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Population in Guatemala compared to Nicaragua: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Guatemala was 18,406,359 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Guatemala's population is 19,049,936 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Guatemala's population is 2.67 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Guatemala is ranked the 69th most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.23% for Guatemala vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Guatemala has had an average growth rate of +1.64% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Guatemala has increased from 13.4M people to 19M (42.5% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Guatemala vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Guatemala
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Guatemala Nicaragua
2100 26,157,456 8,688,116
2099 26,245,641 8,724,538
2098 26,331,619 8,760,232
2097 26,416,090 8,794,755
2096 26,497,966 8,828,433
2095 26,577,430 8,861,157
2094 26,654,549 8,892,755
2093 26,728,912 8,924,287
2092 26,800,726 8,954,488
2091 26,869,103 8,984,026
2090 26,933,745 9,012,075
2089 26,994,393 9,039,709
2088 27,051,725 9,065,862
2087 27,105,725 9,090,942
2086 27,155,743 9,115,336
2085 27,200,252 9,138,363
2084 27,240,081 9,160,205
2083 27,274,635 9,180,483
2082 27,304,601 9,199,639
2081 27,328,275 9,217,574
2080 27,346,322 9,233,677
2079 27,358,846 9,247,995
2078 27,364,710 9,260,269
2077 27,363,544 9,271,296
2076 27,356,220 9,280,355
2075 27,343,275 9,287,263
2074 27,324,366 9,293,340
2073 27,298,193 9,297,217
2072 27,264,801 9,298,930
2071 27,224,139 9,298,548
2070 27,176,996 9,296,541
2069 27,121,679 9,292,245
2068 27,058,279 9,285,519
2067 26,987,818 9,277,073
2066 26,909,977 9,266,063
2065 26,825,610 9,253,359
2064 26,733,472 9,238,451
2063 26,634,443 9,221,261
2062 26,529,537 9,201,687
2061 26,418,318 9,180,231
2060 26,300,043 9,156,164
2059 26,175,298 9,129,485
2058 26,043,910 9,100,437
2057 25,905,522 9,069,770
2056 25,761,415 9,037,076
2055 25,611,347 9,002,004
2054 25,455,341 8,964,646
2053 25,292,387 8,925,248
2052 25,124,081 8,883,323
2051 24,950,631 8,838,651
2050 24,772,432 8,791,647
2049 24,588,164 8,743,003
2048 24,398,840 8,691,701
2047 24,205,409 8,638,293
2046 24,005,250 8,583,244
2045 23,799,564 8,525,953
2044 23,587,909 8,466,669
2043 23,370,717 8,405,733
2042 23,147,742 8,342,871
2041 22,919,092 8,278,159
2040 22,684,402 8,211,510
2039 22,443,876 8,143,346
2038 22,196,908 8,072,943
2037 21,945,561 8,000,701
2036 21,689,784 7,926,969
2035 21,429,391 7,851,540
2034 21,165,636 7,774,327
2033 20,899,157 7,695,506
2032 20,630,118 7,615,273
2031 20,359,005 7,533,169
2030 20,085,689 7,449,842
2029 19,810,652 7,364,850
2028 19,534,112 7,278,061
2027 19,255,397 7,189,755
2026 18,973,755 7,100,090
2025 18,690,875 7,008,896
2024 18,406,359 6,916,140
2023 18,124,838 6,823,613
2022 17,847,877 6,730,654
2021 17,598,650 6,644,741
2020 17,357,325 6,565,267
2019 17,103,803 6,483,657
2018 16,845,685 6,400,080
2017 16,567,357 6,316,231
2016 16,268,760 6,232,666
2015 15,971,743 6,149,417
2014 15,681,725 6,066,492
2013 15,387,337 5,983,845
2012 15,089,647 5,901,287
2011 14,792,126 5,819,051
2010 14,500,112 5,737,450
2009 14,215,611 5,656,601
2008 13,935,174 5,576,593
2007 13,652,040 5,497,243
2006 13,367,459 5,418,855
2005 13,087,629 5,342,105
2004 12,807,402 5,272,912
2003 12,525,842 5,210,963
2002 12,246,915 5,149,909
2001 11,969,422 5,087,825
2000 11,697,592 5,022,633
1999 11,422,965 4,954,018
1998 11,139,145 4,883,655
1997 10,857,754 4,809,573
1996 10,583,526 4,729,974
1995 10,312,996 4,642,931
1994 10,043,718 4,549,316
1993 9,779,761 4,453,732
1992 9,522,266 4,357,026
1991 9,272,584 4,259,637
1990 9,024,773 4,162,559
1989 8,775,546 4,066,476
1988 8,532,099 3,972,320
1987 8,296,485 3,882,164
1986 8,070,818 3,794,157
1985 7,849,693 3,706,479
1984 7,630,682 3,619,104
1983 7,419,642 3,530,282
1982 7,240,241 3,438,745
1981 7,075,648 3,345,674
1980 6,900,212 3,252,403
1979 6,727,797 3,164,525
1978 6,561,534 3,080,314
1977 6,401,515 2,992,534
1976 6,262,404 2,903,851
1975 6,128,731 2,816,943
1974 5,981,197 2,732,075
1973 5,831,631 2,649,278
1972 5,682,833 2,573,578
1971 5,538,355 2,499,825
1970 5,396,966 2,423,065
1969 5,257,081 2,348,398
1968 5,118,111 2,275,836
1967 4,978,862 2,205,567
1966 4,840,958 2,137,820
1965 4,704,965 2,072,681
1964 4,571,109 2,010,176
1963 4,440,264 1,950,159
1962 4,312,044 1,892,320
1961 4,186,201 1,836,451
1960 4,063,655 1,782,370

