Nicaragua

Republic of NicaraguaRepublica de Nicaragua

republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Nicaragua as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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

Populationas each edition published it

4.58 million July 1998 est. · 3.72m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.92% 1998 est. · 2.74% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

66.62 years 1998 est. · 63.5 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.28 children per woman 1998 est. · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

42.26 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 68 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,100 1997 est. · $425 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6% 1997 est. · 0.5% in 1993

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 129,494 sq km

arable land 9%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 46%forests and woodland 27%other 17% (1993 est.)irrigated 880 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

129,494sq km

land: 120,254 sq kmwater: 9,240 sq kmslightly smaller than New York State

Coastline

910km

contiguous zone: 25-nm security zonecontinental shelf: natural prolongationterritorial sea: 200 nm

Highest point

2,438m

Mogotonlowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

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

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes

Environment-current issues

deforestation;
soil erosion;
water pollution

Environment-international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

People

15 fields

Population

4,583,379

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 2.92% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

36.04Death

5.8Net migration

-1.09

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)66.62

64.26 · 69.08

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)65.7%

64.6% · 66.6%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 44% (male 1,017,190; female 1,000,436)
15-64 years:: 53% (male 1,191,323; female 1,251,828)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 52,836; female 69,766) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.76 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

42.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective:: Nicaraguan

Languages

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

Government

Republic; President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

46.03%

Liberal Alliance (ruling party-includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%FSLN 36.55%PCCN 3.73%PCN 2.12%MRS 1.33%last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

Legislature, 93 seats, elected 20 October 1996one dot, one seat

Liberal Alliance 42FSLN 36PCCN 4PCN 3PRONAL 2MRS 1PRN 1PNC 1PLI 1AU 1UNO-96 Alliance 1

Percent of vote

Liberal Alliance (ruling party-includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%FSLN 36.55%PCCN 3.73%PCN 2.12%MRS 1.33%

Country name

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

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997)
head of government:: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997)
cabinet:: Cabinet
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001);
note-in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years
election results:: Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, others (18 other candidates) remaining 4.33%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results:: percent of vote by party-Liberal Alliance (ruling party-includes
PLC,
PALI,
PLIUN,
and PUCA) 46.03%,
FSLN 36.55%,
PCCN 3.73%,
PCN 2.12%,
MRS 1.33%
;
seats by party-Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected for a seven-year term by the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders

right:: Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Road (PCCN), Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ;
Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose RIZO Castellon;
Independent Liberal Party for National Unity (PLIUN), Carlos GUERRA Gallardo;
National Conservative Party (PCN), Adolfo CALERO, Noel VIDAURRE;
Nationalist Liberal Party (PLN), Enrique SANCHEZ Herdocia
center right:: Neoliberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel;
Nicaraguan Resistance Party (PRN), Fabio GADEA;
Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Virgilio GODOY;
National Project (PRONAL), Antonio LACAYO Oyanguren;
Conservative Action Movement (MAC), Hernaldo ZUNIGA
center left:: Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), Sergio RAMIREZ;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Adolfo JARQUIN;
Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ;
Movement for Revolutionary Unity (MUR), NA;
Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC), NA;
Unity Alliance (AU), Alejandro SERRANO;
Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCN), Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha;
National Democratic Party (PND), Alfredo CESAR Aguirre;
Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS Echaverry;
UNO-96 Alliance, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre;
Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Alfredo GUZMAN
left:: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra

Political pressure groups and leaders

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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ
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 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 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.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$9.3billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$2,100

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 1.4% (1994 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

11.6%

(1996)

GDP-composition by sector(1995)

agriculture 34%industry 21%services 45% (1995)

Budget

Revenues

$389 millionExpenditures

$551 million (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Fixed lines

66,810

(1993 est.)

Economy-overview

The Nicaraguan economy, devastated during the 1980s by economic mismanagement and civil war, is beginning to rebound. In 1991 President CHAMORRO launched an ambitious economic stabilization program that reduced inflation and obtained substantial economic aid from abroad. Economic growth rose sharply in 1995-97, due to surges in exports and efforts to enhance trade liberalization.

The program, however, hit some snags, and a 1994-97 IMF Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) signed by the CHAMORRO administration with the Fund lapsed in September 1996 due to non-compliance. In 1997, however, the IMF resumed negotiations for an ESAF with the ALEMAN administration, and agreed to an ESAF in 1998.

IMF approval of the ESAF cleared the way for debt relief by the Paris Club later that year and has opened the way for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. Implementation of a 1997 property accord-designed to resolve conflict over properties confiscated by the Sandinistas in the 1980s-should also help inspire international investor confidence.

Strong growth is forecast for 1998, with implementation of a 1997 free trade agreement with Mexico expected to boost agricultural exports, although the industrial sector may come under pressure from increased Mexican competition.

Labor force

total:: 1.5 million
by occupation:: services 54%, agriculture 31%, industry 15% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

16%; underemployment 36% (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

457,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production

1.76 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

416 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

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

Exports

total value:: $635 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities:: coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas
partners:: US, Central America, Germany, Canada

Imports

total value:: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities:: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products
partners:: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan

Debt-external

$6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

gold cordobas (C$) per US$1-9.76 (October 1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72 (1994), 5.62 (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

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.)

Television broadcast stations

7 (1994 est.)

Televisions

260,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

144

total: 172 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 27

Networkskm

Highways

18,000Railways

0Waterways

2,220

Highways: paved: 1,818 km · unpaved: 16,182 km (1996 est.) · 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:: 18,000 km
paved:: 1,818 km
unpaved:: 16,182 km (1996 est.)

Military

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

7 fields

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

1.35%

(1996)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes-international

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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US NIGER

Central Intelligence Agency. “Nicaragua.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/nicaragua/1998.

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