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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 4,515,577 people in Panama in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 4,642,198 in Panama.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 1.53 times bigger than Panama's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Panama is the 128th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.06% for Panama.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +1.52% in Panama.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Panama has grown from 3.38M to 4.64M (37.5% growth).

Nicaragua vs Panama: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Panama
2100 8,688,116 5,947,731
2099 8,724,538 5,958,919
2098 8,760,232 5,969,676
2097 8,794,755 5,979,860
2096 8,828,433 5,989,615
2095 8,861,157 5,998,960
2094 8,892,755 6,007,655
2093 8,924,287 6,015,893
2092 8,954,488 6,023,482
2091 8,984,026 6,030,584
2090 9,012,075 6,037,116
2089 9,039,709 6,043,194
2088 9,065,862 6,048,506
2087 9,090,942 6,053,252
2086 9,115,336 6,057,347
2085 9,138,363 6,060,940
2084 9,160,205 6,063,735
2083 9,180,483 6,065,863
2082 9,199,639 6,067,171
2081 9,217,574 6,067,635
2080 9,233,677 6,067,317
2079 9,247,995 6,066,164
2078 9,260,269 6,064,127
2077 9,271,296 6,061,297
2076 9,280,355 6,057,645
2075 9,287,263 6,053,134
2074 9,293,340 6,047,620
2073 9,297,217 6,041,318
2072 9,298,930 6,034,065
2071 9,298,548 6,026,051
2070 9,296,541 6,017,288
2069 9,292,245 6,007,621
2068 9,285,519 5,997,109
2067 9,277,073 5,985,932
2066 9,266,063 5,973,853
2065 9,253,359 5,961,039
2064 9,238,451 5,947,320
2063 9,221,261 5,932,822
2062 9,201,687 5,917,367
2061 9,180,231 5,900,972
2060 9,156,164 5,883,654
2059 9,129,485 5,865,433
2058 9,100,437 5,846,037
2057 9,069,770 5,825,696
2056 9,037,076 5,804,369
2055 9,002,004 5,781,900
2054 8,964,646 5,758,339
2053 8,925,248 5,733,538
2052 8,883,323 5,707,562
2051 8,838,651 5,680,231
2050 8,791,647 5,651,617
2049 8,743,003 5,621,841
2048 8,691,701 5,590,701
2047 8,638,293 5,558,382
2046 8,583,244 5,524,843
2045 8,525,953 5,490,228
2044 8,466,669 5,454,371
2043 8,405,733 5,417,316
2042 8,342,871 5,379,169
2041 8,278,159 5,339,872
2040 8,211,510 5,299,492
2039 8,143,346 5,257,983
2038 8,072,943 5,215,284
2037 8,000,701 5,171,497
2036 7,926,969 5,126,814
2035 7,851,540 5,081,210
2034 7,774,327 5,034,708
2033 7,695,506 4,987,247
2032 7,615,273 4,938,646
2031 7,533,169 4,889,260
2030 7,449,842 4,838,970
2029 7,364,850 4,787,654
2028 7,278,061 4,735,214
2027 7,189,755 4,681,847
2026 7,100,090 4,627,497
2025 7,008,896 4,572,106
2024 6,916,140 4,515,577
2023 6,823,613 4,458,759
2022 6,730,654 4,400,773
2021 6,644,741 4,345,405
2020 6,565,267 4,293,261
2019 6,483,657 4,234,700
2018 6,400,080 4,167,860
2017 6,316,231 4,098,707
2016 6,232,666 4,029,086
2015 6,149,417 3,960,035
2014 6,066,492 3,892,101
2013 5,983,845 3,825,329
2012 5,901,287 3,759,256
2011 5,819,051 3,693,505
2010 5,737,450 3,628,535
2009 5,656,601 3,564,381
2008 5,576,593 3,500,648
2007 5,497,243 3,437,490
2006 5,418,855 3,375,024
2005 5,342,105 3,313,026
2004 5,272,912 3,251,155
2003 5,210,963 3,189,807
2002 5,149,909 3,129,344
2001 5,087,825 3,069,537
2000 5,022,633 3,010,369
1999 4,954,018 2,951,822
1998 4,883,655 2,893,914
1997 4,809,573 2,836,695
1996 4,729,974 2,780,227
1995 4,642,931 2,724,557
1994 4,549,316 2,669,546
1993 4,453,732 2,615,099
1992 4,357,026 2,561,336
1991 4,259,637 2,508,265
1990 4,162,559 2,455,583
1989 4,066,476 2,403,820
1988 3,972,320 2,352,848
1987 3,882,164 2,301,970
1986 3,794,157 2,251,325
1985 3,706,479 2,200,915
1984 3,619,104 2,150,782
1983 3,530,282 2,101,106
1982 3,438,745 2,052,271
1981 3,345,674 2,004,418
1980 3,252,403 1,957,534
1979 3,164,525 1,911,552
1978 3,080,314 1,866,311
1977 2,992,534 1,821,543
1976 2,903,851 1,776,935
1975 2,816,943 1,732,389
1974 2,732,075 1,687,926
1973 2,649,278 1,643,690
1972 2,573,578 1,599,723
1971 2,499,825 1,556,081
1970 2,423,065 1,513,070
1969 2,348,398 1,470,886
1968 2,275,836 1,429,447
1967 2,205,567 1,388,628
1966 2,137,820 1,348,388
1965 2,072,681 1,308,835
1964 2,010,176 1,270,065
1963 1,950,159 1,232,124
1962 1,892,320 1,195,301
1961 1,836,451 1,159,870
1960 1,782,370 1,126,005

