2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.7% (male 984,719; female 949,282) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,510,352; female 1,527,991) 65 years and over: 3% (male 68,332; female 87,841) (2003 est.)

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

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

Birth rate

26.29 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Capital

Managua

Climate

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Coastline

910 km

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

Death rate

4.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mogoton 2,438 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

Ethnic groups

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

Executive branch

chief of state

President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government

President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 85 00 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

400 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,800 (2001 est.)

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Infant mortality rate

female

27.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

35.08 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.39 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

880 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

total

1,231 km

Land use

arable land

20.24%

other

77.38% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

2.38%

Languages

Spanish (official)

note

English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast

Legal system

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.79 years (2003 est.)

male

67.68 years

total population

69.68 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

67.8% (2003 est.) Government Nicaragua

male

67.2%

total population

67.5%

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

continental shelf

natural prolongation

territorial sea

200 NM

Median age

female

20.8 years (2002)

male

20 years

total

20.4 years

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Nationality

adjective

Nicaraguan

noun

Nicaraguan(s)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

5,128,517 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2.03% (2003 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

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

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

176 (2002)

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 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23

under 914 m

141 (2002) Military Nicaragua

Budget

expenditures

$908 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$726 million

Currency

gold cordoba (NIO)

Currency code

NIO

Debt - external

$5.8 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE

embassy

Apartado Postal 327, Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua

mailing address

APO AA 34021

telephone

[505] 266-6010, 266-2298, 266-6013

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December 2003)

consulate(s) general

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

Disputes - international

territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank region; 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; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica

Distribution of family income - Gini index

60.3 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

Substantial foreign support

Economy - overview

Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per capita income, flagging socio-economic indicators, and huge external debt. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe. While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic stability over the past few years, a banking crisis and scandal has shaken the economy. Nicaragua will continue to be dependent on international aid and debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Donors have made aid conditional on the openness of government financial operation, poverty alleviation, and human rights. Nicaragua met the conditions for additional debt service relief in December 2000. Growth should move up moderately in 2003 because of increased private investment and exports.

Electricity - consumption

2.388 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

17 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

2.549 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

83.9%

hydro

7.7%

nuclear

0%

other

8.4% (2001)

Exchange rates

gold cordobas per US dollar - 14.25 (2002), 13.37 (2001), 12.68 (2000), 11.81 (1999), 10.58 (1998)

Exports

$637 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 59.4%, El Salvador 7.5%, Honduras 4.8% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 939-6542

[505] 266-9074

chancery

1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone

[1] (202) 939-6570

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Nicaragua

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.16 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

30%

industry

26%

services

44% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.1% (2002 est.)

Highways

paved

2,094 km

total

19,032 km

unpaved

16,938 km (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

48.8% (1998)

lowest 10%

0.7%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$1.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 23.7%, Costa Rica 10.3%, Venezuela 10.1%, Guatemala 7.8%, Mexico 6.7%, El Salvador 6%, South Korea 4.6% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.ni

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

20,000 (2000) Transportation Nicaragua

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

1.7 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

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

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, PC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 1

elections

last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$26 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY98) Transnational Issues Nicaragua

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,347,033 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

825,906 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

59,903 (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

24,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

oil 54 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Virgilio GODOY]; Liberal Alliance (ruling alliance including Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC, New Liberal Party or PALI, Independent Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN, and Central American Unionist Party or PUCA) [leader NA]; National Conservative Party or PC [Pedro SOLARZANO, Noel VIDAURRE]; National Project or PRONAL [Benjamin LANZAS]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Sergio RAMIREZ]; Unity Alliance or AU [Alejandro SERRANO]; Union Nacional Opositora 96 or UNO-96 [Alfredo CESAR Aguirre]

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

Population below poverty line

50% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.24 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

6 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)

total

6 km

Telephone system

domestic

low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System

general assessment

inadequate system being upgraded by foreign investment

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

7,911 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

320,000 (1997)

Unemployment rate

24% plus considerable underemployment (2002 est.)

Waterways

2,220 km (including 2 large lakes)