2000 Edition

Background

Settled as a colony of Spain in the 1520s, Nicaragua gained its independence in 1821. 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 and again in 1996 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Area

land

120,254 sq km

total

129,494 sq km

water

9,240 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the state of New York

Climate

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Coastline

910 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mogoton 2,438 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 85 00 W

Irrigated land

880 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

total

1,231 km

Land use

arable land

9%

forests and woodland

27%

other

17% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

46%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

25-nm security zone

continental shelf

natural prolongation

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 40% (male 971,580; female 936,888) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,372,169; female 1,392,861) 65 years and over: 3% (male 60,539; female 78,532) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

28.26 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

34.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official)

note

English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.77 years (2000 est.)

male

66.81 years

total population

68.74 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

66.6% (1995 est.)

male

64.6%

total population

65.7%

Nationality

adjective

Nicaraguan

noun

Nicaraguan(s)

Net migration rate

-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

4,812,569 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.2% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.27 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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*

Capital

Managua

Constitution

9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Nicaragua

conventional short form

Nicaragua

local long form

Republica de Nicaragua

local short form

Nicaragua

Data code

NU

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Oliver P. GARZA

embassy

Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua

mailing address

APO AA 34021

telephone

(2) 662298, 666010, 666012, 666013, 666015, 666018, 666026, 666027, 666032, 666033

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa

telephone

(202) 939-6570

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance - ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other candidates) 4.33%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001); note - in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years

head of government

President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

FAX

(202) 939-6542

(2) 669074

consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York

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

Government type

republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

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, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, 16 judges elected for seven-year terms by the National Assembly

Legal system

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Legislative branch

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

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

elections

last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties and leaders

Central American Integrationist Party or PIAC ; Central American Unionist Party or PUCA [Blanca ROJAS Echaverry]; Conservative Action Movement or MAC [Hernaldo ZUNIGA]; Conservative National Party or PNC [Adolfo CALERO, Noel VIDAURRE]; Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI ; Independent Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN ; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC ; Movement for Revolutionary Unity or MUR ; National Democratic Party or PND ; National Project or PRONAL [Antonio LACAYO Oyanguren]; Nationalist Liberal Party or PLN [Enrique SANCHEZ Herdocia]; Neoliberal Party or PALI ; Nicaraguan Democratic Movement or MDN ; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Road or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN ; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN ; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS ; Social Christian Party or PSC ; Social Democratic Party or PSD ; Unity Alliance or AU ; UNO-96 Alliance

note

political blocs include: left - FSLN; center left - MRS, PSD, PSC, MUR, PIAC, AU, PCN, PND, PUCA, UNO-96 Alliance, and MDN; center right - PALI, PRN, PLI, PRONAL, and MAC; right - PCCN, PLC, PLIUN, PNC, and PLN

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: 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; and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG; National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista

umbrella group of eight labor unions

Sandinista Workers Central or CST; Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor

unions

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

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Budget

expenditures

$617 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$527 million

Currency

1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$5.7 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

pledges of $1.4 billion in new aid in 1999

Economy - overview

Nicaragua is one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, with low per capita income, flagging socio-economic indicators, and huge external debt. The country has made significant progress toward macro-economic stabilization over the past few years - even with the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998. International aid, debt relief, and continued foreign investment have contributed to the stabilization process. GDP grew 6.3% in 1999, while inflation remained about 12%, and unemployment dropped. Nicaragua may qualify for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, though aid is conditioned on improving governability, the openness of government financial operations, poverty alleviation, and human rights.

Electricity - consumption

2.52 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

99 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

95 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

2.714 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

53.43%

hydro

35.34%

nuclear

0%

other

11.23% (1998)

Exchange rates

gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 12.29 (December 1999),11.81 (1999), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995)

Exports

$573 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, beef, sugar, bananas; gold

Exports - partners

US 35%, Germany 13%, El Salvador 10%, Spain 4%, Costa Rica 4%, France 2% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $12.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

34%

industry

22%

services

44% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,650 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.3% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)

Imports

$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 31%, Costa Rica 11%, Guatemala 8%, Venezuela 6%, El Salvador 5%, Mexico 4% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (1998 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12% (1999 est.)

Labor force

1.7 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

services 43%, agriculture 42%, industry 15% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.5% (1999 est.); considerable underemployment

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.24 million (1997)

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

140,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4,400 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

320,000 (1997)

Airports

182 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

11 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 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

171 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 144 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

1,818 km

total

16,382 km

unpaved

14,564 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 56 km

Ports and harbors

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

Waterways

2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$26 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,229,103 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 755,002 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

57,125 (2000 est.)

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 ICJ referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras in the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs

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

NIGERIA