Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 6.85 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Nicaragua vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Spain
2100 8,688,116 33,862,981
2099 8,724,538 34,039,965
2098 8,760,232 34,215,187
2097 8,794,755 34,387,116
2096 8,828,433 34,552,002
2095 8,861,157 34,719,411
2094 8,892,755 34,882,039
2093 8,924,287 35,044,043
2092 8,954,488 35,204,657
2091 8,984,026 35,366,895
2090 9,012,075 35,535,838
2089 9,039,709 35,707,942
2088 9,065,862 35,877,681
2087 9,090,942 36,043,209
2086 9,115,336 36,210,710
2085 9,138,363 36,386,207
2084 9,160,205 36,564,622
2083 9,180,483 36,749,680
2082 9,199,639 36,936,644
2081 9,217,574 37,133,976
2080 9,233,677 37,337,517
2079 9,247,995 37,551,557
2078 9,260,269 37,771,135
2077 9,271,296 38,002,963
2076 9,280,355 38,249,247
2075 9,287,263 38,506,040
2074 9,293,340 38,777,715
2073 9,297,217 39,056,249
2072 9,298,930 39,348,447
2071 9,298,548 39,642,346
2070 9,296,541 39,949,413
2069 9,292,245 40,256,590
2068 9,285,519 40,575,543
2067 9,277,073 40,893,798
2066 9,266,063 41,218,263
2065 9,253,359 41,543,254
2064 9,238,451 41,878,338
2063 9,221,261 42,208,320
2062 9,201,687 42,542,893
2061 9,180,231 42,874,096
2060 9,156,164 43,191,452
2059 9,129,485 43,506,737
2058 9,100,437 43,809,907
2057 9,069,770 44,112,668
2056 9,037,076 44,415,689
2055 9,002,004 44,691,749
2054 8,964,646 44,958,971
2053 8,925,248 45,223,225
2052 8,883,323 45,470,541
2051 8,838,651 45,695,307
2050 8,791,647 45,911,520
2049 8,743,003 46,127,777
2048 8,691,701 46,322,244
2047 8,638,293 46,510,152
2046 8,583,244 46,687,914
2045 8,525,953 46,858,778
2044 8,466,669 47,016,278
2043 8,405,733 47,158,325
2042 8,342,871 47,301,091
2041 8,278,159 47,434,593
2040 8,211,510 47,563,236
2039 8,143,346 47,685,343
2038 8,072,943 47,798,797
2037 8,000,701 47,910,899
2036 7,926,969 48,020,350
2035 7,851,540 48,124,430
2034 7,774,327 48,220,051
2033 7,695,506 48,311,842
2032 7,615,273 48,402,470
2031 7,533,169 48,495,278
2030 7,449,842 48,579,920
2029 7,364,850 48,648,699
2028 7,278,061 48,707,969
2027 7,189,755 48,758,200
2026 7,100,090 48,806,901
2025 7,008,896 48,838,057
2024 6,916,140 48,848,840
2023 6,823,613 48,352,528
2022 6,730,654 47,786,102
2021 6,644,741 47,443,821
2020 6,565,267 47,359,424
2019 6,483,657 47,118,501
2018 6,400,080 46,782,011
2017 6,316,231 46,571,232
2016 6,232,666 46,458,139
2015 6,149,417 46,422,303
2014 6,066,492 46,460,733
2013 5,983,845 46,604,197
2012 5,901,287 46,773,055
2011 5,819,051 46,742,697
2010 5,737,450 46,576,897
2009 5,656,601 46,362,946
2008 5,576,593 45,954,106
2007 5,497,243 45,226,803
2006 5,418,855 44,397,319
2005 5,342,105 43,653,155
2004 5,272,912 42,921,895
2003 5,210,963 42,187,645
2002 5,149,909 41,431,558
2001 5,087,825 40,850,412
2000 5,022,633 40,567,864
1999 4,954,018 40,386,875
1998 4,883,655 40,223,509
1997 4,809,573 40,057,389
1996 4,729,974 39,889,852
1995 4,642,931 39,724,050
1994 4,549,316 39,549,108
1993 4,453,732 39,361,262
1992 4,357,026 39,157,685
1991 4,259,637 38,966,376
