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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.1 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Nicaragua vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Rwanda
2100 8,688,116 33,092,520
2099 8,724,538 32,987,847
2098 8,760,232 32,907,335
2097 8,794,755 32,832,706
2096 8,828,433 32,747,490
2095 8,861,157 32,615,044
2094 8,892,755 32,529,590
2093 8,924,287 32,396,544
2092 8,954,488 32,274,083
2091 8,984,026 32,171,077
2090 9,012,075 32,068,626
2089 9,039,709 31,872,593
2088 9,065,862 31,726,882
2087 9,090,942 31,533,364
2086 9,115,336 31,379,315
2085 9,138,363 31,235,000
2084 9,160,205 31,092,940
2083 9,180,483 30,917,707
2082 9,199,639 30,733,578
2081 9,217,574 30,557,819
2080 9,233,677 30,367,298
2079 9,247,995 30,176,627
2078 9,260,269 29,997,866
2077 9,271,296 29,800,561
2076 9,280,355 29,627,021
2075 9,287,263 29,423,503
2074 9,293,340 29,225,643
2073 9,297,217 29,007,777
2072 9,298,930 28,780,763
2071 9,298,548 28,560,382
2070 9,296,541 28,316,533
2069 9,292,245 28,103,541
2068 9,285,519 27,854,906
2067 9,277,073 27,591,747
2066 9,266,063 27,355,659
2065 9,253,359 27,084,704
2064 9,238,451 26,821,315
2063 9,221,261 26,543,184
2062 9,201,687 26,296,132
2061 9,180,231 25,985,356
2060 9,156,164 25,712,904
2059 9,129,485 25,437,446
2058 9,100,437 25,106,242
2057 9,069,770 24,837,928
2056 9,037,076 24,566,784
2055 9,002,004 24,266,669
2054 8,964,646 23,976,914
2053 8,925,248 23,690,426
2052 8,883,323 23,406,346
2051 8,838,651 23,099,207
2050 8,791,647 22,800,250
2049 8,743,003 22,484,698
2048 8,691,701 22,157,938
2047 8,638,293 21,834,786
2046 8,583,244 21,540,566
2045 8,525,953 21,215,262
2044 8,466,669 20,902,695
2043 8,405,733 20,535,605
2042 8,342,871 20,201,608
2041 8,278,159 19,832,577
2040 8,211,510 19,463,015
2039 8,143,346 19,096,860
2038 8,072,943 18,761,626
2037 8,000,701 18,421,864
2036 7,926,969 18,116,691
2035 7,851,540 17,753,910
2034 7,774,327 17,421,234
2033 7,695,506 17,089,349
2032 7,615,273 16,811,505
2031 7,533,169 16,485,559
2030 7,449,842 16,167,916
2029 7,364,850 15,858,862
2028 7,278,061 15,544,959
2027 7,189,755 15,207,733
2026 7,100,090 14,888,776
2025 7,008,896 14,560,205
2024 6,916,140 14,256,567
2023 6,823,613 13,954,471
2022 6,730,654 13,651,030
2021 6,644,741 13,355,260
2020 6,565,267 13,065,837
2019 6,483,657 12,776,103
2018 6,400,080 12,487,996
2017 6,316,231 12,202,060
2016 6,232,666 11,919,183
2015 6,149,417 11,640,022
2014 6,066,492 11,364,757
2013 5,983,845 11,093,340
2012 5,901,287 10,829,901
2011 5,819,051 10,573,733
2010 5,737,450 10,317,553
2009 5,656,601 10,060,432
2008 5,576,593 9,804,269
2007 5,497,243 9,549,933
2006 5,418,855 9,299,246
2005 5,342,105 9,054,528
2004 5,272,912 8,816,844
2003 5,210,963 8,586,875
2002 5,149,909 8,400,180
2001 5,087,825 8,287,094
2000 5,022,633 8,213,931
1999 4,954,018 8,147,912
1998 4,883,655 8,081,681
1997 4,809,573 7,755,238
1996 4,729,974 6,708,764
1995 4,642,931 5,674,118
1994 4,549,316 6,792,352
1993 4,453,732 7,981,132
1992 4,357,026 7,683,266
