Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Introduction

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. After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra was elected president in 2006. The 2008 municipal elections were marred by widespread irregularities. Nicaragua’s infrastructure and economy – hard hit by the earlier civil war and by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 – are slowly being rebuilt, but democratic institutions have been weakened under the ORTEGA administration.

Geography

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: 130,370 sq km
country comparison to the world: 98 land:119,990 sq km
water:10,380 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than New York state

Land boundaries

total: 1,231 km
border countries:Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Coastline

910 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 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

610 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

196.7 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.3cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)
per capita:237cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

volcanoes

landslides

extremely susceptible to hurricanes
volcanism:Nicaragua experiences significant volcanic activity

Cerro Negro (elev. 728 m), which last erupted in 1999, is one of Nicaragua’s most active volcanoes

its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings

other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica

Environment – current issues

deforestation

soil erosion

water pollution

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

largest country in Central America

contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective:Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Spanish (official) 97.5%, Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)
note:English and indigenous languages found on the Atlantic coast

Religions

Roman Catholic 58.5%, Protestant 23.2% (Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%), Jehovah’s Witnesses 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)

Population

5,666,301 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.7% (male 913,905/female 879,818)
15-64 years:63.8% (male 1,743,591/female 1,874,025)
65 years and over:4.5% (male 116,153/female 138,809) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 22.9 years
male:22.1 years
female:23.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.088% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Birth rate

19.46 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Death rate

5.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Net migration rate

-3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Urbanization

urban population: 57% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

MANAGUA (capital) 934,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.78 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

100 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 71

Infant mortality rate

total: 22.64 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 88 male:25.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female:19.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.9 years
country comparison to the world: 130 male:69.82 years
female:74.09 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.12 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Health expenditures

9.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 38

Physicians density

0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2003)
country comparison to the world: 133

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 68% of population
total: 85% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 32% of population
total: 15% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 63% of population
rural: 37% of population
total: 52% of population
unimproved:
urban: 37% of population
rural: 63% of population
total: 48% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

6,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease:leptospirosis (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.3% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 90

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 130

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:67.5%
male:67.2%
female:67.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years
male:11 years
female:11 years (2003)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 8.6%
country comparison to the world: 112 male:8.1%
female:9.7% (2006)

Government

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

name: Managua
geographic coordinates:12 09 N, 86 17 W
time difference:UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

15 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular – region autonoma)

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

revised in 1995, 2000, and 2005

Legal system

civil law system

Supreme Court may review administrative acts

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

16 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)

Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007)

note – the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)

Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term so long as it is not consecutive)

election last held on 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)
election results:Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra elected president – 38.1%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE 29%, Jose RIZO 26.2%, Edmundo JARQUIN 6.4%, other 0.3%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats

90 members 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)
elections:last held on 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 24, MRS 5

note – political parties have been reorganized to reflect the following seat distribution: as of 1 March 2011 – seats by party – FSLN 37, PLC 20, BDN 13, ALN 7, MRS 4, BUN 5, Independent 6

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (16 judges elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)

note – in 2010, President Ortega directly replaced seven justices on the Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Conservative Party or PC [Alejandro BOLANOS Davis]

Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Indalecio RODRIGUEZ]

Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]

Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN [Alejandro MEJIA Ferreti]

Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]

Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Enrique SAENZ-NAVARRETE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Workers Front or FNT (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 (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 (an independent labor union)

Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP (a confederation of business groups)

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Obadiah CAMPBELL Hooker
chancery:1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 939-6570, 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 Robert J. CALLAHAN
embassy:Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address:American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021
telephone:[505] 252-7100, 252-7888

252-7634 (after hours)
FAX:[505] 252-7304

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

the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America

the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water
note: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

National symbol(s)

turquoise-browed motmot (bird)

National anthem

name: “Salve a ti, Nicaragua” (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)
lyrics/music:Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO
note:although only officially adopted in 1971, the music was approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939

the tune, originally from Spain, was used as an anthem for Nicaragua from the 1830″s until 1876

Economy

Economy – overview

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many agricultural and manufactured goods. Textiles and apparel account for nearly 60% of Nicaragua’s exports, but increases in the minimum wage during the ORTEGA administration will likely erode its comparative advantage in this industry. ORTEGA’s promotion of mixed business initiatives, owned by the Nicaraguan and Venezuelan state oil firms, together with the weak rule of law, could undermine the investment climate for domestic and international private firms in the near-term. Nicaragua relies on international economic assistance to meet internal- and external-debt financing obligations. Foreign donors have curtailed this funding, however, in response to November 2008 electoral fraud. Managua has an IMF extended Credit Facility program, which could help keep the government’s fiscal deficit on target during the 2011 election year and encourage transparency in the use of Venezuelan off-budget loans and assistance. In early 2004, Nicaragua secured some $4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, however, Managua still struggles with a high public debt burden. Nicaragua is gradually recovering from the global economic crisis as increased exports drove positive growth in 2010. The economy is expected to grow at a rate of about 3% in 2011.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.71 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130 $16.95 billion (2009 est.)
$17.2 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.551 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81 -1.5% (2009 est.)
2.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$3,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168 $2,900 (2009 est.)
$3,000 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 18.5%
industry:25.9%
services:55.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.811 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 28%
industry:19%
services:53% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87 8.2% (2009 est.)
note:underemployment was 46.5% in 2008

Population below poverty line

48% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%:41.8% (2005)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

43.1 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 48 60.3 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Budget

revenues: $2.12 billion
expenditures:$2.156 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Public debt

63.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27 63.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 3.7% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3% (31 December 2010 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.32% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72 14.04% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.229 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135 $965.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.924 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135 $2.523 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$4.003 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115 $4.061 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

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, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity – production

3.419 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity – consumption

2.646 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

2 million kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

377 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

Oil – consumption

30,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Oil – exports

742 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Oil – imports

30,290 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Current account balance

-$944 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129 -$827.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$3.157 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121 $2.39 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts

textiles and apparel

Exports – partners

US 58.2%, El Salvador 7.7%, Canada 6.4%, Venezuela 4.2% (2010)

Imports

$4.792 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117 $3.929 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products

Imports – partners

US 23.4%, Venezuela 16.7%, Costa Rica 8.8%, China 7.2%, Mexico 6.7%, Guatemala 6%, El Salvador 4.6% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.799 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 $1.573 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$4.739 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113 $4.42 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

cordobas (NIO) per US dollar -
21.35 (2010)
20.34 (2009)
19.374 (2008)
18.457 (2007)
17.582 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

143 (2010)
country comparison to the world:40

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 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 132
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:16
under 914 m:115 (2010)

Pipelines

oil 54 km (2010)

Roadways

total: 19,137 km
country comparison to the world: 112 paved:2,033 km
unpaved:17,104 km (2009)

Waterways

2,220 km (navigable waterways as well as the use of the large Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua

rivers serve only the sparsely populated eastern part of the country) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 40

Ports and terminals

Bluefields, Corinto

Military

Military branches

National Army of Nicaragua (Ejercito Nacional de Nicaragua, ENN

includes Navy, Air Force) (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service

tour of duty 18-36 months

requires Nicaraguan nationality and 6th-grade education (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,452,107
females age 16-49:1,552,698 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,227,757
females age 16-49:1,335,653 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 69,093
female:67,522 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 153

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in Nicaragua’s 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the western Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are scheduled for 2007

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