1990 4,162,559 38,867,322
1989 4,066,476 38,827,764
1988 3,972,320 38,766,939
1987 3,882,164 38,684,815
1986 3,794,157 38,584,624
1985 3,706,479 38,469,512
1984 3,619,104 38,330,364
1983 3,530,282 38,171,525
1982 3,438,745 37,986,012
1981 3,345,674 37,758,631
1980 3,252,403 37,491,165
1979 3,164,525 37,191,330
1978 3,080,314 36,864,898
1977 2,992,534 36,511,638
1976 2,903,851 36,137,812
1975 2,816,943 35,757,900
1974 2,732,075 35,373,335
1973 2,649,278 34,988,947
1972 2,573,578 34,604,469
1971 2,499,825 34,224,490
1970 2,423,065 33,814,531
1969 2,348,398 33,441,054
1968 2,275,836 33,113,134
1967 2,205,567 32,682,947
1966 2,137,820 32,283,194
1965 2,072,681 31,954,292
1964 2,010,176 31,609,195
1963 1,950,159 31,296,651
1962 1,892,320 31,023,366
1961 1,836,451 30,739,250
1960 1,782,370 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Spain
2100 -0.42% -0.52%
2099 -0.41% -0.51%
2098 -0.39% -0.5%
2097 -0.38% -0.48%
2096 -0.37% -0.48%
2095 -0.36% -0.47%
2094 -0.35% -0.46%
2093 -0.34% -0.46%
2092 -0.33% -0.46%
2091 -0.31% -0.48%
2090 -0.31% -0.48%
2089 -0.29% -0.47%
2088 -0.28% -0.46%
2087 -0.27% -0.46%
2086 -0.25% -0.48%
2085 -0.24% -0.49%
2084 -0.22% -0.5%
2083 -0.21% -0.51%
2082 -0.19% -0.53%
2081 -0.17% -0.55%
2080 -0.15% -0.57%
2079 -0.13% -0.58%
2078 -0.12% -0.61%
2077 -0.1% -0.64%
2076 -0.07% -0.67%
2075 -0.07% -0.7%
2074 -0.04% -0.71%
2073 -0.02% -0.74%
2072 0.004% -0.74%
2071 0.02% -0.77%
2070 0.05% -0.76%
2069 0.07% -0.79%
2068 0.09% -0.78%
2067 0.12% -0.79%
2066 0.14% -0.78%
2065 0.16% -0.8%
2064 0.19% -0.78%
2063 0.21% -0.79%
2062 0.23% -0.77%
2061 0.26% -0.73%
2060 0.29% -0.72%
2059 0.32% -0.69%
2058 0.34% -0.69%
2057 0.36% -0.68%
2056 0.39% -0.62%
2055 0.42% -0.59%
2054 0.44% -0.58%
2053 0.47% -0.54%
2052 0.51% -0.49%
2051 0.53% -0.47%
2050 0.56% -0.47%
2049 0.59% -0.42%
2048 0.62% -0.4%
2047 0.64% -0.38%
2046 0.67% -0.36%
2045 0.7% -0.33%
2044 0.72% -0.3%
2043 0.75% -0.3%
2042 0.78% -0.28%
2041 0.81% -0.27%
2040 0.84% -0.26%
2039 0.87% -0.24%
2038 0.9% -0.23%
2037 0.93% -0.23%
2036 0.96% -0.22%
2035 0.99% -0.2%
2034 1.02% -0.19%
2033 1.05% -0.19%
2032 1.09% -0.19%
2031 1.12% -0.17%
2030 1.15% -0.14%
2029 1.19% -0.12%
2028 1.23% -0.1%
2027 1.26% -0.1%
2026 1.3% -0.06%
2025 1.34% -0.02%
2024 1.36% 1.03%
2023 1.38% 1.19%
2022 1.29% 0.72%
2021 1.21% 0.18%
2020 1.26% 0.51%
2019 1.31% 0.72%
2018 1.33% 0.45%
2017 1.34% 0.24%
2016 1.35% 0.08%
2015 1.37% -0.08%
2014 1.38% -0.31%
2013 1.4% -0.36%
2012 1.41% 0.06%
2011 1.42% 0.36%
2010 1.43% 0.46%
2009 1.43% 0.89%
2008 1.44% 1.61%
2007 1.45% 1.87%
2006 1.44% 1.7%
2005 1.31% 1.7%
2004 1.19% 1.74%
2003 1.19% 1.82%
2002 1.22% 1.42%
2001 1.3% 0.7%
2000 1.39% 0.45%
1999 1.44% 0.41%
1998 1.54% 0.41%
1997 1.68% 0.42%
1996 1.87% 0.42%
1995 2.06% 0.44%
1994 2.15% 0.48%
1993 2.22% 0.52%
1992 2.29% 0.49%
1991 2.33% 0.25%
1990 2.36% 0.1%
1989 2.37% 0.16%
1988 2.32% 0.21%
1987 2.32% 0.26%
1986 2.37% 0.3%
1985 2.41% 0.36%
1984 2.52% 0.42%
1983 2.66% 0.49%
1982 2.78% 0.6%
1981 2.87% 0.71%
1980 2.78% 0.81%
1979 2.73% 0.89%
1978 2.93% 0.97%
1977 3.05% 1.03%
