Nicaragua

republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Nicaragua as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 122 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
LocationMiddle America, between Costa Rica and Honduras
1994

Every edition of Nicaragua

Populationas each edition published it
4.1 million July 1994 est. · 3.72m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.68% 1994 est. · 2.74% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 20.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 63.5 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.33 children per woman 1994 est. · 5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
52.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 68 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,600 1993 est. · $425 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
-0.5% 1993 est. · 0.5% in 1993

Geography

Middle America, between Costa Rica and Honduras

23 fields
Land boundaries
1,231km
total · Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Irrigated land
850sq km
(1989 est.)

Location

Middle America, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean, South America

total area

129,494 sq km

land area

120,254 sq km

comparative area

slightly larger than New York State

contiguous zone

25-nm security zone (status of claim uncertain)

continental shelf

not specified

territorial sea

200 nm

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

arable land

9%

permanent crops

1%

meadows and pastures

43%

forest and woodland

35%

other

12%

current issues

  • deforestation;
  • soil erosion;
  • water pollution

natural hazards

subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes

international agreements

  • party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

People

22 fields
Population
4,096,689
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 2.68% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
34.66Death
6.69Net migration
-1.22

Ethnic divisions

mestizo 69%white 17%black 9%Indian 5%
Labor force
1.086million
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1971)

Infant mortality rate

52.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

64.02 years

male

61.18 years

female

66.96 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Nicaraguan(s)

adjective

Nicaraguan

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%

Languages

Spanish (official)

note

English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

total population

57%

male

57%

female

57%

by occupation

services 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)

Government

Republic

32 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

53.9%
UNO 53.9%FSLN 40.8%PSC 1.6%MUR 1.0%

Legislature, 92 seatsone dot, one seat

UNO 41FSLN 39"Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 12

conventional long form

Republic of Nicaragua

conventional short form

Nicaragua

local long form

Republica de Nicaragua

local short form

Nicaragua

Type

republic

Capital

Managua

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)

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution

9 January 1987

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

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);
  • election last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held November 1996);
  • results - Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5%

cabinet

Cabinet

National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

  • elections last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held November 1996);
  • results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%;
  • seats - (92 total) UNO 41, FSLN 39, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 12

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

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;
  • UNO - 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

Member of

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Roberto MAYORGA Cortes

chancery

1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone

(202) 939-6570

consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

chief of mission

Ambassador John MAISTO

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

26 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,600
(1993 est.)
Real growth rate
-0.5%
(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%; accounts for 20-25% of GDP
Unemployment rate
13%
underemployment 50% (1991)

Overview

Since March 1991, when President CHAMORRO began an ambitious economic stabilization program, Nicaragua has had considerable success in reducing inflation and obtaining substantial economic aid from abroad. Annual inflation fell from more than 750% in 1991 to less than 5% in 1992.

Inflation rose again to an estimated 20% in 1993, although this increase was due almost entirely to a large currency devaluation in January. As of early 1994, the government was close to finalizing an enhanced structural adjustment facility with the IMF, after the previous standby facility expired in early 1993.

Despite these successes, achieving overall economic growth in an economy scarred by misguided economic values and civil war during the 1980s has proved elusive. Economic growth was flat in 1992 and slightly negative in 1993. Nicaragua's per capita foreign debt is one of the highest in the world;

nonetheless, as of late 1993, Nicaragua was current on its post-1988 debt as well as on payments to the international financial institutions. Definition of property rights remains a problem; ownership disputes over large tracts of land, businesses, and homes confiscated by the previous government have yet to be resolved.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.4 billion (1993 est.)

revenues

$375 million (1992)

expenditures

$410 million (1992), including capital expenditures of $115 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$228 million (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities

foodstuffs, cotton, coffee, chemicals

partners

EC 26%, US 26%, Japan, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico (1992)

Imports

$907 million (c.i.f., 1992)

commodities

petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing

partners

US 26%, Venezuela, Costa Rica, EC, Guatemala (1992)

External debt

$10.5 billion ( 1992)

capacity

434,000 kW

production

1.118 billion kWh

consumption per capita

290 kWh (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture

  • crops account for about 15% of GDP;
  • export crops - coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton;
  • food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans;
  • also produces a variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products;
  • normally self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

recipient

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-92), $620 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.381 billion

Currency

1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

  • gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 6 (10 January 1993), 5 (1992);
  • note - gold cordoba replaced cordoba as Nicaragua's currency in 1991 (exchange rate of old cordoba had reached per US$1 - 25,000,000 by March 1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

16 fields

Networkskm

Railroads
373Inland waterways
2,220
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

Railroads

  • 373 km 1.067-meter narrow gauge, government owned;
  • majority of system not operating;
  • 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect with mainline)

total

25,930 km

paved

4,000 km

unpaved

  • gravel, crushed stone 2,170 km;
  • graded earth 5,425 km;
  • unimproved earth 14,335 km

Pan-American highway

368.5 km (not in total)

Inland waterways

2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Pipelines

crude oil 56 km

Ports

Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama

Merchant marine

2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161 GRT/2,500 DWT

total

208

usable

149

with permanent-surface runways

11

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

2

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

13

Telecommunications

  • low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded;
  • connection into Central American Microwave System;
  • 60,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave;
  • earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Defense Forces

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

3 fields

Branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 946,177;
  • fit for military service 582,669;
  • reach military age (18) annually 45,555 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $43.0 million, 1.6% of GDP (1992)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Nicaragua.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nicaragua/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →