Nicaragua

Republic of NicaraguaRepública de Nicaragua

presidential republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Nicaragua as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 141 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalManagua, UTC-6
Position13 00 N, 85 00 W
Area130,370 sq km
LocationCentral America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
2025

Every edition of Nicaragua

Populationas each edition published it
6.74 million 2025 est. · 3.72m in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.92% 2025 est. · 2.74% in 1993
Median ageyears
29.5 years 2025 est. · 20.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
74.7 years 2024 est. · 63.5 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.82 children per woman 2025 est. · 5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
14.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 2025 est. · 68 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$7,700 2024 est. · $425 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.6% 2024 est. · 0.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821, and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. By 1978, violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought a civil-military coalition to power in 1979, spearheaded by Marxist Sandinista guerrillas led by Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista Contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s.

After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, ORTEGA was elected president in 2006, 2011, 2016, and most recently in 2021. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. Democratic institutions have lost their independence under the ORTEGA regime as the president has assumed full control over all branches of government, as well as cracking down on a nationwide pro-democracy protest movement in 2018 and shuttering over 3,300 civil society organizations between 2018 and 2024.

In the lead-up to the 2021 presidential election, authorities arrested over 40 individuals linked to the opposition, including presidential candidates, private sector leaders, NGO workers, human rights defenders, and journalists. Only five lesser-known presidential candidates from mostly small parties allied to ORTEGA's Sandinistas were allowed to run against ORTEGA. He then awarded the Sandinistas control of all 153 of Nicaraguan municipalities in the 2022 municipal elections, consolidating one-party rule.

Geography

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

18 fields

Land useshare of 130,370 sq km

arable land 12.5% (2023 est.)permanent crops 2.5% (2023 est.)permanent pasture 27.4% (2023 est.)forest 40.1% (2023 est.)other 17.6% (2023 est.)agricultural land 42.3% (2023 est.) in all · irrigated 1,990 sq km (2012)
Area
130,370sq km
land: 119,990 sq kmwater: 10,380 sq kmslightly larger than Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than New York State
Coastline
910km
territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: natural prolongation
Highest point
2,085m
Mogotonlowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mmean elevation: 298 m
Land boundaries
1,253km
border countries (2): Costa Rica 313 km; Honduras 940 km

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 85 00 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Climate

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Terrain

extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Natural resources

gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lago de Nicaragua - 8,150 sq km; Lago de Managua - 1,040 sq km

Population distribution

  • the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua;
  • coastal areas also show large population clusters

Natural hazards

  • destructive earthquakes;
  • volcanoes;
  • landslides;
  • extremely susceptible to hurricanes
volcanism:
  • significant volcanic activity;
  • Cerro Negro (728 m) is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes;
  • its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings;
  • other historically active volcanoes include
    • Concepcion,
    • Cosiguina,
    • Las Pilas,
    • Masaya,
    • Momotombo,
    • San Cristobal,
    • and Telica

Geography - note

largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

People and Society

31 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)

178,347
65 and over6%
224,090
2,240,297
15-6468.9%
2,360,244
855,256
0-1425.1%
818,714
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 44.6 (2025 est.) · youth dependency ratio: 35.6 (2025 est.) · elderly dependency ratio: 9 (2025 est.) · potential support ratio: 11.1 (2025 est.)
Population
6,739,380
(2025 est.)male: 3,304,133female: 3,435,247growth rate: 0.92% (2025 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)

Birth
16.07Death
5.14Net migration
-1.76

Male · female(2023 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy74.7
73.2 · 76.4Infant mortality14.1
15.9 · 12.8
TotalMale · femaleMedian age29.5
28.1 · 29.9School life expectancy years12
12 · 12
MaleFemale

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 69%White 17%Black 9%Indigenous 5%
Urban population
59.8%of total population
(2023)rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)Major urban areas - population: 1.095 million MANAGUA (capital) (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio
60deaths/100,000 live births
(2023 est.)Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2011/12 est.)note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
Physician density
0.68physicians/1,000 population
(2018)

Nationality

noun:
Nicaraguan(s)
adjective:
Nicaraguan

Languages

Spanish (official) 99.5%, Indigenous 0.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.1% (2020 est.); major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: English and indigenous languages found on the Caribbean coast

Religions

Roman Catholic 44.9%, Protestant 38.7% (Evangelical 38.2, Adventist 0.5%), other 1.2%, (includes Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ), believer but not belonging to a church 1%, agnostic or atheist 0.4%, none 13.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2020 est.)

