2012 Edition

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 and reelected in 2011. The 2008 municipal elections, 2010 regional elections, November 2011 presidential elections, and 2012 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.

Area

130,370 sq km 119,990 sq km 10,380 sq km

total

130,370 sq km

water

10,380 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New York state

Climate

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Coastline

910 km

Elevation extremes

Pacific Ocean 0 m Mogoton 2,438 m

highest point

Mogoton 2,438 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements

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 none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

1.3 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%) 237 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

237 cu m/yr (2000)

total

1.3 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)

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

Irrigated land

610 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

1,231 km Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

border countries

Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

total

1,231 km

Land use

14.81% 1.82% 83.37% (2005)

arable land

14.81%

other

83.37% (2005)

permanent crops

1.82%

Location

Central 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

12 nm 24 nm natural prolongation

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

natural prolongation

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes 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

volcanism

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

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

Total renewable water resources

196.7 cu km (2000)

Age structure

30.8% (male 899,555/ female 865,652) 64.6% (male 1,782,174/ female 1,916,031) 4.6% (male 119,995/ female 144,300) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

30.8% (male 899,555/ female 865,652)

15-64 years

64.6% (male 1,782,174/ female 1,916,031)

65 years and over

4.6% (male 119,995/ female 144,300) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

19.12 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.3% (2004)

Death rate

5.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Demographic profile

Despite being one of the poorest countries in Latin America, Nicaragua has improved its access to potable water and sanitation and has ameliorated its life expectancy, infant and child mortality, and immunization rates. However, income distribution is very uneven, and the poor, agriculturalists, and indigenous people continue to have less access to healthcare services. Nicaragua's total fertility rate has fallen from around 6 children per woman in 1980 to just above replacement level today, but the high birth rate among adolescents perpetuates a cycle of poverty and low educational attainment. Nicaraguans emigrate primarily to Costa Rica and to a lesser extent the United States. Nicaraguan men have been migrating seasonally to Costa Rica to harvest bananas and coffee since the early 20th century. Political turmoil, civil war, and natural disasters from the 1970s through the 1990s dramatically increased the flow of refugees and permanent migrants seeking jobs, higher wages, and better social and healthcare benefits. Since 2000, Nicaraguan emigration to Costa Rica has slowed and stabilized. Today roughly 300,000 Nicaraguans are permanent residents of Costa Rica - about 75% of the foreign population - and thousands more migrate seasonally for work, many illegally.

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2003)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

9.5% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,900 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

21.86 deaths/1,000 live births 25.05 deaths/1,000 live births 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

21.86 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

72.18 years 70.07 years 74.39 years (2012 est.)

female

74.39 years (2012 est.)

total population

72.18 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 67.5% 67.2% 67.8% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

67.8% (2003 est.)

male

67.2%

total population

67.5%

Major cities - population

MANAGUA (capital) 934,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria leptospirosis (2009)

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)

Maternal mortality rate

95 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

23.4 years 22.6 years 24.2 years (2012 est.)

female

24.2 years (2012 est.)

male

22.6 years

total

23.4 years

Nationality

Nicaraguan(s) Nicaraguan

adjective

Nicaraguan

noun

Nicaraguan(s)

Net migration rate

-3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2003)

Population

5,727,707 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

1.067% (2012 est.)

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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 63% of population rural: 37% of population total: 52% of population urban: 37% of population rural: 63% of population total: 48% of population

rural

63% of population

total

48% of population

urban

37% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 11 years 11 years (2003)

female

11 years (2003)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.83 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.83 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.08 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

8.6% 8.1% 9.7% (2006)

female

9.7% (2006)

total

8.6%

Urbanization

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

rate of urbanization

2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

57% of total population (2010)

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

Capital

Managua 12 08 N, 86 15 W UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

12 08 N, 86 15 W

name

Managua

time difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

9 January 1987; revised in 1995, 2000, and 2005

Country name

Republic of Nicaragua Nicaragua Republica de Nicaragua Nicaragua

conventional long form

Republic of Nicaragua

conventional short form

Nicaragua

local long form

Republica de Nicaragua

local short form

Nicaragua

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Phyllis M. POWERS Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021 [505] 252-7100, 252-7888; 252-7634 (after hours) [505] 252-7304

chief of mission

Ambassador Phyllis M. POWERS

embassy

Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua

FAX

[505] 252-7304

mailing address

American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021

telephone

[505] 252-7100, 252-7888; 252-7634 (after hours)

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Francisco Obadiah CAMPBELL Hooker 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 939-6570, 6573 [1] (202) 939-6545 Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

chancery

1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Francisco Obadiah CAMPBELL Hooker

