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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 2.44 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Nicaragua vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Zimbabwe
2100 8,688,116 37,483,053
2099 8,724,538 37,412,398
2098 8,760,232 37,328,255
2097 8,794,755 37,235,542
2096 8,828,433 37,142,915
2095 8,861,157 37,032,129
2094 8,892,755 36,912,747
2093 8,924,287 36,810,893
2092 8,954,488 36,688,511
2091 8,984,026 36,567,262
2090 9,012,075 36,425,606
2089 9,039,709 36,280,973
2088 9,065,862 36,141,446
2087 9,090,942 35,977,638
2086 9,115,336 35,808,135
2085 9,138,363 35,637,092
2084 9,160,205 35,456,207
2083 9,180,483 35,268,035
2082 9,199,639 35,078,904
2081 9,217,574 34,873,129
2080 9,233,677 34,658,962
2079 9,247,995 34,439,720
2078 9,260,269 34,217,295
2077 9,271,296 33,982,909
2076 9,280,355 33,739,228
2075 9,287,263 33,495,867
2074 9,293,340 33,244,838
2073 9,297,217 32,978,488
2072 9,298,930 32,706,059
2071 9,298,548 32,445,747
2070 9,296,541 32,181,119
2069 9,292,245 31,906,793
2068 9,285,519 31,631,000
2067 9,277,073 31,345,338
2066 9,266,063 31,062,884
2065 9,253,359 30,766,830
2064 9,238,451 30,479,939
2063 9,221,261 30,176,104
2062 9,201,687 29,867,679
2061 9,180,231 29,557,068
2060 9,156,164 29,252,423
2059 9,129,485 28,945,088
2058 9,100,437 28,631,679
2057 9,069,770 28,307,305
2056 9,037,076 27,990,713
2055 9,002,004 27,658,887
2054 8,964,646 27,331,920
2053 8,925,248 26,986,935
2052 8,883,323 26,643,553
2051 8,838,651 26,287,592
2050 8,791,647 25,934,893
2049 8,743,003 25,585,239
2048 8,691,701 25,228,082
2047 8,638,293 24,874,649
2046 8,583,244 24,513,443
2045 8,525,953 24,147,637
2044 8,466,669 23,783,088
2043 8,405,733 23,401,965
2042 8,342,871 23,035,288
2041 8,278,159 22,647,950
2040 8,211,510 22,273,520
2039 8,143,346 21,902,980
2038 8,072,943 21,530,130
2037 8,000,701 21,159,664
2036 7,926,969 20,791,034
2035 7,851,540 20,413,656
2034 7,774,327 20,048,019
2033 7,695,506 19,676,339
2032 7,615,273 19,311,985
2031 7,533,169 18,959,300
2030 7,449,842 18,613,738
2029 7,364,850 18,270,049
2028 7,278,061 17,933,466
2027 7,189,755 17,600,984
2026 7,100,090 17,273,208
2025 7,008,896 16,949,303
2024 6,916,140 16,634,373
2023 6,823,613 16,340,822
2022 6,730,654 16,069,056
2021 6,644,741 15,797,210
2020 6,565,267 15,526,888
2019 6,483,657 15,271,368
2018 6,400,080 15,034,452
2017 6,316,231 14,812,482
2016 6,232,666 14,600,294
2015 6,149,417 14,399,013
2014 6,066,492 14,207,359
2013 5,983,845 14,013,808
2012 5,901,287 13,817,887
2011 5,819,051 13,595,424
2010 5,737,450 13,356,548
2009 5,656,601 13,142,790
2008 5,576,593 12,959,149
2007 5,497,243 12,804,058
2006 5,418,855 12,636,445
2005 5,342,105 12,483,432
2004 5,272,912 12,365,896
2003 5,210,963 12,232,323
2002 5,149,909 12,087,653
2001 5,087,825 11,971,901
2000 5,022,633 11,892,055
1999 4,954,018 11,783,458
1998 4,883,655 11,594,297
1997 4,809,573 11,369,827
1996 4,729,974 11,158,360
1995 4,642,931 10,974,599
1994 4,549,316 10,873,148
1993 4,453,732 10,860,288
1992 4,357,026 10,702,700