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/guatemala/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Guatemala increased by 2,901,301 people (a 21.7% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Guatemala gained 2,781,176 people (a 17.1% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Guatemala was ranked 68th most populous country in 2006 and is 69th in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Guatemala's population will grow by 30% to 24,772,432 people with a rank change from 69th to 67th. The population of Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Guatemala is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 27.4M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

Guatemala
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Guatemala Nicaragua
2100 -0.34% -0.42%
2099 -0.33% -0.41%
2098 -0.32% -0.39%
2097 -0.31% -0.38%
2096 -0.3% -0.37%
2095 -0.29% -0.36%
2094 -0.28% -0.35%
2093 -0.27% -0.34%
2092 -0.25% -0.33%
2091 -0.24% -0.31%
2090 -0.22% -0.31%
2089 -0.21% -0.29%
2088 -0.2% -0.28%
2087 -0.18% -0.27%
2086 -0.16% -0.25%
2085 -0.15% -0.24%
2084 -0.13% -0.22%
2083 -0.11% -0.21%
2082 -0.09% -0.19%
2081 -0.07% -0.17%
2080 -0.05% -0.15%
2079 -0.02% -0.13%
2078 0.004% -0.12%
2077 0.03% -0.1%
2076 0.05% -0.07%
2075 0.07% -0.07%
2074 0.1% -0.04%
2073 0.12% -0.02%
2072 0.15% 0.004%
2071 0.17% 0.02%
2070 0.2% 0.05%
2069 0.23% 0.07%
2068 0.26% 0.09%
2067 0.29% 0.12%
2066 0.31% 0.14%
2065 0.34% 0.16%
2064 0.37% 0.19%
2063 0.4% 0.21%
2062 0.42% 0.23%
2061 0.45% 0.26%
2060 0.48% 0.29%
2059 0.5% 0.32%
2058 0.53% 0.34%
2057 0.56% 0.36%
2056 0.59% 0.39%
2055 0.61% 0.42%
2054 0.64% 0.44%
2053 0.67% 0.47%
2052 0.7% 0.51%
2051 0.72% 0.53%
2050 0.75% 0.56%
2049 0.78% 0.59%
2048 0.8% 0.62%
2047 0.83% 0.64%
2046 0.86% 0.67%
2045 0.9% 0.7%
2044 0.93% 0.72%
2043 0.96% 0.75%
2042 1% 0.78%
2041 1.03% 0.81%
2040 1.07% 0.84%
2039 1.11% 0.87%
2038 1.15% 0.9%
2037 1.18% 0.93%
2036 1.22% 0.96%
2035 1.25% 0.99%
2034 1.28% 1.02%
2033 1.3% 1.05%
2032 1.33% 1.09%
2031 1.36% 1.12%
2030 1.39% 1.15%
2029 1.42% 1.19%
2028 1.45% 1.23%
2027 1.48% 1.26%
2026 1.51% 1.3%
2025 1.55% 1.34%
2024 1.55% 1.36%
2023 1.55% 1.38%
2022 1.42% 1.29%
2021 1.39% 1.21%
2020 1.48% 1.26%
2019 1.53% 1.31%
2018 1.68% 1.33%
2017 1.84% 1.34%
2016 1.86% 1.35%
2015 1.85% 1.37%
2014 1.91% 1.38%
2013 1.97% 1.4%
2012 2.01% 1.41%
2011 2.01% 1.42%
2010 2% 1.43%
2009 2.01% 1.43%
2008 2.07% 1.44%
2007 2.13% 1.45%
2006 2.14% 1.44%
2005 2.19% 1.31%
2004 2.25% 1.19%
2003 2.28% 1.19%
2002 2.32% 1.22%
2001 2.32% 1.3%
2000 2.4% 1.39%
1999 2.55% 1.44%
1998 2.59% 1.54%
1997 2.59% 1.68%
1996 2.62% 1.87%
1995 2.68% 2.06%
1994 2.7% 2.15%
1993 2.7% 2.22%
1992 2.69% 2.29%
1991 2.75% 2.33%
1990 2.84% 2.36%
1989 2.85% 2.37%
1988 2.84% 2.32%
1987 2.8% 2.32%
1986 2.82% 2.37%
1985 2.87% 2.41%
1984 2.84% 2.52%
1983 2.48% 2.66%
1982 2.33% 2.78%
1981 2.54% 2.87%
1980 2.56% 2.78%
1979 2.53% 2.73%
1978 2.5% 2.93%
1977 2.22% 3.05%
1976 2.18% 3.09%
1975 2.47% 3.11%
1974 2.56% 3.13%
1973 2.62% 2.94%
1972 2.61% 2.95%
1971 2.62% 3.17%
1970 2.66% 3.18%
1969 2.72% 3.19%
1968 2.8% 3.19%
1967 2.85% 3.17%
1966 2.89% 3.14%
1965 2.93% 3.11%
1964 2.95% 3.08%
1963 2.97% 3.06%
1962 3.01% 3.04%
1961 3.02% 3.03%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/guatemala/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Guatemala grew by 1.55%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Guatemala Nicaragua
Current population
19049936
7124343
Population rank 69/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.23% 0.09%
One net population change
1.87 minutes
5.68 minutes
One birth every
1.39 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
6.01 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +771 +253
Annual growth/decline +281,521 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +1.55% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 69/197 78/197
