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Nicaragua

NICLatin America & Caribbean Lower middle incomeCapital: Managua
Economy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
68/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$23
2027▲ 6.1%
Population
6.9M
2024▲ 1.4%
GDP per Capita
$3,233
2027▲ 4.8%
Life Expectancy
74.9 years
2023▲ 0.6%
Nicaragua in world space2000–2023
1k10k100k505560657075808590GDP per capita (USD, log)Life expectancy (years)20002023
192 countries · log scale on X world Nicaragua· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About Nicaragua

Nicaragua's GDP is $21.86B (2026), with a population of 6.9M, and GDP per capita of $3,084. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 2.9%, inflation at 2.7%, unemployment at 3.4%, government debt at 40.1% of GDP, life expectancy of 74.9 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.

Situated in Latin America and the Caribbean, the economy is classified as lower middle income. The capital, Managua, serves as the economic hub. The GDP is projected to reach 21.86 billion USD in 2026, with a growth rate of 2.9%. The GDP per capita is expected to be 3083.882 USD in 2026. The inflation rate is anticipated to be 2.7% in 2026. Trade is significant, with trade to GDP ratio at 98.5258377100159% in 2024. The unemployment rate is projected to be 5.04% in 2025. The population is approximately 6,916,140 as of 2024. Life expectancy stands at 74.947 years as of 2023. The society is diverse, with a blend of indigenous, Spanish, and African influences. The primary languages spoken are Spanish and indigenous languages. The country faces challenges in poverty reduction and social inequality, despite efforts to improve education and healthcare services.

▶Economy30 indicators · 2021–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
GDP (Current USD, Billions)$232027▲ 6.1%IMF
Real GDP Growth (%)3.3%2027▲ 13.8%IMF
GDP per Capita (USD)$3,2332027▲ 4.8%IMF
GDP, PPP (Billions Intl $)$702027▲ 5.0%IMF
GDP per Capita, PPP (Intl $)$9,7582027▲ 3.8%IMF
Share of World GDP, PPP (%)0.03%2027▲ 0.0%IMF
GNI (Current USD)$18.71B2024▲ 10.0%WB
GNI per Capita (USD)$2,5102024▲ 6.4%WB
GNI per Capita, PPP (USD)$8,2702024▲ 4.2%WB
Industry Value Added (% of GDP)27.6%2024▲ 1.3%WB
Services Value Added (% of GDP)46.8%2024▲ 0.7%WB
Agriculture Value Added (% of GDP)14.4%2024▼ 6.0%WB
Government Consumption (% of GDP)12.3%2024▼ 4.9%WB
Household Consumption (% of GDP)80.6%2024▲ 3.0%WB
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)24.7%2024▲ 11.5%WB
Gross Savings (% of GNI)28.0%2024▼ 6.1%WB
GDP Deflator (%)7.3%2024▼ 32.2%WB
GDP per Person Employed (USD)$17,1402024▲ 1.6%WB
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)13.5%2024▼ 6.4%WB
Medium/High-Tech Manufacturing (% of total)13.0%2022▼ 2.3%WB
Adjusted Net National Income per Capita (USD)$1,7472021▲ 7.3%WB
Adjusted Net Savings (% of GNI)12.1%2021▼ 30.4%WB
External Balance on Goods & Services (% of GDP)-17.6%2024▼ 32.3%WB
Coal Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Mineral Rents (% of GDP)2.68%2021▲ 5275.1%WB
Oil Rents (% of GDP)0.02%2021▲ 143.8%WB
Natural Gas Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)3.8%2021▲ 131.6%WB
Forest Rents (% of GDP)1.14%2021▼ 28.7%WB
Industry Value Added (Current USD)$5.43B2024▲ 12.0%WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary21 indicators · 2022–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Inflation, Consumer Prices (%)2.7%2027▲ 0.0%IMF
Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP)40.3%2027▲ 0.5%IMF
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP)2.0%2027▼ 9.1%IMF
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)0.5%2027▼ 76.2%IMF
Unemployment Rate (%)3.4%2027▲ 0.0%IMF
Inflation, CPI (%, World Bank)4.6%2024▼ 44.9%WB
Real Interest Rate (%)3.7%2024▲ 411.9%WB
Lending Interest Rate (%)11.2%2024▲ 18.5%WB
Deposit Interest Rate (%)2.2%2024▲ 6.0%WB
