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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 7,007,502 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,144,725 people compared to 17,443,108 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 +1.32% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.14M (31.8% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Nicaragua vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Zimbabwe
2100 8,686,387 37,486,352
2099 8,722,801 37,415,690
2098 8,758,489 37,331,540
2097 8,793,005 37,238,819
2096 8,826,676 37,146,184
2095 8,859,393 37,035,388
2094 8,890,985 36,915,996
2093 8,922,511 36,814,133
2092 8,952,706 36,691,740
2091 8,982,238 36,570,481
2090 9,010,281 36,428,812
2089 9,037,910 36,284,166
2088 9,064,058 36,144,627
2087 9,089,133 35,980,805
2086 9,113,522 35,811,286
2085 9,136,545 35,640,228
2084 9,158,382 35,459,328
2083 9,178,656 35,271,139
2082 9,197,809 35,081,992
2081 9,215,739 34,876,198
2080 9,231,840 34,662,013
2079 9,246,154 34,442,751
2078 9,258,426 34,220,306
2077 9,269,451 33,985,899
2076 9,278,508 33,742,198
2075 9,285,415 33,498,815
2074 9,291,490 33,247,764
2073 9,295,367 32,981,390
2072 9,297,079 32,708,937
2071 9,296,698 32,448,602
2070 9,294,691 32,183,952
2069 9,290,396 31,909,601
2068 9,283,672 31,633,783
2067 9,275,227 31,348,096
2066 9,264,219 31,065,618
2065 9,251,518 30,769,538
2064 9,236,612 30,482,622
2063 9,219,426 30,178,760
2062 9,199,856 29,870,308
2061 9,178,404 29,559,670
2060 9,154,342 29,254,998
2059 9,127,668 28,947,636
2058 9,098,625 28,634,199
2057 9,067,965 28,309,796
2056 9,035,277 27,993,176
2055 9,000,212 27,661,321
2054 8,962,862 27,334,325
2053 8,923,471 26,989,310
2052 8,881,555 26,645,898
2051 8,836,892 26,289,905
2050 8,789,897 25,937,176
2049 8,741,263 25,587,491
2048 8,689,971 25,230,302
2047 8,636,574 24,876,838
2046 8,581,536 24,515,600
2045 8,524,256 24,149,762
2044 8,464,984 23,785,181
2043 8,404,060 23,404,024
2042 8,341,211 23,037,316
2041 8,276,512 22,649,943
2040 8,209,876 22,275,480
2039 8,141,726 21,904,908
2038 8,071,337 21,532,024
2037 7,999,109 21,161,527
2036 7,925,391 20,792,863
2035 7,849,978 20,415,452
2034 7,772,780 20,049,783
2033 7,693,975 19,678,070
2032 7,613,757 19,313,685
2031 7,531,669 18,960,968
2030 7,448,359 18,615,376
2029 7,363,385 18,271,657
2028 7,276,613 17,935,044
2027 7,188,324 17,602,533
2026 7,098,677 17,274,728
2025 7,007,502 16,950,795
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 912,059 people (a 14.6% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% 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% to 8,789,897 people with a rank change from 107th to 109th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 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 1.32% 1.9%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.32%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Zimbabwe
Current population
7144725
17443108
Population rank 107/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.21%
One net population change
5.77 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
3.97 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
16.4 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +250 +867
Annual growth/decline +91,362 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +1.32% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 53/197
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 100,318 -8,189 372,494 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua/zimbabwe | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 86.7% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,008,982 people) and 13.3% is from migration (a loss of 154,697 people). In Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/nicaragua/zimbabwe | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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