4 |
| 1973 | 55 |
| 1972 | 48 |
| 1971 | 54.2 |
| 1970 | 53.8 |
| 1969 | 53.4 |
| 1968 | 52.9 |
| 1967 | 52.3 |
| 1966 | 51.6 |
| 1965 | 50.6 |
| 1964 | 49.6 |
| 1963 | 48.8 |
| 1962 | 48 |
| 1961 | 47.3 |
| 1960 | 46.4 |
| 1959 | 46.1 |
| 1958 | 45.5 |
| 1957 | 44.9 |
| 1956 | 44.3 |
| 1955 | 43.7 |
| 1954 | 43.1 |
| 1953 | 42.4 |
| 1952 | 41.9 |
| 1951 | 40.8 |
| 1950 | 40.6 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/nicaragua | CC BY
Nicaragua's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,916,140 |
| 2023 | 6,823,613 |
| 2022 | 6,730,654 |
| 2021 | 6,644,741 |
| 2020 | 6,565,267 |
| 2019 | 6,483,657 |
| 2018 | 6,400,080 |
| 2017 | 6,316,231 |
| 2016 | 6,232,666 |
| 2015 | 6,149,417 |
| 2014 | 6,066,492 |
| 2013 | 5,983,845 |
| 2012 | 5,901,287 |
| 2011 | 5,819,051 |
| 2010 | 5,737,450 |
| 2009 | 5,656,601 |
| 2008 | 5,576,593 |
| 2007 | 5,497,243 |
| 2006 | 5,418,855 |
| 2005 | 5,342,105 |
| 2004 | 5,272,912 |
| 2003 | 5,210,963 |
| 2002 | 5,149,909 |
| 2001 | 5,087,825 |
| 2000 | 5,022,633 |
| 1999 | 4,954,018 |
| 1998 | 4,883,655 |
| 1997 | 4,809,573 |
| 1996 | 4,729,974 |
| 1995 | 4,642,931 |
| 1994 | 4,549,316 |
| 1993 | 4,453,732 |
| 1992 | 4,357,026 |
| 1991 | 4,259,637 |
| 1990 | 4,162,559 |
| 1989 | 4,066,476 |
| 1988 | 3,972,320 |
| 1987 | 3,882,164 |
| 1986 | 3,794,157 |
| 1985 | 3,706,479 |
| 1984 | 3,619,104 |
| 1983 | 3,530,282 |
| 1982 | 3,438,745 |
| 1981 | 3,345,674 |
| 1980 | 3,252,403 |
| 1979 | 3,164,525 |
| 1978 | 3,080,314 |
| 1977 | 2,992,534 |
| 1976 | 2,903,851 |
| 1975 | 2,816,943 |
| 1974 | 2,732,075 |
| 1973 | 2,649,278 |
| 1972 | 2,573,578 |
| 1971 | 2,499,825 |
| 1970 | 2,423,065 |
| 1969 | 2,348,398 |
| 1968 | 2,275,836 |
| 1967 | 2,205,567 |
| 1966 | 2,137,820 |
| 1965 | 2,072,681 |
| 1964 | 2,010,176 |
| 1963 | 1,950,159 |
| 1962 | 1,892,320 |
| 1961 | 1,836,451 |
| 1960 | 1,782,370 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/nicaragua | CC BY
Nicaragua's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.22 |
| 2022 | 2.24 |
| 2021 | 2.27 |
| 2020 | 2.3 |
| 2019 | 2.32 |
| 2018 | 2.35 |
| 2017 | 2.38 |
| 2016 | 2.41 |
| 2015 | 2.43 |
| 2014 | 2.46 |
| 2013 | 2.49 |
| 2012 | 2.53 |
| 2011 | 2.56 |
| 2010 | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 2.63 |
| 2008 | 2.66 |
| 2007 | 2.7 |
| 2006 | 2.73 |
| 2005 | 2.77 |
| 2004 | 2.78 |
| 2003 | 2.83 |
| 2002 | 2.89 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3.12 |
| 1999 | 3.22 |
| 1998 | 3.34 |
| 1997 | 3.47 |
| 1996 | 3.62 |
| 1995 | 3.78 |
| 1994 | 3.94 |
| 1993 | 4.1 |
| 1992 | 4.27 |
| 1991 | 4.43 |
| 1990 | 4.6 |
| 1989 | 4.76 |
| 1988 | 4.93 |
| 1987 | 5.07 |
| 1986 | 5.22 |
| 1985 | 5.36 |
| 1984 | 5.49 |
| 1983 | 5.61 |
| 1982 | 5.74 |
| 1981 | 5.84 |
| 1980 | 5.96 |
| 1979 | 6.07 |
| 1978 | 6.16 |
| 1977 | 6.28 |
| 1976 | 6.37 |
| 1975 | 6.45 |
| 1974 | 6.52 |
| 1973 | 6.59 |
| 1972 | 6.65 |
| 1971 | 6.71 |
| 1970 | 6.77 |
| 1969 | 6.83 |
| 1968 | 6.89 |
| 1967 | 6.94 |
| 1966 | 6.99 |
| 1965 | 7.03 |
| 1964 | 7.06 |
| 1963 | 7.08 |
| 1962 | 7.1 |
| 1961 | 7.11 |
| 1960 | 7.16 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/nicaragua | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 26.6 |
| 2023 | 26.3 |
| 2022 | 25.9 |
| 2021 | 25.6 |
| 2020 | 25.3 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2018 | 24.7 |
| 2017 | 24.3 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2015 | 23.7 |
| 2014 | 23.4 |
| 2013 | 23.1 |
| 2012 | 22.8 |
| 2011 | 22.5 |
| 2010 | 22.2 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2008 | 21.7 |
| 2007 | 21.4 |
| 2006 | 21.1 |
| 2005 | 20.8 |
| 2004 | 20.4 |
| 2003 | 20.1 |
| 2002 | 19.7 |
| 2001 | 19.4 |
| 2000 | 19.1 |
| 1999 | 18.8 |
| 1998 | 18.4 |
| 1997 | 18.1 |
| 1996 | 17.9 |
| 1995 | 17.6 |
| 1994 | 17.4 |
| 1993 | 17.2 |
| 1992 | 17 |
| 1991 | 16.8 |
| 1990 | 16.7 |
| 1989 | 16.5 |
| 1988 | 16.4 |
| 1987 | 16.4 |
| 1986 | 16.3 |
| 1985 | 16.3 |
| 1984 | 16.3 |
| 1983 | 16.3 |
| 1982 | 16.2 |
| 1981 | 16.2 |
| 1980 | 16.2 |
| 1979 | 16.2 |
| 1978 | 16.2 |
| 1977 | 16.2 |
| 1976 | 16.2 |
| 1975 | 16.2 |
| 1974 | 16.2 |
| 1973 | 16.2 |
| 1972 | 16.2 |
| 1971 | 16.1 |
| 1970 | 16.1 |
| 1969 | 16.1 |
| 1968 | 16 |
| 1967 | 16 |
| 1966 | 16 |
| 1965 | 15.9 |
| 1964 | 15.9 |
| 1963 | 15.9 |
| 1962 | 16 |
| 1961 | 16.1 |
| 1960 | 16.2 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/nicaragua | CC BY
Nicaragua vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Nicaragua with other countries.
Nicaragua: National Statistics
Finance
|
Nicaragua
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$17.4B
2024 |
132/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
27.1%
2024 |
112/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
2.87%
2023 |
148/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
0.55%
2024 |
151/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
12,000
2020 |
127/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+2.48%
2024 |
20/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
5.2%
2018 |
99/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
46.8%
2024 |
149/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
27.6%
2024 |
70/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
53.6
2026 |
139/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
37.2%
2014 |
13/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2%
2014 |
138/169 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$6.1B
2024 |
91/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$5.25B
2024 |
38/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
474,000
2020 |
125/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
15.2%
1999 |
46/184 |
| Banked people share |
23.5%
2024 |
147/158 |
Energy
|
Nicaragua
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
608 kg
2022 |
125/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$12.8
2022 |
105/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
5.74 megatons
2024 |
130/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
0.83 tons
2024 |
136/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
39.9%
2022 |
117/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
50.4%
2021 |
47/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
17%
2022 |
32/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
46.5%
2022 |
50/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
682 kWh
2022 |
115/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
69.5%
2021 |
41/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
14.9%
2022 |
93/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
138/192 |
| Electricity access |
88.3%
2023 |
143/195 |
Society
|
Nicaragua
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.09%
2024 |
108/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-8,371
2025 |
129/196 |
| Urban population |
59.3%
2024 |
111/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
49.2:50.8
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.57 ft
2025 |
136/190 |
| Average female height |
5.1 ft
2025 |
168/190 |
| Quality of life index |
27.3
2026 |
165/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
14
2025 |
190/197 |
| Higher education index |
23
2026 |
142/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
11
2021 |
35/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
16.9
2019 |
80/197 |
| Visa free countries |
124
2025 |
84/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
82.6%
2015 |
145/196 |
| English speaking |
1%
2025 |
184/197 |
| People using the Internet |
58.2%
2023 |
140/195 |
Health
|
Nicaragua
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$216.6
2023 |
126/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$81.5
2023 |
110/192 |
| Life expectancy |
75.4 years
2026 |
91/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
3.41%
2023 |
80/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.68
2018 |
131/193 |
| Age at first childbirth |
19.2 years
2025 |
130/137 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
60
2023 |
86/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
13.4
2023 |
104/192 |
| Obesity rate |
34.5%
2022 |
30/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
10.4%
2024 |
70/195 |
| Air quality index |
58
2026 |
84/197 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
3.67 liters
2020 |
105/186 |
Territory
|
Nicaragua
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.08%
2026 |
98/197 |
| Land area per capita |
6,718 sq mi
2024 |
66/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
19,656 sq mi
2026 |
86/194 |
| Forest area |
11,998 sq mi
2026 |
89/196 |
| Roads length |
14,849 mi
2014 |
90/176 |
Compare Nicaragua with other countries
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2005, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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