The current population of Nicaragua is 7,124,343 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 6,916,140 in 2024.
- Nicaragua accounts for 0.09% of the world's population.
- Nicaragua is projected to reach 9.3M people in 2072.
- Nicaragua is ranked 107/197 by population and was ranked 109th in 2006.
- For the last 20 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of 1.57% per year.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth in 20 years).
Nicaragua population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 8,688,116 | -0.42% |
| 2099 | 8,724,538 | -0.41% |
| 2098 | 8,760,232 | -0.39% |
| 2097 | 8,794,755 | -0.38% |
| 2096 | 8,828,433 | -0.37% |
| 2095 | 8,861,157 | -0.36% |
| 2094 | 8,892,755 | -0.35% |
| 2093 | 8,924,287 | -0.34% |
| 2092 | 8,954,488 | -0.33% |
| 2091 | 8,984,026 | -0.31% |
| 2090 | 9,012,075 | -0.31% |
| 2089 | 9,039,709 | -0.29% |
| 2088 | 9,065,862 | -0.28% |
| 2087 | 9,090,942 | -0.27% |
| 2086 | 9,115,336 | -0.25% |
| 2085 | 9,138,363 | -0.24% |
| 2084 | 9,160,205 | -0.22% |
| 2083 | 9,180,483 | -0.21% |
| 2082 | 9,199,639 | -0.19% |
| 2081 | 9,217,574 | -0.17% |
| 2080 | 9,233,677 | -0.15% |
| 2079 | 9,247,995 | -0.13% |
| 2078 | 9,260,269 | -0.12% |
| 2077 | 9,271,296 | -0.1% |
| 2076 | 9,280,355 | -0.07% |
| 2075 | 9,287,263 | -0.07% |
| 2074 | 9,293,340 | -0.04% |
| 2073 | 9,297,217 | -0.02% |
| 2072 | 9,298,930 | 0.004% |
| 2071 | 9,298,548 | 0.02% |
| 2070 | 9,296,541 | 0.05% |
| 2069 | 9,292,245 | 0.07% |
| 2068 | 9,285,519 | 0.09% |
| 2067 | 9,277,073 | 0.12% |
| 2066 | 9,266,063 | 0.14% |
| 2065 | 9,253,359 | 0.16% |
| 2064 | 9,238,451 | 0.19% |
| 2063 | 9,221,261 | 0.21% |
| 2062 | 9,201,687 | 0.23% |
| 2061 | 9,180,231 | 0.26% |
| 2060 | 9,156,164 | 0.29% |
| 2059 | 9,129,485 | 0.32% |
| 2058 | 9,100,437 | 0.34% |
| 2057 | 9,069,770 | 0.36% |
| 2056 | 9,037,076 | 0.39% |
| 2055 | 9,002,004 | 0.42% |
| 2054 | 8,964,646 | 0.44% |
| 2053 | 8,925,248 | 0.47% |
| 2052 | 8,883,323 | 0.51% |
| 2051 | 8,838,651 | 0.53% |
| 2050 | 8,791,647 | 0.56% |
| 2049 | 8,743,003 | 0.59% |
| 2048 | 8,691,701 | 0.62% |
| 2047 | 8,638,293 | 0.64% |
| 2046 | 8,583,244 | 0.67% |
| 2045 | 8,525,953 | 0.7% |
| 2044 | 8,466,669 | 0.72% |
| 2043 | 8,405,733 | 0.75% |
| 2042 | 8,342,871 | 0.78% |
| 2041 | 8,278,159 | 0.81% |
| 2040 | 8,211,510 | 0.84% |
| 2039 | 8,143,346 | 0.87% |
| 2038 | 8,072,943 | 0.9% |
| 2037 | 8,000,701 | 0.93% |
| 2036 | 7,926,969 | 0.96% |
| 2035 | 7,851,540 | 0.99% |
| 2034 | 7,774,327 | 1.02% |
| 2033 | 7,695,506 | 1.05% |
| 2032 | 7,615,273 | 1.09% |