1991 4,259,637 10,404,816
1990 4,162,559 10,137,281
1989 4,066,476 9,864,798
1988 3,972,320 9,583,094
1987 3,882,164 9,284,644
1986 3,794,157 8,982,578
1985 3,706,479 8,686,813
1984 3,619,104 8,391,488
1983 3,530,282 8,098,404
1982 3,438,745 7,796,496
1981 3,345,674 7,498,635
1980 3,252,403 7,041,303
1979 3,164,525 6,647,556
1978 3,080,314 6,543,575
1977 2,992,534 6,449,512
1976 2,903,851 6,287,105
1975 2,816,943 6,098,658
1974 2,732,075 5,908,328
1973 2,649,278 5,720,404
1972 2,573,578 5,542,445
1971 2,499,825 5,374,712
1970 2,423,065 5,215,918
1969 2,348,398 5,058,181
1968 2,275,836 4,900,440
1967 2,205,567 4,748,307
1966 2,137,820 4,601,217
1965 2,072,681 4,458,462
1964 2,010,176 4,320,006
1963 1,950,159 4,185,877
1962 1,892,320 4,055,959
1961 1,836,451 3,930,401
1960 1,782,370 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Zimbabwe
2100 -0.42% 0.19%
2099 -0.41% 0.23%
2098 -0.39% 0.25%
2097 -0.38% 0.25%
2096 -0.37% 0.3%
2095 -0.36% 0.32%
2094 -0.35% 0.28%
2093 -0.34% 0.33%
2092 -0.33% 0.33%
2091 -0.31% 0.39%
2090 -0.31% 0.4%
2089 -0.29% 0.39%
2088 -0.28% 0.46%
2087 -0.27% 0.47%
2086 -0.25% 0.48%
2085 -0.24% 0.51%
2084 -0.22% 0.53%
2083 -0.21% 0.54%
2082 -0.19% 0.59%
2081 -0.17% 0.62%
2080 -0.15% 0.64%
2079 -0.13% 0.65%
2078 -0.12% 0.69%
2077 -0.1% 0.72%
2076 -0.07% 0.73%
2075 -0.07% 0.76%
2074 -0.04% 0.81%
2073 -0.02% 0.83%
2072 0.004% 0.8%
2071 0.02% 0.82%
2070 0.05% 0.86%
2069 0.07% 0.87%
2068 0.09% 0.91%
2067 0.12% 0.91%
2066 0.14% 0.96%
2065 0.16% 0.94%
2064 0.19% 1.01%
2063 0.21% 1.03%
2062 0.23% 1.05%
2061 0.26% 1.04%
2060 0.29% 1.06%
2059 0.32% 1.09%
2058 0.34% 1.15%
2057 0.36% 1.13%
2056 0.39% 1.2%
2055 0.42% 1.2%
2054 0.44% 1.28%
2053 0.47% 1.29%
2052 0.51% 1.35%
2051 0.53% 1.36%
2050 0.56% 1.37%
2049 0.59% 1.42%
2048 0.62% 1.42%
2047 0.64% 1.47%
2046 0.67% 1.51%
2045 0.7% 1.53%
2044 0.72% 1.63%
2043 0.75% 1.59%
2042 0.78% 1.71%
2041 0.81% 1.68%
2040 0.84% 1.69%
2039 0.87% 1.73%
2038 0.9% 1.75%
2037 0.93% 1.77%
2036 0.96% 1.85%
2035 0.99% 1.82%
2034 1.02% 1.89%
2033 1.05% 1.89%
2032 1.09% 1.86%
2031 1.12% 1.86%
2030 1.15% 1.88%
2029 1.19% 1.88%
2028 1.23% 1.89%
2027 1.26% 1.9%
2026 1.3% 1.91%
2025 1.34% 1.89%
2024 1.36% 1.8%
2023 1.38% 1.69%
2022 1.29% 1.72%
2021 1.21% 1.74%
2020 1.26% 1.67%
2019 1.31% 1.58%
2018 1.33% 1.5%
2017 1.34% 1.45%
2016 1.35% 1.4%
2015 1.37% 1.35%
2014 1.38% 1.38%
2013 1.4% 1.42%
2012 1.41% 1.64%
2011 1.42% 1.79%
2010 1.43% 1.63%
2009 1.43% 1.42%
2008 1.44% 1.21%
2007 1.45% 1.33%
2006 1.44% 1.23%
2005 1.31% 0.95%
2004 1.19% 1.09%
2003 1.19% 1.2%
2002 1.22% 0.97%
2001 1.3% 0.67%
2000 1.39% 0.92%
1999 1.44% 1.63%
1998 1.54% 1.97%
1997 1.68% 1.9%
1996 1.87% 1.67%
1995 2.06% 0.93%
1994 2.15% 0.12%
1993 2.22% 1.47%
1992 2.29% 2.86%
1991 2.33% 2.64%
1990 2.36% 2.76%
1989 2.37% 2.94%
1988 2.32% 3.21%
1987 2.32% 3.36%
1986 2.37% 3.4%
1985 2.41% 3.52%
1984 2.52% 3.62%
1983 2.66% 3.87%
1982 2.78% 3.97%
1981 2.87% 6.49%
1980 2.78% 5.92%
1979 2.73% 1.59%
1978 2.93% 1.46%
1977 3.05% 2.58%
1976 3.09% 3.09%
1975 3.11% 3.22%
1974 3.13% 3.29%
1973 2.94% 3.21%