1991 4,259,637 7,526,966
1990 4,162,559 7,375,307
1989 4,066,476 7,184,706
1988 3,972,320 6,968,071
1987 3,882,164 6,749,493
1986 3,794,157 6,531,881
1985 3,706,479 6,317,228
1984 3,619,104 6,107,627
1983 3,530,282 5,905,311
1982 3,438,745 5,711,549
1981 3,345,674 5,527,230
1980 3,252,403 5,353,259
1979 3,164,525 5,189,541
1978 3,080,314 5,035,171
1977 2,992,534 4,888,240
1976 2,903,851 4,745,954
1975 2,816,943 4,607,728
1974 2,732,075 4,474,228
1973 2,649,278 4,345,047
1972 2,573,578 4,220,335
1971 2,499,825 4,100,044
1970 2,423,065 3,980,669
1969 2,348,398 3,861,271
1968 2,275,836 3,744,010
1967 2,205,567 3,629,577
1966 2,137,820 3,521,626
1965 2,072,681 3,423,210
1964 2,010,176 3,334,834
1963 1,950,159 3,258,890
1962 1,892,320 3,186,025
1961 1,836,451 3,106,779
1960 1,782,370 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Rwanda
2100 -0.42% 0.32%
2099 -0.41% 0.24%
2098 -0.39% 0.23%
2097 -0.38% 0.26%
2096 -0.37% 0.41%
2095 -0.36% 0.26%
2094 -0.35% 0.41%
2093 -0.34% 0.38%
2092 -0.33% 0.32%
2091 -0.31% 0.32%
2090 -0.31% 0.62%
2089 -0.29% 0.46%
2088 -0.28% 0.61%
2087 -0.27% 0.49%
2086 -0.25% 0.46%
2085 -0.24% 0.46%
2084 -0.22% 0.57%
2083 -0.21% 0.6%
2082 -0.19% 0.58%
2081 -0.17% 0.63%
2080 -0.15% 0.63%
2079 -0.13% 0.6%
2078 -0.12% 0.66%
2077 -0.1% 0.59%
2076 -0.07% 0.69%
2075 -0.07% 0.68%
2074 -0.04% 0.75%
2073 -0.02% 0.79%
2072 0.004% 0.77%
2071 0.02% 0.86%
2070 0.05% 0.76%
2069 0.07% 0.89%
2068 0.09% 0.95%
2067 0.12% 0.86%
2066 0.14% 1%
2065 0.16% 0.98%
2064 0.19% 1.05%
2063 0.21% 0.94%
2062 0.23% 1.2%
2061 0.26% 1.06%
2060 0.29% 1.08%
2059 0.32% 1.32%
2058 0.34% 1.08%
2057 0.36% 1.1%
2056 0.39% 1.24%
2055 0.42% 1.21%
2054 0.44% 1.21%
2053 0.47% 1.21%
2052 0.51% 1.33%
2051 0.53% 1.31%
2050 0.56% 1.4%
2049 0.59% 1.47%
2048 0.62% 1.48%
2047 0.64% 1.37%
2046 0.67% 1.53%
2045 0.7% 1.5%
2044 0.72% 1.79%
2043 0.75% 1.65%
2042 0.78% 1.86%
2041 0.81% 1.9%
2040 0.84% 1.92%
2039 0.87% 1.79%
2038 0.9% 1.84%
2037 0.93% 1.68%
2036 0.96% 2.04%
2035 0.99% 1.91%
2034 1.02% 1.94%
2033 1.05% 1.65%
2032 1.09% 1.98%
2031 1.12% 1.96%
2030 1.15% 1.95%
2029 1.19% 2.02%
2028 1.23% 2.22%
2027 1.26% 2.14%
2026 1.3% 2.26%
2025 1.34% 2.13%
2024 1.36% 2.16%
2023 1.38% 2.22%
2022 1.29% 2.21%
2021 1.21% 2.22%
2020 1.26% 2.27%
2019 1.31% 2.31%
2018 1.33% 2.34%
2017 1.34% 2.37%
2016 1.35% 2.4%
2015 1.37% 2.42%
2014 1.38% 2.45%
2013 1.4% 2.43%
2012 1.41% 2.42%
2011 1.42% 2.48%
2010 1.43% 2.56%
2009 1.43% 2.61%
2008 1.44% 2.66%
2007 1.45% 2.7%
2006 1.44% 2.7%
2005 1.31% 2.7%
2004 1.19% 2.68%
2003 1.19% 2.22%
2002 1.22% 1.36%
2001 1.3% 0.89%
2000 1.39% 0.81%
1999 1.44% 0.82%
1998 1.54% 4.21%
1997 1.68% 15.6%
1996 1.87% 18.2%
1995 2.06% -16.5%
1994 2.15% -14.9%
1993 2.22% 3.88%
1992 2.29% 2.08%
1991 2.33% 2.06%
1990 2.36% 2.65%
1989 2.37% 3.11%
1988 2.32% 3.24%
1987 2.32% 3.33%
1986 2.37% 3.4%
1985 2.41% 3.43%
1984 2.52% 3.43%
1983 2.66% 3.39%
1982 2.78% 3.33%
1981 2.87% 3.25%
1980 2.78% 3.15%
1979 2.73% 3.07%
1978 2.93% 3.01%
1977 3.05% 3%
1976 3.09% 3%
1975 3.11% 2.98%
1974 3.13% 2.97%
1973 2.94% 2.96%