1976 3.09% 1.06%
1975 3.11% 1.09%
1974 3.13% 1.1%
1973 2.94% 1.11%
1972 2.95% 1.11%
1971 3.17% 1.21%
1970 3.18% 1.12%
1969 3.19% 0.99%
1968 3.19% 1.32%
1967 3.17% 1.24%
1966 3.14% 1.03%
1965 3.11% 1.09%
1964 3.08% 1%
1963 3.06% 0.88%
1962 3.04% 0.92%
1961 3.03% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Spain
Current population
7124343
48806901
Population rank 107/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.59%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 100/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -8,371 +96,630
Net migration rank 129/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - 96,630
2024 - -8,189 - 111,674
2023 100,921 -7,996 -111,211 119,099
2022 100,987 -7,996 -133,801 299,779
2021 89,213 -10,383 -113,865 144,385
2020 90,515 -10,383 -151,551 236,854
2019 102,817 -19,730 -56,542 464,783
2018 104,814 -20,742 -56,139 337,467
2017 105,468 -21,849 -32,600 201,135
2016 106,585 -23,076 0 106,474
2015 107,344 -24,353 -4,642 -1,979
2014 108,420 -25,570 32,522 -97,870
2013 109,032 -26,587 37,284 -250,741
2012 110,065 -27,389 51,450 -153,486
2011 110,026 -28,221 84,137 60,761
2010 110,475 -29,081 102,469 69,406
2009 110,213 -29,913 106,635 129,557
2008 110,395 -30,675 133,267 434,135
2007 110,341 -31,357 108,545 772,317
2006 110,073 -32,274 110,994 659,720
2005 108,984 -33,280 78,576 629,803
2004 106,904 -44,222 85,844 661,158
2003 106,142 -44,931 54,844 658,428
2002 105,805 -44,906 53,861 737,880
2001 107,109 -43,837 44,936 181,307
2000 109,192 -42,087 36,512 176,269
1999 110,217 -40,095 8,077 178,559
1998 108,862 -38,260 4,022 182,926
1997 114,415 -36,851 20,028 165,345
1996 116,849 -35,208 11,967 162,704
1995 118,325 -25,889 15,889 162,434
1994 119,565 -24,773 31,639 160,407
1993 120,469 -24,091 47,234 160,907
1992 121,204 -24,171 62,652 177,544
1991 121,787 -24,028 58,450 122,841
1990 120,677 -24,280 66,075 -30,684
1989 120,128 -24,364 81,538 -25,892
1988 117,299 -24,753 100,794 -17,663
1987 112,885 -25,127 116,054 -12,681
1986 113,054 -24,805 131,188 -13,540
1985 110,949 -23,840 146,184 -589
1984 110,133 -22,493 172,487 2,754
1983 110,618 -20,620 183,223 1,241
1982 112,468 -19,395 231,714 -7,384
1981 110,421 -17,353 237,879 2,563
1980 108,604 -15,130 281,184 20,166
1979 96,429 -14,152 312,407 -5,929
1978 98,419 -12,273 339,157 -2,504
1977 100,498 -11,082 361,465 -1,332
1976 98,100 -10,155 375,834 2,804
1975 95,230 -9,349 371,882 -218
1974 92,505 -8,639 396,182 105,838
1973 89,662 -7,947 374,381 8,624
1972 76,906 -7,219 391,030 7,935
1971 84,139 -6,328 369,625 7,363
1970 81,127 -5,423 378,723 -60,580
1969 78,237 -4,592 367,851 -49,956
1968 75,458 -3,979 387,423 -46,088
1967 72,722 -3,666 402,001 -42,344
1966 69,883 -3,443 397,084 -41,467
1965 67,056 -3,231 405,819 -42,476
1964 64,227 -3,043 429,885 -41,461
1963 61,738 -2,881 394,338 -44,446
1962 59,547 -2,727 384,690 -45,211
1961 57,499 -2,579 396,537 -46,517
1960 55,664 -2,418 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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.