Government Revenue (% of GDP)21.5%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Government Expenditure (% of GDP)16.3%2023▼ 2.4%WB
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)19.9%2023▲ 0.4%WB
Taxes on Goods & Services (% of revenue)46.5%2023▲ 0.8%WB
Taxes on International Trade (% of revenue)3.4%2023▲ 4.6%WB
Taxes on Income, Profits & Capital Gains (% of rev)41.8%2023▲ 0.3%WB
Net Investment in Nonfinancial Assets (% of GDP)2.7%2023▼ 27.3%WB
Total Reserves incl. Gold (USD)$6.10B2024▲ 12.1%WB
Total Reserves (months of imports)5.72024▲ 2.0%WB
Official Exchange Rate (per USD)36.622024▲ 0.5%WB
PPP Conversion Factor11.982024▲ 4.8%WB
Broad Money (% of GDP)39.3%2022▼ 0.8%WB
▶Trade15 indicators · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Trade (% of GDP)98.5%2024▼ 6.2%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)40.5%2024▼ 11.7%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)58.1%2024▼ 1.8%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (USD)$7.97B2024▼ 2.4%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (USD)$11.43B2024▲ 8.6%WB
Merchandise Exports (USD)$7.52B2024▲ 2.0%WB
Merchandise Imports (USD)$11.47B2024▲ 5.1%WB
FDI Inflows (% of GDP)6.9%2024▲ 9.8%WB
FDI Outflows (% of GDP)0.4%2024▲ 58.5%WB
FDI Net Inflows (USD)$1.35B2024▲ 21.4%WB
Personal Remittances Received (USD)$5.25B2024▲ 12.5%WB
Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP)26.6%2024▲ 1.7%WB
High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured)0.6%2024▼ 25.9%WB
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)4.2%2024▼ 49.6%WB
Current Account Balance (USD)$817.6M2024▼ 44.2%WB
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
External Debt (% of GNI)82.8%2024▼ 8.3%WB
External Debt Stocks (USD)$15.49B2024▲ 0.8%WB
Total Debt Service (% of GNI)9.7%2024▼ 6.9%WB
Present Value of External Debt (USD)$6.18B2024—WB
Use of IMF Credit (USD)$600.4M2024▼ 11.2%WB
Net ODA Received (% of GNI)3.4%2023▼ 56.2%WB
Net ODA Received (USD)$581.8M2023▼ 48.4%WB
▶Finance7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Domestic Credit by Financial Sector (% of GDP)26.6%2024▼ 5.3%WB
Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP)29.7%2024▼ 0.9%WB
Bank Capital to Assets Ratio (%)8.0%2023▲ 0.7%WB
Bank Nonperforming Loans (%)1.5%2023▼ 1.1%WB
Account Ownership at Financial Institution (%)23.5%2024▼ 9.8%WB
Account Ownership, Female (%)21.2%2024▼ 1.6%WB
Account Ownership, Male (%)26.0%2024▼ 16.1%WB
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Population6.9M2024▲ 1.4%WB
Population Growth (%)1.3%2024▼ 1.8%WB
Population Density (per km²)572023▲ 1.4%WB
Surface Area (sq km)130,3702023▲ 0.0%WB
Land Area (sq km)120,3402023▲ 0.0%WB
Urban Population (%)59.3%2024▲ 0.2%WB
Urban Population (total)4.1M2024▲ 1.6%WB
Rural Population (%)40.7%2024▼ 0.3%WB
Life Expectancy at Birth74.9 years2023▲ 0.6%WB
Life Expectancy, Male72.3 years2023▲ 0.7%WB
Life Expectancy, Female77.4 years2023▲ 0.6%WB
Fertility Rate (births per woman)2.22023▼ 1.0%WB
Birth Rate (per 1,000)19.42023▼ 1.6%WB
Death Rate (per 1,000)4.62023▼ 2.2%WB
Net Migration-8,3712025▼ 2.2%WB
Population Ages 0–14 (%)28.8%2024▼ 1.5%WB
Population Ages 15–64 (%)65.7%2024▲ 0.4%WB
Population Ages 65+ (%)5.5%2024▲ 2.9%WB
Age Dependency Ratio (%)52.2%2024▼ 1.3%WB
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%)8.4%2024▲ 2.4%WB
Youth Dependency Ratio (%)43.8%2024▼ 2.0%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000)165.82023▼ 0.5%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000)922023▼ 3.3%WB
▶Labor18 indicators · 2014–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Total Labor Force3.3M2025▲ 2.0%WB
Labor Force Participation (%)66.1%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Female Labor Force Participation (%)51.3%2025▲ 0.3%WB
Male Labor Force Participation (%)81.8%2025▼ 0.1%WB
Unemployment (%)5.0%2025▲ 1.2%WB
Female Unemployment (%)5.2%2025▲ 1.4%WB
