Nicaragua

Republic of NicaraguaRepublica de Nicaragua

republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Nicaragua as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 78 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

Area129,494 km2

LocationCentral America, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Populationas each edition published it

3.99 million July 1993 est. · 3.72m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.74% 1993 est. · 0.92% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

63.5 years 1993 est. · 74.7 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.48 children per woman 1993 est. · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

54.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 68 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$425 1992 est. · $7,700 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

0.5% 1992 est. · 3.6% in 2025

Geography

Central America, between Costa Rica and Honduras

13 fields

Land useshare of 129,494 km2

arable land 9%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 43%forest and woodland 35%other 12%irrigated 850 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

129,494km2

land area: 120,254 km2comparative area: slightly larger than New York State

Coastline

910km

contiguous zone: 25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain)continental shelf: not specifiedterritorial sea: 200 nm

Land boundaries

1,231km

total · Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Location

Central America, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean, South America

International disputes

territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;
International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required

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

Environment

subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional severe hurricanes;
deforestation;
soil erosion;
water pollution

People

14 fields

Population

3,987,240

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.74% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

35.61Death

6.94Net migration

-1.25

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years63.5

60.7 · 66.41

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy57%

57% · 57%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1971)

Ethnic divisions

mestizo 69%white 17%black 9%Indian 5%

Labor force

1.086million

by occupation: service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)

Infant mortality rate

54.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective:: Nicaraguan

Languages

Spanish (official) note: English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

Government

Republic

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

54.7%

Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%other 4.5%

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form:: Nicaragua
local long form:: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form:: Nicaragua

Administrative divisions

17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS)

Legal system

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Political parties and leaders

ruling coalition:: National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 10-party alliance - moderate parties: National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS Lacayo, president;
Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto SOMARRIBA, Arnold ALEMAN;
Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN, Agustin JARQUIN, Azucena FERREY, Roger MIRANDA, Francisco MAYORGA;
National Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ;
National Action Party (PAN), Duilio BALTODANO;
NOU - hardline parties: Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO,Virgilio GODOY Reyes;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre, secretary general;
Conservative Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO;
Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez;
Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel
opposition parties:: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA;
Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS;
Democratic Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES;
Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo CORONADO;
Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco SAMPER;
Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ;
Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA;
Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando AGUERRO;
Popular Action Movement - Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ;
Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio DIAZ

Other political or pressure groups

National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor

unions:: Sandinista Workers' Central (CST);
Farm Workers Association (ATC);
Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD);
National Union of Employees (UNE);
National Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN);
Union of Journalists of Nicaragua (UPN);
Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations (CONAPRO);
and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG);
Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of four
non-Sandinista labor unions:: Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS);
Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A);
Independent General Confederation of Labor (CGT-I);
and Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS);
Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union;
Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of business groups

Elections

President:: last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996);
results - Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5%
National Assembly:: last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996);
results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%;
seats - (92 total) UNO 42, FSLN 39, PSC 1, MUR 1, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 9

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President Virgilio GODOY Reyes (since 25 April 1990)

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Roberto MAYORGA (since January 1993)
chancery:: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:: (202) 939-6570

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Charge d'Affaires Ronald GODARD
embassy:: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
mailing address:: APO AA 34021
telephone:: [505] (2) 666010 or 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032 through 34
FAX:: [505] (2) 666046

Flag

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 features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom;
similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band;
also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Economy

Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although | the CHAMORRO government has pledged to greatly reduce intervention.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$425

(1992 est.)

Real growth rate

0.5%

(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 25% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

(1992)

Unemployment rate

13%

underemployment 50% (1991)

Budget

Revenues

$347 millionExpenditures

$499 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1991)

Overview

Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although the CHAMORRO government has pledged to greatly reduce intervention. Four private banks have been licensed, and the government has liberalized foreign trade and abolished price controls on most goods. In early 1993, fewer than 50% of the agricultural and industrial firms remain state owned.

Sandinista economic policies and the war had produced a severe economic crisis. The foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7% in 1989 and 4% in 1990, and remained about even in 1991-92.

The agricultural sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 15% of GDP and 80% of export earnings. Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and contributes about 25% to GDP, showed a drop of 7% in 1989, fell slightly in 1990, and remained flat in 1991-92; output still is below pre-1979 levels.

External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In 1992 the inflation rate was 8%, down sharply from the 766% of 1991.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion (1992 est.)

Exports

$280 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:: coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals
partners:: OECD 75%, USSR and Eastern Europe 15%, other 10%

Imports

$720 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)

commodities:: petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing
partners:: Latin America 30%, US 25%, EC 20%, USSR and Eastern Europe 10%, other 15% (1990 est.)

External debt

$10 billion (December 1991)

Electricity

434,000 kW capacity; 1,118 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1992)

Industries

food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear

Agriculture

accounts for 15% of GDP and 44% of work force;
cash crops - coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton;
food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans;
variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy;
normally self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,381 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $3.5 billion

Currency

1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 6 (10 January 1993), 25,000,000 (March 1992), 21,354,000 (1991), 15,655 (1989), 270 (1988), 102.60 (1987); note - new gold cordoba issued in 1992

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Networkskm

Highways

25,930Railroads

373Inland waterways

2,220

Highways: ; 4,000 km paved, 2,170 km gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km earth or graded earth, 14,335 km unimproved; Pan-American highway 368.5 km · Railroads: , government owned; majority of system not operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect with mainline) · Inland waterways: , including 2 large lakes