Nicaragua

Republic of NicaraguaRepublica de Nicaragua

republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Nicaragua as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 87 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
Position13 00 N, 85 00 W
Area129,494 sq km
LocationMiddle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
1996

Every edition of Nicaragua

Populationas each edition published it
4.27 million July 1996 est. · 3.72m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.67% 1996 est. · 2.74% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 20.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
65.72 years 1996 est. · 63.5 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.03 children per woman 1996 est. · 5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
45.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 68 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,700 1995 est. · $425 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.2% 1995 est. · 0.5% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 129,494 sq km

arable land 9%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 43%forest and woodland 35%other 12%irrigated 850 sq km (1989 est.)
Area
129,494sq km
land area: 120,254 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than New York State
Coastline
910km
contiguous zone: 25-nm security zonecontinental shelf: natural prolongationterritorial sea: 200 nm
Land boundaries
1,231km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Location

Middle 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

International disputes

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

Climate

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Terrain

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

lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mogoton 2,438 m

Natural resources

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

Environment

current issues:
  • deforestation;
  • soil erosion;
  • water pollution
natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes
international agreements:
  • party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling;
  • signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

People

15 fields
Population
4,272,352
(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.67% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth
33.83Death
6.01Net migration
-1.17

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years65.72
63.41 · 68.13
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy65.7%
64.6% · 66.6%
MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%white 17%black 9%Indian 5%

Age structure

0-14 years:
44% (male 951,254; female 938,599)
15-64 years:
53% (male 1,105,069; female 1,164,144)
65 years and over:
3% (male 49,027; female 64,259) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female
all ages:
0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

45.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.03 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Nicaraguan(s)
adjective:
Nicaraguan

Religions

Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%

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%

Legislature, 92 seatsone dot, one seat

UNO coalition 53 (Center Group 9, UDC 6, PSD 5, APC 5, PLC 5, PLI 4, PND 3, PAN 3, PNC 3, MDN 2, PCdeN 2, independents 6) and Sandinista bloc (MRS 16, BUS-Sandinista 9, FSLN 8, Sandinista Group of Reflection 4, FSLN-independents 2) 39

Name of country

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

Capital

Managua

Administrative divisions

  • 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regions autonomista, singular - region autonomista);
  • Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Atlantica Norte*, Atlantica Sur*, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution

9 January 1987

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:
  • President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990) was elected for a six-year term (amended to a five-year term in July 1995) by universal suffrage;
  • Vice President Julia MENA Rivera (since 22 October 1995) replaced Virgilio GODOY, who resigned to run for the presidency in 1996 as required by law;
  • election last held 25 February 1990 (next to be held 20 October 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 25 February 1990 (next to be held NA October 1996);
  • results - UNO coalition 53.9%, Sandinista bloc 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%;
  • seats - (92 total) UNO coalition 53 (Center Group 9, UDC 6, PSD 5, APC 5, PLC 5, PLI 4, PND 3, PAN 3, PNC 3, MDN 2, PCdeN 2, independents 6) and Sandinista bloc 39 (MRS 16, BUS-Sandinista 9, FSLN 8, Sandinista Group of Reflection 4, FSLN-independents 2)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges elected for a six-year term (amended to a seven-year term in July 1995) by the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders

right:
  • Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Arnold ALEMAN;
  • Conservative Popular Alliance Party (APC), Myriam ARGUELLO;
  • Independent Liberal Party for National Unity (PLIUN), Carlos GUERRA Gallardo;
  • Conservative Action Movement (MAC);
  • Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCN - formed in 1992 by the merger of the Conservative Social Party or PSC with the Democratic Conservative Party or PCD and the Conservative party of Labor or PCL), Fernando AGUERO;
  • National Conservative Party (PNC), Adolfo CALERO, Noel VIDUARRE
center right:
  • Neoliberal Party (PALI), Ricardo VEGA Garcia;
  • Nicaraguan Resistance Party (PRN), Fabio GADEA, Enrique QUINONEZ;
  • Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO;
  • National Project (PRONAL), Antonio LACAYO Oyanguren;
  • Nicaraguan Democratic Alliance Party (PADENIC), Pedro MAYORGA Knilands;
  • Nationalist Liberal Party (PLN), Roberto CASTILLO Quant;
  • Party for Liberal Unity (PUL), Haroldo MONTEALEGRE;
  • Fuerza '96, Francesco MAYORGA
center left:
  • Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN;
  • Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Alfredo GUZMAN;
  • Social Democratic Party (PSD), Adolfo JARQUIN;
  • National Justice Party (PJN), Jorge DIAZ Cruz;
  • National Action Party (PAN), Delvis MONTIEL;
  • Renovating Action Movement (MAR), Pablo HERNANDEZ;
  • Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), Sergio RAMIREZ;
  • Social Christian Party (PCS), Erick RAMIREZ;
  • Democratic Action Party (PAD), Eden PASTORA;
  • "Up with Nicaragua" (Arriba Nicaragua), Alvaro ROBELO;
  • National Democratic Party (PND), Alfredo CESAR Aquirre;
  • Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez
left:
  • Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA;
  • Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA;
  • Popular Action Movement-Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ;
  • Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo TABLADA;
  • Unidad Nicaraguense de Obreros, Campesinos, y Profesionales (UNOCP), Rosalio GONZALEZ Urbina;
  • Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS Echaverry

note: the UNO coalition that won the 1990 elections no longer exists; the different blocs that formerly were united under the UNO umbrella and their opposition to the Sandinistas now act and vote independently

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

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Roberto Genaro MAYORGA Cortes
chancery:
1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 939-6570
consulate(s) general:
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:
Ambassador John F. MAISTO
embassy:
Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
mailing address:
APO AA 34021
telephone:
[505] (2) 666010 through 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032 through 33

FAX

[505] (2) 669074

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

The Nicaraguan economy, devastated during the | 1980s by economic mismanagement and civil war, is beginning to | rebound.

21 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,700
(1995 est.)
Real growth rate
4.2%
(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 1.4% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
20%substantial underemployment
(1995 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$389 millionExpenditures
$551 million (1996 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 460,000 kW

Electricity production
1.64 billion (1994)Electricity consumption per capita
376 (1993)

Economic overview

The Nicaraguan economy, devastated during the 1980s by economic mismanagement and civil war, is beginning to rebound. Since March 1991, when President CHAMORRO launched 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. After rising again to an estimated 20% in 1993, the annual inflation rate was 11.7% in 1994 and 11.4% in 1995. While economic growth was flat in 1992 and negative in 1993, the 1995 growth rate is about 4%, thanks to surges in most export categories.

Recent legislation (November 1995) authorizing the privatization of the TELCOR telecommunications company and resolving the issue of property confiscated by the previous Sandinista government may reassure potential investors. The government's efforts to liberalize trade include a December 1995 decision to stop requiring exporters to bring their foreign exchange earnings into Nicaragua.

On the debt front, the Nicaraguan Government launched a successful debt buyback program in 1995, purchasing 73% of its $1.373 billion commercial debt inherited from previous governments. Progress also occurred on reducing bilateral debt in November 1995 as Nicaragua reached an agreement with Germany, reducing Nicaragua's $616 million debt to the former GDR by 80%. Debt reduction agreements with Paris Club creditors and rescheduling with the US also took place. Unemployment remains a pressing problem, however, with roughly half the country's population unemployed or underemployed.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.1 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture:
NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%

Labor force

1.086 million; by occupation: services 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)

Industries

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

Agriculture

coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

Exports

$525.5 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities:
meat, coffee, cotton, sugar, seafood, gold, bananas
partners:
US, Central America, Canada, Germany

Imports

$870 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)

commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products
partners:
Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan

External debt

$11.7 billion (1994)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 7.98 (December 1995), 6.72 (1994), 5.62 (1993), 5.00 (1992), 4.27 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 148 in all

1
over 3 047 m
1
2 438 to 3 047 m
3
1 524 to 2 437 m
1
3
914 to 1 523 m
32
107
under 914 m
PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways
26,000Railways
0Waterways
2,220
Highways: paved: 4,000 km · unpaved: 22,000 km (1993 est.) note: there is a 368.5 km portion of the Pan-American Highway which is not included in the total · Railways: narrow gauge: 0 km 1.067-m gauge; note - part of the previous 376 km system was closed and dismantled in 1993 and, in 1994, the remainder was closed, the track and rolling stock being sold for scrap · Waterways: , including 2 large lakes

Railways

total:
0 km
narrow gauge:
0 km 1.067-m gauge; note - part of the previous 376 km system was closed and dismantled in 1993 and, in 1994, the remainder was closed, the track and rolling stock being sold for scrap

Highways

total:
26,000 km
paved:
4,000 km
unpaved:
22,000 km (1993 est.)

note: there is a 368.5 km portion of the Pan-American Highway which is not included in the total

Waterways

2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Pipelines

crude oil 56 km

Ports

Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur

Communications

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

9 fields
Fixed lines
66,810
(1993 est.)

Telephone system

low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System

domestic:
wire and microwave radio relay
international:
satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3

Radios

1.037 million (1992 est.)

Televisions

260,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

Manpower availability

males age 15-49:
988,883
males fit for military service:
608,753
males reach military age (18) annually:
47,786 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $28.1 million, NA% of GDP (1996)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Nicaragua.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nicaragua/1996.

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