Male Unemployment (%)5.0%2025▲ 1.1%WB
Youth Unemployment (%)9.5%2025▼ 0.4%WB
Employment in Agriculture (%)30.5%2025▼ 0.6%WB
Employment in Industry (%)16.9%2025▼ 0.2%WB
Employment in Services (%)52.6%2025▲ 0.4%WB
Vulnerable Employment (%)38.9%2025▼ 0.6%WB
Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total)55.7%2025▲ 0.4%WB
Employers (% of total employment)5.4%2025▼ 0.4%WB
Labor Force, Female (% of total)39.9%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Employment to Population Ratio (%)62.7%2025▼ 0.0%WB
Self-Employed (% of total)44.3%2025▼ 0.5%WB
NEET Youth (% not in education/employment)24.5%2014—WB
▶Education15 indicators · 2007–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Education Spending (% of GDP)2.9%2023▼ 24.6%WB
Education Spending (% of govt expenditure)11.0%2024▼ 37.7%WB
Primary School Enrollment (%)109.5%2023—WB
Secondary School Enrollment (%)70.2%2023—WB
Tertiary School Enrollment (%)30.4%2023—WB
Primary Completion Rate (%)81.7%2022—WB
Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%)64.7%2010—WB
Out-of-School Children, Primary53,4812023—WB
Out-of-School Girls, Primary25,7192023—WB
Primary School Teachers29,7072023▼ 1.4%WB
Secondary School Teachers12,7392023▼ 14.0%WB
Expenditure per Student, Primary (% of GDP/cap)39.8%2010—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary)48.42007—WB
Education Spending, Secondary (% of govt)13.2%2010—WB
Education Spending, Tertiary (% of govt)26.0%2010—WB
▶Health30 indicators · 2012–2024 · WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Health Spending (% of GDP)8.3%2023▼ 7.6%WHO
Health Spending per Capita (USD)$2172023▲ 3.8%WHO
Government Health Spending (% of GDP)4.8%2023▼ 7.8%WHO
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending (% of total)37.6%2023▲ 5.5%WHO
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)12022▲ 5.4%WHO
Infant Mortality (per 1,000 live births)13.42023▼ 3.6%WHO
Neonatal Mortality (per 1,000)8.42023▼ 5.6%WHO
Maternal Mortality (per 100,000)602023▼ 1.6%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Female (per 1,000)122023▼ 3.2%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Male (per 1,000)14.82023▼ 3.9%WHO
Cause of Death, Communicable (%)9.5%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Non-Communicable (%)81.6%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Injury (%)8.9%2019—WHO
Measles Immunization (% of children)85.0%2023▼ 8.6%WHO
DPT Immunization (% of children)89.0%2023▼ 3.3%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100,000)432024▼ 2.3%WHO
Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)4.22021▲ 16.2%WHO
Alcohol Consumption (liters per capita)3.72020—WHO
Maternal Deaths802023▼ 1.5%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100K)432024▼ 2.3%WHO
Malaria Deaths (estimated)02024—WHO
Malaria Incidence (per 1K at risk)12024▼ 26.3%WHO
Physicians (total)92022▼ 2.5%WHO
Nursing & Midwifery Personnel172022▼ 0.9%WHO
Dentists (total)11,4242022▲ 0.4%WHO
Child Wasting (<5 years, %)2.2%2012—WHO
Child Underweight (<5 years, %)4.6%2012—WHO
Universal Health Coverage Index702023▼ 2.8%WHO
Road Traffic Death Rate (per 100K)9322021—WHO
Health Expenditure per Capita (WHO, USD)$2172023▲ 3.8%WHO
▶Energy & Environment14 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
CO₂ Emissions (tonnes per capita)0.82024▲ 2.3%WB
CO₂ Emissions (total kilotonnes)62024▲ 3.7%WB
Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita)6082022▲ 1.2%WB
Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita)6822022▲ 10.4%WB
Renewable Electricity Output (%)69.5%2021▼ 1.0%WB
Renewable Energy Consumption (%)50.4%2021▼ 3.4%WB
Access to Electricity (%)88.3%2023▲ 2.1%WB
Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%)59.6%2023▲ 1.7%WB
PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³)16.82020—WB
Forest Area (%)25.8%2023▼ 3.1%WB
Forest Area (sq km)31,0752023▼ 3.1%WB
Arable Land (%)12.5%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Terrestrial Protected Areas (%)10.1%2024▲ 1.0%WB
Marine Protected Areas (%)3.6%2024▲ 5.9%WB
▶Agriculture11 indicators · 2022–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Agricultural Land (%)42.3%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Yield (kg per hectare)2,5152023▲ 6.6%WB
Food Production Index (2014–2016=100)127.92022▼ 0.2%WB
Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100)130.82022▲ 2.5%WB
Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100)1262022▼ 3.1%WB
Land Under Cereal Production (hectares)350,4252023▼ 12.9%WB
Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes)56,5482023▲ 5.2%WB
Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare)64.22023▲ 8.3%WB
Prevalence of Undernourishment (%)17.3%2022▲ 1.8%WB
Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal)0.8%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Production (metric tons)881,4202023▼ 7.1%WB
▶Technology8 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Internet Users (%)58.2%2023▲ 18.5%WB
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people)1062023▲ 1.5%WB
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100)5.42023▲ 8.4%WB
Secure Internet Servers (per million)942024▼ 9.2%WB
Scientific Journal Articles412022▼ 9.0%WB
High-Technology Exports (USD)$16.6M2024▼ 27.7%WB
ICT Service Exports (% of service exports)19.4%2024▲ 8.1%WB
ICT Service Exports (USD)$252.3M2024▼ 10.0%WB
▶Infrastructure6 indicators · 2000–2022 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Air Transport, Passengers Carried61,0312000—WB
Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km)0.52000—WB
Container Port Traffic (TEU)153,3902022▼ 11.1%WB
Logistics Performance Index (1–5)2.502022—WB
Electricity from Oil (%)35.5%2022▲ 15.2%WB
Electricity from Nuclear (%)0.0%2021—WB
▶Gender5 indicators · 2010–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Women in Parliament (%)53.8%2024▲ 4.3%WB
Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%)50.9%2025▲ 0.4%WB
Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000)93.52023▼ 0.6%WB
Gender Parity Index, Secondary1.132010—WB
Gender Parity in Primary Education0.992020—WB
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Control of Corruption-1.392023▼ 7.8%WB
Government Effectiveness-1.082023▼ 4.6%WB
Political Stability-0.132023▲ 65.0%WB
Regulatory Quality-0.882023▲ 4.0%WB
Rule of Law-1.282023▲ 2.5%WB
Voice & Accountability-1.392023▼ 2.8%WB
Control of Corruption (percentile rank)7.1%2023▼ 6.2%WB
Government Effectiveness (percentile rank)13.2%2023▼ 3.4%WB
Rule of Law (percentile rank)9.4%2023▲ 5.3%WB
Political Stability (percentile rank)42.2%2023▲ 24.2%WB
▶Military6 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Military Spending (% of GDP)0.5%2024▼ 1.7%WB
Military Expenditure (USD)$105.3M2024▲ 6.8%WB
Armed Forces Personnel12,0002020—WB
Armed Forces (% of labor force)0.4%2020—WB
Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)1.9%2024▼ 9.6%WB
Intentional Homicides (per 100,000)11.32021—WB
▶Social Protection4 indicators · 2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Human Capital Index (0–1)0.512020—WB
Human Capital Index, Female0.532020—WB
Human Capital Index, Male0.492020—WB
Learning-Adjusted Years of School6.7 years2020—WB
▶Tourism3 indicators · 2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
International Tourism, Arrivals474,0002020—WB
International Tourism, Departures325,0002020—WB
Tourism Expenditures (USD)$102.0M2020—WB
▶Urban Development6 indicators · 2020–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Urban Population Growth (%)1.6%2024▼ 0.7%WB
Population in Largest City1.1M2025▲ 1.2%WB
Population in Largest City (% of urban)26.9%2025▼ 0.4%WB
Population in Agglomerations >1M (% of total)16.0%2025▼ 0.1%WB
Population in Slums (% of urban)5.5%2020—WB
Rural Population Growth (%)1.0%2024▼ 4.3%WB

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