Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 1.5 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Nicaragua vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Portugal
2100 8,688,116 8,977,781
2099 8,724,538 8,983,042
2098 8,760,232 8,987,129
2097 8,794,755 8,992,549
2096 8,828,433 8,998,689
2095 8,861,157 9,006,394
2094 8,892,755 9,011,158
2093 8,924,287 9,016,023
2092 8,954,488 9,021,257
2091 8,984,026 9,025,345
2090 9,012,075 9,029,722
2089 9,039,709 9,034,399
2088 9,065,862 9,039,122
2087 9,090,942 9,045,400
2086 9,115,336 9,050,153
2085 9,138,363 9,055,552
2084 9,160,205 9,062,369
2083 9,180,483 9,068,714
2082 9,199,639 9,077,003
2081 9,217,574 9,087,394
2080 9,233,677 9,098,423
2079 9,247,995 9,111,057
2078 9,260,269 9,125,056
2077 9,271,296 9,140,039
2076 9,280,355 9,158,661
2075 9,287,263 9,178,289
2074 9,293,340 9,201,245
2073 9,297,217 9,225,478
2072 9,298,930 9,248,867
2071 9,298,548 9,275,782
2070 9,296,541 9,304,137
2069 9,292,245 9,334,425
2068 9,285,519 9,367,211
2067 9,277,073 9,399,389
2066 9,266,063 9,432,609
2065 9,253,359 9,466,860
2064 9,238,451 9,503,941
2063 9,221,261 9,540,829
2062 9,201,687 9,578,098
2061 9,180,231 9,614,549
2060 9,156,164 9,652,893
2059 9,129,485 9,691,151
2058 9,100,437 9,731,557
2057 9,069,770 9,769,285
2056 9,037,076 9,807,403
2055 9,002,004 9,847,280
2054 8,964,646 9,885,446
2053 8,925,248 9,924,814
2052 8,883,323 9,963,090
2051 8,838,651 9,999,372
2050 8,791,647 10,035,796
2049 8,743,003 10,072,922
2048 8,691,701 10,106,403
2047 8,638,293 10,140,325
2046 8,583,244 10,173,871
2045 8,525,953 10,206,046
2044 8,466,669 10,237,224
2043 8,405,733 10,268,090
2042 8,342,871 10,296,167
2041 8,278,159 10,322,968
2040 8,211,510 10,351,965
2039 8,143,346 10,379,824
2038 8,072,943 10,405,843
2037 8,000,701 10,430,143
2036 7,926,969 10,454,779
2035 7,851,540 10,478,501
2034 7,774,327 10,502,828
2033 7,695,506 10,525,638
2032 7,615,273 10,548,736
2031 7,533,169 10,569,489
2030 7,449,842 10,588,717
2029 7,364,850 10,609,556
2028 7,278,061 10,631,437
2027 7,189,755 10,649,916
2026 7,100,090 10,667,081
2025 7,008,896 10,683,692
2024 6,916,140 10,694,681
2023 6,823,613 10,578,174
2022 6,730,654 10,434,332
2021 6,644,741 10,361,831
2020 6,565,267 10,297,081
2019 6,483,657 10,286,263
2018 6,400,080 10,283,822
2017 6,316,231 10,300,300
2016 6,232,666 10,325,452
2015 6,149,417 10,358,076
2014 6,066,492 10,401,062
2013 5,983,845 10,457,295
2012 5,901,287 10,514,844
2011 5,819,051 10,557,560
2010 5,737,450 10,573,100
2009 5,656,601 10,568,247
2008 5,576,593 10,558,177
2007 5,497,243 10,542,964
2006 5,418,855 10,522,288
2005 5,342,105 10,503,330
2004 5,272,912 10,483,861
2003 5,210,963 10,458,821
2002 5,149,909 10,419,631
2001 5,087,825 10,362,722
2000 5,022,633 10,289,898
1999 4,954,018 10,217,828
1998 4,883,655 10,160,196
1997 4,809,573 10,108,977
1996 4,729,974 10,063,945
1995 4,642,931 10,026,176
1994 4,549,316 9,991,525
1993 4,453,732 9,964,675
1992 4,357,026 9,952,494
1991 4,259,637 9,960,235
1990 4,162,559 9,983,218
1989 4,066,476 10,005,000
1988 3,972,320 10,019,610