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/panama | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Panama gained 654,062 people (a 19.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Panama's population increased by 613,112 people (a 15.2% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th in 2026. Panama was ranked 128th in 2006 and still ranked 128th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people with a rank change from 107th to 108th. The population of Panama will increase by 21.7% to 5,651,617 people and rank change from 128th to 124th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 6.07M people in 2081 for Panama.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Panama
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Panama
2100 -0.42% -0.19%
2099 -0.41% -0.18%
2098 -0.39% -0.17%
2097 -0.38% -0.16%
2096 -0.37% -0.16%
2095 -0.36% -0.14%
2094 -0.35% -0.14%
2093 -0.34% -0.13%
2092 -0.33% -0.12%
2091 -0.31% -0.11%
2090 -0.31% -0.1%
2089 -0.29% -0.09%
2088 -0.28% -0.08%
2087 -0.27% -0.07%
2086 -0.25% -0.06%
2085 -0.24% -0.05%
2084 -0.22% -0.04%
2083 -0.21% -0.02%
2082 -0.19% -0.008%
2081 -0.17% 0.005%
2080 -0.15% 0.02%
2079 -0.13% 0.03%
2078 -0.12% 0.05%
2077 -0.1% 0.06%
2076 -0.07% 0.07%
2075 -0.07% 0.09%
2074 -0.04% 0.1%
2073 -0.02% 0.12%
2072 0.004% 0.13%
2071 0.02% 0.15%
2070 0.05% 0.16%
2069 0.07% 0.18%
2068 0.09% 0.19%
2067 0.12% 0.2%
2066 0.14% 0.21%
2065 0.16% 0.23%
2064 0.19% 0.24%
2063 0.21% 0.26%
2062 0.23% 0.28%
2061 0.26% 0.29%
2060 0.29% 0.31%
2059 0.32% 0.33%
2058 0.34% 0.35%
2057 0.36% 0.37%
2056 0.39% 0.39%
2055 0.42% 0.41%
2054 0.44% 0.43%
2053 0.47% 0.46%
2052 0.51% 0.48%
2051 0.53% 0.51%
2050 0.56% 0.53%
2049 0.59% 0.56%
2048 0.62% 0.58%
2047 0.64% 0.61%
2046 0.67% 0.63%
2045 0.7% 0.66%
2044 0.72% 0.68%
2043 0.75% 0.71%
2042 0.78% 0.74%
2041 0.81% 0.76%
2040 0.84% 0.79%
2039 0.87% 0.82%
2038 0.9% 0.85%
2037 0.93% 0.87%
2036 0.96% 0.9%
2035 0.99% 0.92%
2034 1.02% 0.95%
2033 1.05% 0.98%
2032 1.09% 1.01%
2031 1.12% 1.04%
2030 1.15% 1.07%
2029 1.19% 1.11%
2028 1.23% 1.14%
2027 1.26% 1.17%
2026 1.3% 1.21%
2025 1.34% 1.25%
2024 1.36% 1.27%
2023 1.38% 1.32%
2022 1.29% 1.27%
2021 1.21% 1.21%
2020 1.26% 1.38%
2019 1.31% 1.6%
2018 1.33% 1.69%
2017 1.34% 1.73%
2016 1.35% 1.74%
2015 1.37% 1.75%
2014 1.38% 1.75%
2013 1.4% 1.76%
2012 1.41% 1.78%
2011 1.42% 1.79%
2010 1.43% 1.8%
2009 1.43% 1.82%
2008 1.44% 1.84%
2007 1.45% 1.85%
2006 1.44% 1.87%
2005 1.31% 1.9%
2004 1.19% 1.92%
2003 1.19% 1.93%
2002 1.22% 1.95%
2001 1.3% 1.97%
2000 1.39% 1.98%
1999 1.44% 2%
1998 1.54% 2.02%
1997 1.68% 2.03%
1996 1.87% 2.04%
1995 2.06% 2.06%
1994 2.15% 2.08%
1993 2.22% 2.1%
1992 2.29% 2.12%
1991 2.33% 2.15%
1990 2.36% 2.15%
1989 2.37% 2.17%
1988 2.32% 2.21%
1987 2.32% 2.25%
1986 2.37% 2.29%
1985 2.41% 2.33%
1984 2.52% 2.36%
1983 2.66% 2.38%
1982 2.78% 2.39%
1981 2.87% 2.4%
1980 2.78% 2.41%
1979 2.73% 2.42%
1978 2.93% 2.46%
1977 3.05% 2.51%
1976 3.09% 2.57%
1975 3.11% 2.63%
1974 3.13% 2.69%
1973 2.94% 2.75%
1972 2.95% 2.8%
1971 3.17% 2.84%
1970 3.18% 2.87%
1969 3.19% 2.9%
1968 3.19% 2.94%
1967 3.17% 2.98%
1966 3.14% 3.02%
1965 3.11% 3.05%
1964 3.08% 3.08%
1963 3.06% 3.08%
1962 3.04% 3.05%
1961 3.03% 3.01%