| 2031 | 7,533,169 | 1.12% |
| 2030 | 7,449,842 | 1.15% |
| 2029 | 7,364,850 | 1.19% |
| 2028 | 7,278,061 | 1.23% |
| 2027 | 7,189,755 | 1.26% |
| 2026 | 7,100,090 | 1.3% |
| 2025 | 7,008,896 | 1.34% |
| 2024 | 6,916,140 | 1.36% |
| 2023 | 6,823,613 | 1.38% |
| 2022 | 6,730,654 | 1.29% |
| 2021 | 6,644,741 | 1.21% |
| 2020 | 6,565,267 | 1.26% |
| 2019 | 6,483,657 | 1.31% |
| 2018 | 6,400,080 | 1.33% |
| 2017 | 6,316,231 | 1.34% |
| 2016 | 6,232,666 | 1.35% |
| 2015 | 6,149,417 | 1.37% |
| 2014 | 6,066,492 | 1.38% |
| 2013 | 5,983,845 | 1.4% |
| 2012 | 5,901,287 | 1.41% |
| 2011 | 5,819,051 | 1.42% |
| 2010 | 5,737,450 | 1.43% |
| 2009 | 5,656,601 | 1.43% |
| 2008 | 5,576,593 | 1.44% |
| 2007 | 5,497,243 | 1.45% |
| 2006 | 5,418,855 | 1.44% |
| 2005 | 5,342,105 | 1.31% |
| 2004 | 5,272,912 | 1.19% |
| 2003 | 5,210,963 | 1.19% |
| 2002 | 5,149,909 | 1.22% |
| 2001 | 5,087,825 | 1.3% |
| 2000 | 5,022,633 | 1.39% |
| 1999 | 4,954,018 | 1.44% |
| 1998 | 4,883,655 | 1.54% |
| 1997 | 4,809,573 | 1.68% |
| 1996 | 4,729,974 | 1.87% |
| 1995 | 4,642,931 | 2.06% |
| 1994 | 4,549,316 | 2.15% |
| 1993 | 4,453,732 | 2.22% |
| 1992 | 4,357,026 | 2.29% |
| 1991 | 4,259,637 | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 4,162,559 | 2.36% |
| 1989 | 4,066,476 | 2.37% |
| 1988 | 3,972,320 | 2.32% |
| 1987 | 3,882,164 | 2.32% |
| 1986 | 3,794,157 | 2.37% |
| 1985 | 3,706,479 | 2.41% |
| 1984 | 3,619,104 | 2.52% |
| 1983 | 3,530,282 | 2.66% |
| 1982 | 3,438,745 | 2.78% |
| 1981 | 3,345,674 | 2.87% |
| 1980 | 3,252,403 | 2.78% |
| 1979 | 3,164,525 | 2.73% |
| 1978 | 3,080,314 | 2.93% |
| 1977 | 2,992,534 | 3.05% |
| 1976 | 2,903,851 | 3.09% |
| 1975 | 2,816,943 | 3.11% |
| 1974 | 2,732,075 | 3.13% |
| 1973 | 2,649,278 | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 2,573,578 | 2.95% |
| 1971 | 2,499,825 | 3.17% |
| 1970 | 2,423,065 | 3.18% |
| 1969 | 2,348,398 | 3.19% |
| 1968 | 2,275,836 | 3.19% |
| 1967 | 2,205,567 | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 2,137,820 | 3.14% |
| 1965 | 2,072,681 | 3.11% |
| 1964 | 2,010,176 | 3.08% |
| 1963 | 1,950,159 | 3.06% |
| 1962 | 1,892,320 | 3.04% |
| 1961 | 1,836,451 | 3.03% |
| 1960 | 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/nicaragua | CC BY 
Nicaragua has a population of 7.12M as of 2026, compared to 6.23M in 2016, 5.42M in 2006, and 4.73M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 1.43% per year. Nicaragua is ranked 94th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Nicaragua will have 8,583,244 people (20.5% growth) with a rank change from 107th to 109th.
By the year 2100, Nicaragua's population is projected to grow by 21.9% from its current level to 8.69M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -8,371 |
| 2024 | - | - | -8,189 |
| 2023 | 92,925 | 100,921 | -7,996 |
| 2022 | 92,991 | 100,987 | -7,996 |
| 2021 | 78,830 | 89,213 | -10,383 |
| 2020 | 80,132 | 90,515 | -10,383 |
| 2019 | 83,087 | 102,817 | -19,730 |
| 2018 | 84,072 | 104,814 | -20,742 |
| 2017 | 83,619 | 105,468 | -21,849 |
| 2016 | 83,509 | 106,585 | -23,076 |
| 2015 | 82,991 | 107,344 | -24,353 |
| 2014 | 82,850 | 108,420 | -25,570 |
| 2013 | 82,445 | 109,032 | -26,587 |
| 2012 | 82,676 | 110,065 | -27,389 |
| 2011 | 81,805 | 110,026 | -28,221 |
| 2010 | 81,394 | 110,475 | -29,081 |
| 2009 | 80,300 | 110,213 | -29,913 |
| 2008 | 79,720 | 110,395 | -30,675 |
| 2007 | 78,984 | 110,341 | -31,357 |
| 2006 | 77,799 | 110,073 | -32,274 |
| 2005 | 75,704 | 108,984 | -33,280 |
| 2004 | 62,682 | 106,904 | -44,222 |
| 2003 | 61,211 | 106,142 | -44,931 |
| 2002 | 60,899 | 105,805 | -44,906 |
| 2001 | 63,272 | 107,109 | -43,837 |
| 2000 | 67,105 | 109,192 | -42,087 |
| 1999 | 70,122 | 110,217 | -40,095 |
| 1998 | 70,602 | 108,862 | -38,260 |
| 1997 | 77,564 | 114,415 | -36,851 |
| 1996 | 81,641 | 116,849 | -35,208 |
| 1995 | 92,436 | 118,325 | -25,889 |
| 1994 | 94,792 | 119,565 | -24,773 |
| 1993 | 96,378 | 120,469 | -24,091 |
| 1992 | 97,033 | 121,204 | -24,171 |
| 1991 | 97,759 | 121,787 | -24,028 |
| 1990 | 96,397 | 120,677 | -24,280 |
| 1989 | 95,764 | 120,128 | -24,364 |
| 1988 | 92,546 | 117,299 | -24,753 |
| 1987 | 87,758 | 112,885 | -25,127 |
| 1986 | 88,249 | 113,054 | -24,805 |
| 1985 | 87,109 | 110,949 | -23,840 |
| 1984 | 87,640 | 110,133 | -22,493 |
| 1983 | 89,998 | 110,618 | -20,620 |
| 1982 | 93,073 | 112,468 | -19,395 |
| 1981 | 93,068 | 110,421 | -17,353 |
| 1980 | 93,474 | 108,604 | -15,130 |
| 1979 | 82,277 | 96,429 | -14,152 |
| 1978 | 86,146 | 98,419 | -12,273 |
| 1977 | 89,416 | 100,498 | -11,082 |
| 1976 | 87,945 | 98,100 | -10,155 |
| 1975 | 85,881 | 95,230 | -9,349 |
| 1974 | 83,866 | 92,505 | -8,639 |
| 1973 | 81,715 | 89,662 | -7,947 |
| 1972 | 69,687 | 76,906 | -7,219 |
| 1971 | 77,811 | 84,139 | -6,328 |
| 1970 | 75,704 | 81,127 | -5,423 |
| 1969 | 73,645 | 78,237 | -4,592 |
| 1968 | 71,479 | 75,458 | -3,979 |
| 1967 | 69,056 | 72,722 | -3,666 |
| 1966 | 66,440 | 69,883 | -3,443 |
| 1965 | 63,825 | 67,056 | -3,231 |
| 1964 | 61,184 | 64,227 | -3,043 |
| 1963 | 58,857 | 61,738 | -2,881 |
| 1962 | 56,820 | 59,547 | -2,727 |
| 1961 | 54,920 | 57,499 | -2,579 |
| 1960 | 53,246 | 55,664 | -2,418 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 85.5% of the population change in Nicaragua 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, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 37,345 and 0.7% in 2010.
Nicaragua population clock
Nicaragua
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
7124343
|
107/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.09% | 107/197 |
| One net population change |
5.68 minutes
|
92/197 |
| One birth every |
3.98 minutes
|
100/196 |
| One death every |
16.8 minutes
|
127/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +253 | 92/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +92,527 | 92/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.36% | 78/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.05 hours
|
129/196 |
| Annual migration change | -8,371 | 129/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 43,757 | 154/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.6% | 172/195 |
Largest cities by population
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Nicaragua population statistics
|
Nicaragua
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 75.4 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 29.3 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 26.6 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.2:50.8 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 2.22 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 152.8 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/nicaragua | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.