Median age

total:
29.5 years (2025 est.)
male:
28.1 years
female:
29.9 years

Population distribution

  • the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua;
  • coastal areas also show large population clusters

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.8 male(s)/female
total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total:
14.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male:
15.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
74.7 years (2024 est.)
male:
73.2 years
female:
76.4 years

Total fertility rate

1.82 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

9.7% of GDP (2021) · 17.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

rural: 33.5% of population

Alcohol consumption per capita

total:
3.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer:
1.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine:
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits:
2.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols:
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Education expenditure

2.9% of GDP (2023 est.) · 11% national budget (2024 est.)

Environment

11 fields

Land use(2023 est.)

arable land 12.5% (2023 est.)permanent crops 2.5% (2023 est.)permanent pasture 27.4% (2023 est.)forest 40.1% (2023 est.)other 17.6% (2023 est.)agricultural land 42.3% (2023 est.) in all

Environmental issues

  • deforestation;
  • soil erosion;
  • water pollution;
  • drought

International environmental agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Climate

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Urbanization

urban population:
59.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

3.806 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke:
2 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids:
3.806 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

16.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually:
1.529 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
15% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal:
190 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial:
620,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural:
1.084 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

164.52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks:
1
global geoparks and regional networks:
Rio Coco (2023)

Government

Presidential republic; President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)

23 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

75.9%
Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 75.9%Walter ESPINOZA (PLC) 14.3%Guillermo OSORNO (CCN) 3.3%Marcelo MONTIEL (ALN) 3.1%other 3.4%

Country name

conventional long form:
Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form:
Nicaragua
local long form:
República de Nicaragua
local short form:
Nicaragua
etymology:
16th-century Spanish explorer Gil GONZALEZ Davila is said to have combined the name of a local chieftain, Nicarao, with the Spanish word agua (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua)

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name:
Managua
geographic coordinates:
12 08 N, 86 15 W
time difference:
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology:
the name comes from Lake Managua, whose name is composed of the Guaraní words ama (rain) and nagua (spirit) and refers to a local deity

Administrative divisions

  • 15 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ) and 2 autonomous regions* ( regiones autonomistas , singular - region autonoma );
  • Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Constitution

history:
several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987
amendment process:
  • proposed by the president of the republic or assent of at least half of the National Assembly membership;
  • passage requires approval by 60% of the membership of the next elected Assembly and promulgation by the president of the republic

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth:
yes
citizenship by descent only:
yes
dual citizenship recognized:
no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist
residency requirement for naturalization:
4 years

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
head of government:
President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election/appointment process:
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
most recent election date:
7 November 2021
election results:
  • 2021: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a fourth consecutive term;
  • percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 75.9%, Walter ESPINOZA (PLC) 14.3%, Guillermo OSORNO (CCN) 3.3%, Marcelo MONTIEL (ALN) 3.1%, other 3.4%
;
  • 2016: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a third consecutive term;
  • percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7%
expected date of next election:
1 November 2026

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch

legislature name:
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
legislative structure:
unicameral
number of seats:
91 (all directly elected)
electoral system:
proportional representation
scope of elections:
full renewal
term in office:
5 years
most recent election date:
11/7/2021
parties elected and seats per party:
  • Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) (75);
  • Liberal and Constitutionalist Party (PLC) (9);
  • Other (6)
percentage of women in chamber:
54.9%
expected date of next election:
November 2026

Judicial branch

highest court(s):
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers)
judge selection and term of office:
Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly to serve 5-year staggered terms
subordinate courts:
  • Appeals Court;
  • first instance civil, criminal, and labor courts;
  • military courts are independent of the Supreme Court