One migration net change every
1.1 hours
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -7,959 -8,371
Net migration rank 128/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 92,732 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 133/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.5% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 176/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Guatemala
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Guatemala Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,959 - -8,371
2024 - -7,725 - -8,189
2023 289,635 -8,940 100,921 -7,996
2022 281,675 -8,463 100,987 -7,996
2021 255,145 -29,908 89,213 -10,383
2020 281,328 -23,927 90,515 -10,383
2019 307,389 -57,746 102,817 -19,730
2018 323,100 -56,487 104,814 -20,742
2017 332,838 -42,779 105,468 -21,849
2016 338,114 -30,980 106,585 -23,076
2015 335,072 -48,179 107,344 -24,353
2014 333,551 -40,409 108,420 -25,570
2013 331,321 -35,698 109,032 -26,587
2012 332,365 -32,624 110,065 -27,389
2011 328,548 -33,238 110,026 -28,221
2010 324,802 -36,076 110,475 -29,081
2009 323,320 -43,046 110,213 -29,913
2008 323,226 -42,624 110,395 -30,675
2007 326,298 -40,632 110,341 -31,357
2006 325,604 -42,118 110,073 -32,274
2005 325,816 -49,636 108,984 -33,280
2004 331,699 -47,409 106,904 -44,222
2003 333,539 -54,701 106,142 -44,931
2002 334,255 -55,247 105,805 -44,906
2001 335,503 -59,536 107,109 -43,837
2000 332,891 -65,197 109,192 -42,087
1999 328,890 -47,325 110,217 -40,095
1998 325,174 -39,104 108,862 -38,260
1997 320,087 -43,377 114,415 -36,851
1996 315,252 -43,501 116,849 -35,208
1995 309,236 -39,917 118,325 -25,889
1994 302,708 -33,462 119,565 -24,773
1993 295,515 -36,848 120,469 -24,091
1992 288,411 -32,093 121,204 -24,171
1991 283,917 -40,868 121,787 -24,028
1990 280,318 -27,735 120,677 -24,280
1989 276,736 -30,860 120,128 -24,364
1988 271,466 -30,450 117,299 -24,753
1987 261,746 -31,539 112,885 -25,127
1986 252,754 -31,631 113,054 -24,805
1985 246,119 -24,991 110,949 -23,840
1984 241,892 -25,010 110,133 -22,493
1983 238,059 -32,877 110,618 -20,620
1982 199,809 -46,174 112,468 -19,395
1981 221,044 -45,490 110,421 -17,353
1980 218,460 -43,144 108,604 -15,130
1979 216,810 -47,278 96,429 -14,152
1978 211,301 -48,309 98,419 -12,273
1977 203,299 -46,249 100,498 -11,082
1976 171,903 -50,745 98,100 -10,155
1975 188,501 -42,329 95,230 -9,349
1974 184,992 -36,089 92,505 -8,639
1973 179,871 -29,641 89,662 -7,947
1972 173,162 -25,807 76,906 -7,219
1971 165,104 -23,513 84,139 -6,328
1970 155,946 -14,755 81,127 -5,423
1969 149,516 -10,937 78,237 -4,592
1968 146,946 -7,589 75,458 -3,979
1967 143,859 -4,715 72,722 -3,666
1966 140,494 -3,824 69,883 -3,443
1965 135,997 -681 67,056 -3,231
1964 132,832 -440 64,227 -3,043
1963 129,065 240 61,738 -2,881
1962 126,429 713 59,547 -2,727
1961 123,753 797 57,499 -2,579
1960 120,728 -186 55,664 -2,418

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/guatemala/nicaragua | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 89.8% of the population change in Guatemala is from natural causes (a gain of 3,077,847 people) and 10.2% is from migration (a loss of 347,818 people). In Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 92,732 residents or 0.5% of the population were not native-born in Guatemala, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

Biggest cities by population

Guatemala
City Population
Guatemala 995K
Mixco 528K
Coban 229K
Quetzaltenango 208K
Jalapa 193K
San Miguel Petapa 151K
Momostenango 140K
Mazatenango 83.8K
Flores 44.7K
Panajachel 16.1K
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/guatemala/nicaragua | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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