1972 2.95% 3.12%
1971 3.17% 3.04%
1970 3.18% 3.12%
1969 3.19% 3.22%
1968 3.19% 3.2%
1967 3.17% 3.2%
1966 3.14% 3.2%
1965 3.11% 3.2%
1964 3.08% 3.2%
1963 3.06% 3.2%
1962 3.04% 3.19%
1961 3.03% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Zimbabwe
Current population
7124343
17361868
Population rank 107/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.21%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +804
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 60/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -8,371 -54,555
Net migration rank 129/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - -54,555
2024 - -8,189 - -60,528
2023 100,921 -7,996 372,505 -97,380
2022 100,987 -7,996 371,243 -102,828
2021 89,213 -10,383 349,908 -74,623
2020 90,515 -10,383 354,790 -89,440
2019 102,817 -19,730 348,798 -103,107
2018 104,814 -20,742 345,883 -117,758
2017 105,468 -21,849 344,035 -128,241
2016 106,585 -23,076 348,772 -140,181
2015 107,344 -24,353 356,203 -162,220
2014 108,420 -25,570 366,350 -177,029
2013 109,032 -26,587 374,757 -176,972
2012 110,065 -27,389 371,135 -177,061
2011 110,026 -28,221 359,572 -108,714
2010 110,475 -29,081 335,570 -108,671
2009 110,213 -29,913 309,316 -108,689
2008 110,395 -30,675 280,527 -113,858
2007 110,341 -31,357 261,805 -118,299
2006 110,073 -32,274 248,963 -57,257
2005 108,984 -33,280 248,545 -134,212
2004 106,904 -44,222 248,307 -127,550
2003 106,142 -44,931 243,057 -96,667
2002 105,805 -44,906 244,170 -101,212
2001 107,109 -43,837 227,909 -139,361
2000 109,192 -42,087 236,343 -165,181
1999 110,217 -40,095 232,393 -86,343
1998 108,862 -38,260 225,614 6,645
1997 114,415 -36,851 216,288 395
1996 116,849 -35,208 205,269 978
1995 118,325 -25,889 206,695 -45,428
1994 119,565 -24,773 216,343 -174,723
1993 120,469 -24,091 228,045 -243,947
1992 121,204 -24,171 255,291 75,788
1991 121,787 -24,028 260,943 3,749
1990 120,677 -24,280 265,444 4,948
1989 120,128 -24,364 270,838 3,736
1988 117,299 -24,753 277,498 11,327
1987 112,885 -25,127 286,766 21,308
1986 113,054 -24,805 289,894 6,154
1985 110,949 -23,840 290,756 4,718
1984 110,133 -22,493 290,052 5,124
1983 110,618 -20,620 286,545 4,456
1982 112,468 -19,395 279,934 32,899
1981 110,421 -17,353 271,361 11,523
1980 108,604 -15,130 241,179 390,593
1979 96,429 -14,152 223,657 -67,937
1978 98,419 -12,273 222,979 -170,727
1977 100,498 -11,082 225,139 -89,270
1976 98,100 -10,155 221,419 -32,495
1975 95,230 -9,349 216,947 -28,988
1974 92,505 -8,639 208,806 -16,105
1973 89,662 -7,947 201,885 -18,733
1972 76,906 -7,219 193,725 -20,959
1971 84,139 -6,328 185,427 -22,719
1970 81,127 -5,423 178,979 -24,102
1969 78,237 -4,592 172,626 -12,028
1968 75,458 -3,979 166,865 -11,997
1967 72,722 -3,666 161,205 -11,814
1966 69,883 -3,443 156,014 -11,211
1965 67,056 -3,231 151,164 -10,465
1964 64,227 -3,043 145,848 -9,631
1963 61,738 -2,881 140,984 -8,936
1962 59,547 -2,727 136,317 -8,529
1961 57,499 -2,579 131,531 -8,204
1960 55,664 -2,418 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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