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 939-6545

telephone

[1] (202) 939-6570, 6573

Executive branch

President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Moises Omar HALLESLEVENS Acevedo (since 10 January 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Moises Omar HALLESLEVENS Acevedo (since 10 January 2012) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 6 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2016) Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president; percent of vote - Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra 62.5%, Fabio GADEA 31%, Arnoldo ALEMAN 5.9%, other 0.6%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Moises Omar HALLESLEVENS Acevedo (since 10 January 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president; percent of vote - Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra 62.5%, Fabio GADEA 31%, Arnoldo ALEMAN 5.9%, other 0.6%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 6 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2016)

head of government

President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Moises Omar HALLESLEVENS Acevedo (since 10 January 2012)

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 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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

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

Legal system

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

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) last held on 6 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2016) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 64, PLI/MRS 26, PLC 2

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 64, PLI/MRS 26, PLC 2

elections

last held on 6 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2016)

National anthem

"Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua) Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO 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

lyrics/music

Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO

name

"Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

turquoise-browed motmot (bird)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for the Republic or APRE; Conservative Party or PC [Alejandro BOLANOS Davis]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Maria Haydee OSUNA]; Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN [Alejandro MEJIA Ferreti]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Jose 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)

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)

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$2.619 billion $2.56 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$2.56 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$2.619 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.5% (31 December 2012 est.) 10.54% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.476 billion (2012 est.) -$1.259 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$5.228 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $5.012 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.5 (2010) 60.3 (1998)

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. In early 2004, Nicaragua secured some $4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Managua still struggles with a high public debt burden, however, it succeeded in reducing that burden in 2011. The economy grew at a rate of about 4% in 2012.

Exchange rates

cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 23.58 (2012 est.) 22.424 (2011 est.) 21.356 (2010 est.) 20.34 (2009) 19.374 (2008)

Exports

$4.16 billion (2012 est.) $3.941 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts; cigars, automobile wiring harnesses, textiles and apparel

Exports - partners

US 60.1%, Canada 8.3%, El Salvador 4.6% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

17.5% 25.8% 56.7% (2012 est.)

agriculture

17.5%

industry

25.8%

services

56.7% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,300 (2012 est.) $3,300 (2011 est.) $3,200 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.7% (2012 est.) 4.7% (2011 est.) 4.5% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.828 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.89 billion (2012 est.) $19.18 billion (2011 est.) $18.33 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1.4% 41.8% (2005)

highest 10%

41.8% (2005)

lowest 10%

1.4%

Imports

$6.519 billion (2012 est.) $5.996 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 21.3%, Venezuela 14%, Costa Rica 8.7%, China 8.5%, Mexico 8.2%, Guatemala 8%, El Salvador 5.4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.4% (2012 est.) 8.1% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

34.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

2.961 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

28% 19% 53% (2010 est.)

agriculture

28%

industry

19%

services

53% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

46.2% (2005)

Public debt

70.5% of GDP (2011 est.) 78.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.892 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.136 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $2.924 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$4.138 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.195 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.287 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.125 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.4% (2012 est.) 7.3% (2011 est.) underemployment was 46.5% in 2008

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

4.825 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

16,080 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

2.646 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

100,000 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

67.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

9.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

22.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

2 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.104 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

3.585 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

31,930 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

999.6 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

14,170 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

14,680 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

multiple privately-owned terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas; of more than 100 radio stations, nearly all are privately owned; Radio Nicaragua is government-owned and Radio Sandino is controlled by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) (2007)

Internet country code

.ni

Internet hosts

296,068 (2012)

Internet users

199,800 (2009)

Telephone system

system being upgraded by foreign investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 5 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to roughly 85 per 100 persons country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic

since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 5 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to roughly 85 per 100 persons

general assessment

system being upgraded by foreign investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company

international

country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

287,600 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.822 million (2011)

Airports

143 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

4 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

11

under 914 m

4 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

115 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

16

total

132

under 914 m

115 (2012)

Pipelines

oil 54 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bluefields, Corinto

Roadways

19,137 km 2,033 km 17,104 km (2009)

total

19,137 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) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

1,452,107 1,552,698 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,552,698 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,452,107

Manpower fit for military service

1,227,757 1,335,653 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,335,653 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,227,757

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

69,093 67,522 (2010 est.)

female

67,522 (2010 est.)

male

69,093

Military branches

National Army of Nicaragua (Ejercito Nacional de Nicaragua, ENN; includes Navy, Air Force) (2011)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2006)

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 (2008)

Disputes - international

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