1972 2.95% 2.93%
1971 3.17% 3%
1970 3.18% 3.09%
1969 3.19% 3.13%
1968 3.19% 3.15%
1967 3.17% 3.07%
1966 3.14% 2.87%
1965 3.11% 2.65%
1964 3.08% 2.33%
1963 3.06% 2.29%
1962 3.04% 2.55%
1961 3.03% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Rwanda
Current population
7124343
14975051
Population rank 107/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.18%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +828
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -8,371 +6,282
Net migration rank 129/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - 6,282
2024 - -8,189 - -15,582
2023 100,921 -7,996 312,762 -9,001
2022 100,987 -7,996 312,145 -9,001
2021 89,213 -10,383 309,895 -21,492
2020 90,515 -10,383 312,692 -22,251
2019 102,817 -19,730 313,525 -24,492
2018 104,814 -20,742 312,512 -25,323
2017 105,468 -21,849 310,323 -25,634
2016 106,585 -23,076 305,549 -24,474
2015 107,344 -24,353 299,114 -21,862
2014 108,420 -25,570 292,779 -19,505
2013 109,032 -26,587 286,331 -16,779
2012 110,065 -27,389 282,584 -25,260
2011 110,026 -28,221 282,922 -27,915
2010 110,475 -29,081 286,848 -29,501
2009 110,213 -29,913 287,034 -30,128
2008 110,395 -30,675 287,334 -31,913
2007 110,341 -31,357 285,791 -32,537
2006 110,073 -32,274 282,149 -34,008
2005 108,984 -33,280 275,121 -33,830
2004 106,904 -44,222 265,273 -31,214
2003 106,142 -44,931 251,243 -25,355
2002 105,805 -44,906 239,036 -91,518
2001 107,109 -43,837 230,845 -152,197
2000 109,192 -42,087 221,276 -153,588
1999 110,217 -40,095 210,518 -146,162
1998 108,862 -38,260 197,185 -129,089
1997 114,415 -36,851 174,687 410,106
1996 116,849 -35,208 140,455 1,367,700
1995 118,325 -25,889 121,137 439,995
1994 119,565 -24,773 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 120,469 -24,091 183,926 236,110
1992 121,204 -24,171 188,025 -12,334
1991 121,787 -24,028 196,431 -59,519
1990 120,677 -24,280 207,895 -41,483
1989 120,128 -24,364 217,632 -2,826
1988 117,299 -24,753 223,759 -5,285
1987 112,885 -25,127 225,744 -7,062
1986 113,054 -24,805 225,526 -8,982
1985 110,949 -23,840 223,794 -11,031
1984 110,133 -22,493 219,337 -12,899
1983 110,618 -20,620 212,750 -14,560
1982 112,468 -19,395 205,147 -15,818
1981 110,421 -17,353 195,769 -16,453
1980 108,604 -15,130 184,988 -16,359
1979 96,429 -14,152 174,477 -15,669
1978 98,419 -12,273 163,779 -13,838
1977 100,498 -11,082 155,011 -11,084
1976 98,100 -10,155 147,665 -7,027
1975 95,230 -9,349 140,596 -4,791
1974 92,505 -8,639 135,743 -4,535
1973 89,662 -7,947 131,021 -3,862
1972 76,906 -7,219 126,403 -4,156
1971 84,139 -6,328 122,567 -4,230
1970 81,127 -5,423 119,273 1,149
1969 78,237 -4,592 115,394 2,983
1968 75,458 -3,979 111,422 4,728
1967 72,722 -3,666 108,053 4,655
1966 69,883 -3,443 105,128 -1,930
1965 67,056 -3,231 103,422 -9,774
1964 64,227 -3,043 102,562 -19,458
1963 61,738 -2,881 94,296 -25,524
1962 59,547 -2,727 102,548 -25,594
1961 57,499 -2,579 102,051 -20,508
1960 55,664 -2,418 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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