1987 3,882,164 10,030,031
1986 3,794,157 10,032,734
1985 3,706,479 10,023,613
1984 3,619,104 9,996,232
1983 3,530,282 9,957,865
1982 3,438,745 9,911,771
1981 3,345,674 9,851,362
1980 3,252,403 9,766,312
1979 3,164,525 9,661,265
1978 3,080,314 9,558,250
1977 2,992,534 9,455,675
1976 2,903,851 9,355,810
1975 2,816,943 9,093,470
1974 2,732,075 8,754,365
1973 2,649,278 8,633,100
1972 2,573,578 8,630,430
1971 2,499,825 8,643,756
1970 2,423,065 8,680,431
1969 2,348,398 8,757,705
1968 2,275,836 8,836,650
1967 2,205,567 8,874,520
1966 2,137,820 8,930,990
1965 2,072,681 8,998,595
1964 2,010,176 9,035,365
1963 1,950,159 9,030,355
1962 1,892,320 8,993,985
1961 1,836,451 8,929,316
1960 1,782,370 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Portugal
2100 -0.42% -0.06%
2099 -0.41% -0.05%
2098 -0.39% -0.06%
2097 -0.38% -0.07%
2096 -0.37% -0.09%
2095 -0.36% -0.05%
2094 -0.35% -0.05%
2093 -0.34% -0.06%
2092 -0.33% -0.05%
2091 -0.31% -0.05%
2090 -0.31% -0.05%
2089 -0.29% -0.05%
2088 -0.28% -0.07%
2087 -0.27% -0.05%
2086 -0.25% -0.06%
2085 -0.24% -0.08%
2084 -0.22% -0.07%
2083 -0.21% -0.09%
2082 -0.19% -0.11%
2081 -0.17% -0.12%
2080 -0.15% -0.14%
2079 -0.13% -0.15%
2078 -0.12% -0.16%
2077 -0.1% -0.2%
2076 -0.07% -0.21%
2075 -0.07% -0.25%
2074 -0.04% -0.26%
2073 -0.02% -0.25%
2072 0.004% -0.29%
2071 0.02% -0.3%
2070 0.05% -0.32%
2069 0.07% -0.35%
2068 0.09% -0.34%
2067 0.12% -0.35%
2066 0.14% -0.36%
2065 0.16% -0.39%
2064 0.19% -0.39%
2063 0.21% -0.39%
2062 0.23% -0.38%
2061 0.26% -0.4%
2060 0.29% -0.39%
2059 0.32% -0.42%
2058 0.34% -0.39%
2057 0.36% -0.39%
2056 0.39% -0.4%
2055 0.42% -0.39%
2054 0.44% -0.4%
2053 0.47% -0.38%
2052 0.51% -0.36%
2051 0.53% -0.36%
2050 0.56% -0.37%
2049 0.59% -0.33%
2048 0.62% -0.33%
2047 0.64% -0.33%
2046 0.67% -0.32%
2045 0.7% -0.3%
2044 0.72% -0.3%
2043 0.75% -0.27%
2042 0.78% -0.26%
2041 0.81% -0.28%
2040 0.84% -0.27%
2039 0.87% -0.25%
2038 0.9% -0.23%
2037 0.93% -0.24%
2036 0.96% -0.23%
2035 0.99% -0.23%
2034 1.02% -0.22%
2033 1.05% -0.22%
2032 1.09% -0.2%
2031 1.12% -0.18%
2030 1.15% -0.2%
2029 1.19% -0.21%
2028 1.23% -0.17%
2027 1.26% -0.16%
2026 1.3% -0.16%
2025 1.34% -0.1%
2024 1.36% 1.1%
2023 1.38% 1.38%
2022 1.29% 0.7%
2021 1.21% 0.63%
2020 1.26% 0.11%
2019 1.31% 0.02%
2018 1.33% -0.16%
2017 1.34% -0.24%
2016 1.35% -0.31%
2015 1.37% -0.41%
2014 1.38% -0.54%
2013 1.4% -0.55%
2012 1.41% -0.4%
2011 1.42% -0.15%
2010 1.43% 0.05%
2009 1.43% 0.1%
2008 1.44% 0.14%
2007 1.45% 0.2%
2006 1.44% 0.18%
2005 1.31% 0.19%
2004 1.19% 0.24%
2003 1.19% 0.38%
2002 1.22% 0.55%
2001 1.3% 0.71%
2000 1.39% 0.71%
1999 1.44% 0.57%
1998 1.54% 0.51%
1997 1.68% 0.45%
1996 1.87% 0.38%
1995 2.06% 0.35%
1994 2.15% 0.27%
1993 2.22% 0.12%
1992 2.29% -0.08%
1991 2.33% -0.23%
1990 2.36% -0.22%
1989 2.37% -0.15%
1988 2.32% -0.1%
1987 2.32% -0.03%
1986 2.37% 0.09%
1985 2.41% 0.27%
1984 2.52% 0.39%
1983 2.66% 0.47%
1982 2.78% 0.61%
1981 2.87% 0.87%
1980 2.78% 1.09%
1979 2.73% 1.08%
1978 2.93% 1.08%
1977 3.05% 1.07%
1976 3.09% 2.88%
1975 3.11% 3.87%
1974 3.13% 1.4%
1973 2.94% 0.03%
1972 2.95% -0.15%
1971 3.17% -0.42%
1970 3.18% -0.88%