Political parties

  • Alliance for the Republic or APRE
  • Alternative for Change or AC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)
  • Autonomous Liberal Party or PAL
  • Caribbean Unity Movement or PAMUC
  • Christian Unity Party or PUC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)
  • Independent Liberal Party or PLI
  • Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC
  • Moskitia Indigenous Progressive Movement or MOSKITIA PAWANKA (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)
  • Multiethnic Indigenous Party or PIM (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)
  • Nationalist Liberal Party or PLN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)
  • Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN
  • Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or CCN
  • Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)
  • Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN
  • Sons of Mother Earth or YATAMA
  • The New Sons of Mother Earth Movement or MYATAMARAN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Sammia Alicia HODGSON MCKENZIE (since 3 June 2025)
chancery:
1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 939-6570
FAX:
[1] (202) 939-6545
email address and website:
[email protected]; United States of America; ConsuladoDeNicaragua.com
consulate(s) general:
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Elias BAUMANN (since December 2025)
embassy:
Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address:
3240 Managua Place, Washington DC 20521-3240
telephone:
[505] 2252-7100,
FAX:
[505] 2252-7250
email address and website:
[email protected]; https://ni.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Flag

description:
  • three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band;
  • the coat of arms has a triangle with the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA in an arc over it and AMERICA CENTRAL in an arc underneath
meaning:
blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and white for the land between the two bodies of water
history:
the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America

note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which has a round emblem; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars in an "X" pattern centered on the white band

National symbol(s)

turquoise-browed motmot (bird)

National anthem(s)

title:
"Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)
lyrics/music:
Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO
history:
music was approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites:
2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales:
Ruins of León Viejo; León Cathedral

Economy

29 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$52.989billion
(2024 est.) · $51.153 billion (2023 est.) · $48.985 billion (2022 est.)note: data in 2021 dollarsofficial exchange rate: $19.694 billion (2024 est.)note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,700
(2024 est.) · $7,500 (2023 est.) · $7,300 (2022 est.)note: data in 2021 dollars
Real growth rate
3.6%
(2024 est.) · 4.4% (2023 est.) · 3.6% (2022 est.)note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currencyindustrial production growth: 3.6% (2024 est.)note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Inflation, consumer prices
4.6%
(2024 est.) · 8.4% (2023 est.) · 10.5% (2022 est.)note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

51%
USA
24%
China
13%
12%
Mexico
9%
Honduras
9%
Guatemala
8%
6%
El Salvador
6%
Canada
4%
Switzerland
Exports $8.135 billion (2024 est.)Imports $11.437 billion (2024 est.)(2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports · (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

By end use% of GDP · (2024 est.)

Household consumption
80.6%Government consumption
12.3%Fixed capital
22.9%Inventories
1.8%Exports
40.5%Imports
-58.1%
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Budget(2023 est.)

Revenues
$3.856 billionExpenditures
$3.382 billion
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Economic overview

  • low-income Central American economy;
  • until 2018, nearly 20 years of sustained GDP growth;
  • recent struggles due to COVID-19, political instability, and hurricanes;
  • significant remittances;
  • increasing poverty and food scarcity since 2005;
  • sanctions limit investment

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture:
14.4% (2024 est.)
industry:
27.6% (2024 est.)
services:
46.8% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agricultural products

sugarcane, milk, rice, oil palm fruit, maize, plantains, cassava, groundnuts, beans, chicken (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining

Labor force

3.225 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

4.6% (2024 est.) · 4.8% (2023 est.) · 5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total:
9% (2024 est.)
male:
7.8% (2024 est.)
female:
12% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

24.9% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Remittances

26.6% of GDP (2024 est.) · 26.2% of GDP (2023 est.) · 20.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Public debt

33.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities other than the treasury;

the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; Nicaragua rebased its GDP figures in 2012, which reduced the figures for debt as a percentage of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

19.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

$817.618 million (2024 est.) · $1.465 billion (2023 est.) · -$459.6 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

$8.135 billion (2024 est.) · $8.248 billion (2023 est.) · $7.87 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

garments, gold, insulated wire, coffee, beef (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$11.437 billion (2024 est.) · $10.519 billion (2023 est.) · $10.213 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

garments, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, plastic products, fabric (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.105 billion (2024 est.) · $5.447 billion (2023 est.) · $4.404 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt - external

$6.753 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 36.624 (2024 est.) · 36.441 (2023 est.) · 35.874 (2022 est.) · 35.171 (2021 est.) · 34.342 (2020 est.)