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/nicaragua/panama | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Panama's population grew by 1.27%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Panama
Current population
7124343
4642198
Population rank 107/197 128/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.06%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
9.25 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
7.35 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
24.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +156
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +56,818
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +1.27%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 83/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -8,371 +6,151
Net migration rank 129/196 49/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 477,749
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 81/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 10.6%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 63/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Panama
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Panama
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - 6,151
2024 - -8,189 - 6,706
2023 100,921 -7,996 50,197 7,262
2022 100,987 -7,996 50,556 7,967
2021 89,213 -10,383 46,747 5,473
2020 90,515 -10,383 46,599 5,473
2019 102,817 -19,730 54,420 10,623
2018 104,814 -20,742 57,508 11,130
2017 105,468 -21,849 58,607 11,059
2016 106,585 -23,076 59,454 10,109
2015 107,344 -24,353 59,896 8,648
2014 108,420 -25,570 60,227 7,105
2013 109,032 -26,587 60,295 5,926
2012 110,065 -27,389 60,471 5,447
2011 110,026 -28,221 60,411 5,167
2010 110,475 -29,081 59,418 4,953
2009 110,213 -29,913 59,168 4,765
2008 110,395 -30,675 58,961 4,568
2007 110,341 -31,357 58,454 4,330
2006 110,073 -32,274 58,067 4,087
2005 108,984 -33,280 58,014 3,843
2004 106,904 -44,222 58,281 3,596
2003 106,142 -44,931 57,458 3,352
2002 105,805 -44,906 57,011 3,099
2001 107,109 -43,837 56,654 2,856
2000 109,192 -42,087 56,236 2,602
1999 110,217 -40,095 55,911 2,341
1998 108,862 -38,260 55,482 2,084
1997 114,415 -36,851 55,060 1,820
1996 116,849 -35,208 54,512 1,533
1995 118,325 -25,889 54,069 1,221
1994 119,565 -24,773 53,845 899
1993 120,469 -24,091 53,591 560
1992 121,204 -24,171 53,186 182
1991 121,787 -24,028 53,079 -305
1990 120,677 -24,280 53,451 -854
1989 120,128 -24,364 52,295 -1,368
1988 117,299 -24,753 52,767 -1,750
1987 112,885 -25,127 52,690 -1,953
1986 113,054 -24,805 52,681 -2,136
1985 110,949 -23,840 52,573 -2,297
1984 110,133 -22,493 52,436 -2,435
1983 110,618 -20,620 51,880 -2,518
1982 112,468 -19,395 50,858 -2,554
1981 110,421 -17,353 50,018 -2,620
1980 108,604 -15,130 49,077 -2,701
1979 96,429 -14,152 48,362 -2,772
1978 98,419 -12,273 47,694 -2,811
1977 100,498 -11,082 47,438 -2,792
1976 98,100 -10,155 47,307 -2,727
1975 95,230 -9,349 47,149 -2,635
1974 92,505 -8,639 46,932 -2,531
1973 89,662 -7,947 46,540 -2,464
1972 76,906 -7,219 46,311 -2,448
1971 84,139 -6,328 45,867 -2,454
1970 81,127 -5,423 45,075 -2,476
1969 78,237 -4,592 44,278 -2,510
1968 75,458 -3,979 43,641 -2,528
1967 72,722 -3,666 43,054 -2,528
1966 69,883 -3,443 42,457 -2,500
1965 67,056 -3,231 41,604 -2,454
1964 64,227 -3,043 40,806 -2,418
1963 61,738 -2,881 39,872 -2,380
1962 59,547 -2,727 38,537 -2,377
1961 57,499 -2,579 37,100 -2,394
1960 55,664 -2,418 35,431 -2,409

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

GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua/panama | 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). In Panama 86.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 544,211 people) and 13.5% is from migration (a gain of 84,849 people).

As of 2024, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 477,749 people or 10.6% in Panama.

Biggest cities by population

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
Panama
City Population
Panama 410K
Colon 242K
Santiago de Veraguas 110K
Tocumen 103K
David 82.9K
La Chorrera 68.9K
Pacora 52.5K
Penonome 21.7K
Balboa 10K
Chitre 9.02K

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/nicaragua/panama | 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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