1969 3.19% -0.89%
1968 3.19% -0.43%
1967 3.17% -0.63%
1966 3.14% -0.75%
1965 3.11% -0.41%
1964 3.08% 0.06%
1963 3.06% 0.4%
1962 3.04% 0.72%
1961 3.03% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Portugal
Current population
7124343
10667081
Population rank 107/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.13%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
4.51 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
6.13 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +319
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 94/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change -8,371 +16,472
Net migration rank 129/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - 16,472
2024 - -8,189 - 20,648
2023 100,921 -7,996 -32,792 29,102
2022 100,987 -7,996 -40,694 68,696
2021 89,213 -10,383 -45,592 69,606
2020 90,515 -10,383 -39,129 54,076
2019 102,817 -19,730 -24,687 63,031
2018 104,814 -20,742 -25,709 22,495
2017 105,468 -21,849 -23,691 13,979
2016 106,585 -23,076 -23,749 -775
2015 107,344 -24,353 -23,823 -3,209
2014 108,420 -25,570 -22,882 -26,447
2013 109,032 -26,587 -24,052 -36,342
2012 110,065 -27,389 -17,875 -37,083
2011 110,026 -28,221 -5,279 -31,513
2010 110,475 -29,081 -4,230 -5,627
2009 110,213 -29,913 -5,284 14,532
2008 110,395 -30,675 0 9,478
2007 110,341 -31,357 -1,055 21,064
2006 110,073 -32,274 3,156 16,754
2005 108,984 -33,280 2,101 15,537
2004 106,904 -44,222 7,339 13,928
2003 106,142 -44,931 4,184 24,740
2002 105,805 -44,906 8,335 42,169
2001 107,109 -43,837 8,290 55,565
2000 109,192 -42,087 15,435 60,586
1999 110,217 -40,095 8,175 49,572
1998 108,862 -38,260 7,112 40,931
1997 114,415 -36,851 8,087 36,922
1996 116,849 -35,208 4,026 32,640
1995 118,325 -25,889 4,011 26,971
1994 119,565 -24,773 9,991 20,761
1993 120,469 -24,091 7,972 8,561
1992 121,204 -24,171 13,933 -11,847
1991 121,787 -24,028 12,948 -37,914
1990 120,677 -24,280 13,976 -34,855
1989 120,128 -24,364 22,011 -30,615
1988 117,299 -24,753 24,047 -26,595
1987 112,885 -25,127 28,084 -23,142
1986 113,054 -24,805 31,102 -20,000
1985 110,949 -23,840 33,077 -19,183
1984 110,133 -22,493 45,983 -16,658
1983 110,618 -20,620 47,798 -16,568
1982 112,468 -19,395 58,479 -15,006
1981 110,421 -17,353 56,152 -7,938
1980 108,604 -15,130 63,481 29,881
1979 96,429 -14,152 67,628 32,434
1978 98,419 -12,273 70,731 34,345
1977 100,498 -11,082 84,156 37,779
1976 98,100 -10,155 85,138 40,490
1975 95,230 -9,349 81,841 42,262
1974 92,505 -8,639 74,412 41,254
1973 89,662 -7,947 76,835 39,748
1972 76,906 -7,219 83,715 39,058
1971 84,139 -6,328 82,980 48,944
1970 81,127 -5,423 87,672 -191,862
1969 78,237 -4,592 89,329 -161,114
1968 75,458 -3,979 100,737 -145,200
1967 72,722 -3,666 106,495 -136,232
1966 69,883 -3,443 107,171 -129,233
1965 67,056 -3,231 115,182 -123,855
1964 64,227 -3,043 120,170 -118,763
1963 61,738 -2,881 113,783 -116,874
1962 59,547 -2,727 123,217 -113,947
1961 57,499 -2,579 117,867 -112,768
1960 55,664 -2,418 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

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.