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Nicaragua

Rank #109 by populationNorth America

Officially Republic of Nicaragua

Population 2025
7,007,502
0.08% of world population
World Bank, 2025
Annual Growth
+1.31%
+91,938 people a year
World Bank, 2025
Density
57/km²
120,340 km² land area
World Bank, 2023
Median Age
26.0 years
Life expectancy 75.1 years
Our World in Data, 2025

About Nicaragua

With a population of 7,007,502, Nicaragua ranks 108th globally and spans 120,340 km² across Central America between Honduras and Costa Rica. The country experiences modest growth of 1.3% annually, supported by a relatively young median age of 26 years and a fertility rate of 2.2 births per woman. Urban areas account for 59% of the population, while the remainder inhabit lower-density rural regions at an average of 57 people per km².

Life expectancy reaches 75.1 years, reflecting the nation's health outcomes. Spanish is the primary language, and the Nicaraguan córdoba serves as the official currency. As a republic established in 1821, the country maintains this governmental structure today. With a GDP per capita of $3,173, Nicaragua's economy operates at a modest scale relative to global standards.

This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.

Country Facts

Capital
Managua
Continent
North America
ISO codes
NI · NIC
Demonym
Nicaraguan
Currency
Nicaraguan córdoba (NIO C$)
Government
Republic
State inception
1821
Time zone
UTC−06:00
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+505
Internet TLD
.ni
Land neighbours
2

Languages

  • Spanish

Demographics

Urban Population144th of 240
59.4%
World Bank, 2025
Fertility Rate97th of 240
2.21 births per woman
World Bank, 2024
Birth Rate79th of 213
19.1 per 1,000
World Bank, 2024
Death Rate198th of 213
4.6 per 1,000
World Bank, 2024

Economy

GDP per Capita182nd of 240
$3,173
World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth56th of 210
+4.9%
World Bank, 2025
Unemployment Rate99th of 186
5.0%
World Bank, 2025
Inflation Rate128th of 191
2.1%
World Bank, 2025
Poverty Rate68th of 164
24.9%
World Bank, 2016
Gini Index13th of 170
46.2
World Bank, 2014

Health

Infant Mortality115th of 194
9.4 per 1,000 live births
World Bank, 2024
Health Spending57th of 192
8.3% of GDP
World Bank, 2023
Physicians143rd of 206
0.68 per 1,000
World Bank, 2018
Hospital Beds161st of 199
0.97 per 1,000
World Bank, 2022
Maternal Mortality86th of 193
60 per 100,000 live births
World Bank, 2023
Obesity Rate44th of 198
34.0%
Our World in Data, 2024

Education

Literacy Rate116th of 175
87.3%
World Bank, 2014
Education Spending157th of 202
2.9% of GDP
World Bank, 2023
School Enrollment157th of 207
70.2% gross, secondary
World Bank, 2023
Mean Years of Schooling107th of 148
7.8 years
Our World in Data, 2020

Environment

Renewable Energy47th of 211
50.4% of final consumption
World Bank, 2021
Forest Coverage115th of 211
25.8% of land area
World Bank, 2023
Protected Areas83rd of 211
21.2% of land area
World Bank, 2025
CO₂ Emissions164th of 212
0.81 tonnes per capita
Our World in Data, 2024

Infrastructure

Internet Penetration148th of 211
61.4%
World Bank, 2024
Mobile Subscriptions131st of 212
106.0 per 100 people
World Bank, 2024

Quality of Life

Human Development Index122nd of 192
0.706
Our World in Data, 2023
Happiness Index52nd of 164
6.30/ 10
Our World in Data, 2025

Geography

Land Area100th of 240
120,340 km²
World Bank, 2023

Military

Military Spending151st of 163
0.55% of GDP
World Bank, 2024

Age & Gender Distribution

Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.

Male Female
100+95-9990-9485-8980-8475-7970-7465-6960-6455-5950-5445-4940-4435-3930-3425-2920-2415-1910-145-90-4339K339KAge
Age 0–14
28.8%
Age 15–64
65.7%
Age 65+
5.5%
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.
Nicaragua population pyramid
Age bandMaleFemale
100+530
95-9997473
90-949973,172
85-895,52411,370
80-8415,46324,383
75-7927,55440,023
70-7446,07063,432
65-6963,13180,989
60-6486,806104,823
55-59117,343132,390
50-54150,815163,267
45-49181,857197,551
40-44211,938232,420
35-39249,095263,690
30-34286,644289,481
25-29305,360299,906
20-24313,478305,853
15-19330,300321,409
10-14339,226329,554
5-9337,745327,723
0-4332,512322,245

Population History & Projection (1950–2100)

Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.

02M4M6M8M1950197520002025205020752100projected →
Nicaragua's population was 1.33M in 1950 and is projected at 8.61M by 2100. Peak of 9.24M in 2071. Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (estimates to 2024, medium variant thereafter).
Nicaragua population, 1950 to 2100
YearPopulation
19501,331,439
19601,782,370
19702,423,065
19803,252,403
19904,162,559
20005,022,633
20105,737,450
20206,565,267
20307,441,603
20408,189,914
20508,756,430
20609,107,127
20709,235,612
20809,164,172
20908,938,113
21008,611,722

How Nicaragua Compares

Population against the ten most populous countries.

  1. India1.46B
  2. China1.41B
  3. United States341.8M
  4. Indonesia285.7M
  5. Pakistan255.2M
  6. Nigeria237.5M
  7. Brazil212.8M
  8. Bangladesh175.7M
  9. Russia143.5M
  10. Ethiopia135.5M
  11. Nicaragua7.01M
Sources as cited on each country page.
Nicaragua compared with the ten largest countries by population
NamePopulation
India1.46B
China1.41B
United States341.8M
Indonesia285.7M
Pakistan255.2M
Nigeria237.5M
Brazil212.8M
Bangladesh175.7M
Russia143.5M
Ethiopia135.5M
Nicaragua7.01M

Countries Bordering Nicaragua

2 land borders.

Nicaragua Population FAQ

What is the population of Nicaragua in 2026?

Nicaragua has a population of 7,007,502 people (2025 estimate), which is 109th in the world and about 0.08% of the global total.

Is the population of Nicaragua growing or shrinking?

Nicaragua's population is growing at +1.31% per year, a change of roughly 91,938 people annually.

What is the capital of Nicaragua?

The capital of Nicaragua is Managua.

How densely populated is Nicaragua?

Nicaragua has 57/km² across 120,340 km² of land area.

What is life expectancy in Nicaragua?

Life expectancy at birth in Nicaragua is 75.1 years (2024).

What is the median age in Nicaragua?

The median age in Nicaragua is 26.0 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.

Which continent is Nicaragua in?

Nicaragua is in North America.

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