Energy

6 fields

Electrification% of population · (2022 est.)

100%Urban
66.3%Rural
86.5%Total

Installed generating capacity, 1.849 million kW(2023 est.)

fossil fuels 35.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)solar 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)wind 12.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)hydroelectricity 14.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)geothermal 15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)biomass and waste 20.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity consumption
4.654 billion (2023 est.)Electricity imports
1.125 billion (2023 est.)Electricity transmission/distribution losses
839 million (2023 est.)

Coal

imports: 22 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production:
200 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption:
28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

10.66 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

6 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2023–24 est.)

106Mobile cellular
58%Internet users, % of population
3Fixed lines
5Fixed broadband
Mobile cellular
7.33 million
(2024 est.)
Fixed lines
234,000
(2023 est.)
Fixed broadband
371,000
(2023 est.) · country code .ni

Broadcast media

  • multiple terrestrial TV stations, supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas;
  • nearly all are state-owned or affiliated;
  • more than 300 radio stations, both state-affiliated and privately owned (2019)

Transportation

4 fields

Merchant marine, 5 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2023)

general cargo 1oil tanker 1other 3

Airports

39 (2025)

Ports

total ports:
5 (2024)
large:
0
medium:
0
small:
2
very small:
3
ports with oil terminals:
4
key ports:
Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino

Military and Security

6 fields

Personnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2025)

active Armed Forces 12,000approximately 12,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military expenditures
0.5%of GDP
(2024 est.) · 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) · 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) · 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.) · 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces

  • Armed Forces of Nicaragua (formal name is Army of Nicaragua or Ejercito de Nicaragua, EN): Land Force;
  • Naval Force;
  • Air Force (2025)

note: both the military and the Nicaraguan National Police (Policía Nacional de Nicaragua or PNN) report directly to the president; Parapolice, which are non-uniformed,

armed, and masked units with marginal tactical training and loose hierarchical organization, act in coordination with government security forces and report to the National Police; they have been used to suppress anti-government protesters

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's air and ground force inventories include mostly secondhand Russian or Soviet-era equipment (2025)

Military service age and obligation

  • 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (16-20 for cadets);
  • no conscription;
  • tour of duty 18-36 months (2025)

Military - note

the military is responsible for defending Nicaragua’s independence, sovereignty, and territory; it also has some domestic security responsibilities, including border security, assisting the police, protecting natural resources, and providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance;

Nicaragua has defense ties with Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia; Russia has provided training support and equipment; in 2025, Nicaragua signed an agreement of “mutual protection” with Russia

the modern Army of Nicaragua was created in 1979 as the Sandinista Popular Army (1979-1984); prior to 1979, the military was known as the National Guard, which was organized and trained by the US in the 1920s and 1930s; the first commander of the National Guard, Anastasio SOMOZA GARCIA, seized power in 1937 and ran the country as a military dictator until his assassination in 1956;

his sons ran the country either directly or through figureheads until the Sandinistas came to power in 1979; the defeated National Guard was disbanded by the Sandinistas (2025)

Space

3 fields

Space agency/agencies

National Secretariat for Extraterrestrial Space Affairs, The Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Secretaría Nacional para Asuntos del Espacio Ultraterrestre, la Luna y otros Cuerpos Celestes, established 2021; operates under the military’s control) (2025)

Space program overview

  • stated mission is to promote the development of space activities with the aim of broadening the country’s capacities in education, industry, science, and technology;
  • has cooperated with China and Russia;
  • is a signatory of the convention establishing the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)

Key space-program milestones

  • 1994 - joined UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
  • 2017 - Russia opened a satellite navigation system monitoring station in Nicaragua
  • 2021 - signed convention establishing the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
  • 2024 - joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station project, which aims to establish a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Trafficking in persons

tier rating:
  • Tier 3 — Nicaragua does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Nicaragua remained on Tier 3;
  • for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/nicaragua/

Illicit drugs

USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Nicaragua.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nicaragua.

How to cite ← 2024 edition