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Introduction | Nicaragua

Background:

The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001, saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Geography | Nicaragua

Location: | Central 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
Area: | total: 129,494 sq km land: 120,254 sq km water: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries: | total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: | 910 km
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate: | tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: | extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: | gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: | arable land: 14.81% permanent crops: 1.82% other: 83.37% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 880 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Environment - current issues: | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note: | largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

People | Nicaragua

Population: | 5,570,129 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 36.4% (male 1,031,897/female 994,633) 15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,677,633/female 1,691,353) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 76,758/female 97,855) (2006 est.)
Median age: | total: 20.9 years male: 20.5 years female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate: | 1.89% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: | 24.51 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: | 4.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate: | -1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 28.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 70.63 years male: 68.55 years female: 72.81 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 2.75 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 6,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: | mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions: | Roman Catholic 72.9%, Evangelical 15.1%, Moravian 1.5%, Episcopal 0.1%, other 1.9%, none 8.5% (1995 census)
Languages: | Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census) note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.5% male: 67.2% female: 67.8% (2003 est.)

Government | Nicaragua

Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua
Government type: | republic
Capital: | Managua
Administrative divisions: | 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence: | 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: | 9 January 1987; reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system: | civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: | 16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo (since 10 October 2005); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo was elected Vice President by the deputies of the National Assembly after Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon resigned on 27 September 2005
head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Alfredo GOMEZ Urcuyo (since 10 October 2005); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president - 56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PCN) 1.4%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; members are elected by proportional representation and party lists to serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seat for the runner-up in previous presidential election); note - current Assembly has only 91 seats
elections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PCCN, PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PC 2.12%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 53, FSLN 38, PC 1

Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon]; Central American Unionist Party or PUCA [Blanca ROJAS]; Christian Alternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]; Conservative Party or PC [Mario Sebastian RAPPACCIOLI]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; Independent Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN [Carlos GUERRA Gallardo]; Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Liberal Salvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; New Liberal Party or PALI [Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO Molina]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Dora Maria TELLEZ]; Unity Alliance or AU [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

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

International organization participation: | BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Paul A. TRIVELLI embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] 266-6010 FAX: [505] 266-3861

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 | Nicaragua

Economy - overview:

Nicaragua, one of the Western Hemisphere's poorest countries, has low per capita income, widespread underemployment, and a heavy external debt burden. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe. While the country has progressed toward macroeconomic stability in the past few years, GDP annual growth has been far too low to meet the country's needs, forcing the country to rely on international economic assistance to meet fiscal and debt financing obligations. Nicaragua qualified in early 2004 for some $45 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative because of its earlier successful performances under its International Monetary Fund policy program and other efforts. In October 2005, Nicaragua ratified the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which will provide an opportunity for Nicaragua to attract investment, create jobs, and deepen economic development. High oil prices helped drive inflation to 9.6% in 2005, leading to a fall in real GDP growth to 4% from over 5% in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity): | $13.24 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $5.03 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $2,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 18.1% industry: 26.6% services: 55.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: | 2.01 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 30.5%, industry 17.3%, services 52.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 6.9% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 45% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 55.1 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 9.6% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed): | 30.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $1.134 billion expenditures: $1.358 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: | 130% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: | coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp, lobsters
Industries: | food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Industrial production growth rate: | 2.4% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production: | 2.887 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 83.9% hydro: 7.7% nuclear: 0% other: 8.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 1.848 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports: | 21.8 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports: | 23.3 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production: | 14,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports: | 758.9 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: | 15,560 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance: | $-799.8 million (2005 est.)
Exports: | $1.55 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities: | coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Exports - partners: | US 64.8%, El Salvador 7%, Mexico 3.6% (2004)
Imports: | $2.865 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities: | consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products
Imports - partners: | US 22.6%, Costa Rica 8.5%, Venezuela 8.4%, Guatemala 6.8%, Mexico 5.8%, El Salvador 4.9%, South Korea 4.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $730 million (31 December 2005 est.)
Debt - external: | $5.144 billion (31 December 2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | $419.5 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code): | gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code: | NIO
Exchange rates: | gold cordobas per US dollar - 16.733 (2005), 15.937 (2004), 15.105 (2003), 14.251 (2002), 13.372 (2001)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Nicaragua

Telephones - main lines in use: | 214,500 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 738,600 (2004)
Telephone system: | general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreign investment domestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System international: country code - 505; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: | 1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: | 320,000 (1997)
Internet country code: | .ni
Internet hosts: | 12,628 (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 3 (2000)
Internet users: | 125,000 (2005)

Transportation | Nicaragua

Airports: | 176 (2005)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2005)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 141 (2005)
Pipelines: | oil 54 km (2004)
Railways: | total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Roadways: | total: 18,658 km paved: 2,120 km unpaved: 16,538 km (2003)
Waterways: | 2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2005)
Ports and terminals: | Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff

Military | Nicaragua

Military branches: | Army (includes Navy, Air Force)
Military service age and obligation: | 17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 17-49: 1,309,970 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 17-49: 1,051,425 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males: 65,170 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $32.27 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 0.7% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues | Nicaragua

Disputes - international:

Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica

Illicit drugs: | transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

This page was last updated on 29 March, 2006