Americas · Central America
Capital: Managua
Nicaragua
Explore the facts and rankings that shape Nicaragua in Country Blitz, from its population and economy to its military, innovation, manufacturing, and neighboring countries.
Country Blitz power profile
Overall rank #132
Nicaragua's Country Blitz power profile compares population, GDP, military expenditure, research-and-development spending, and manufacturing output across every playable country. A lower numerical rank represents a stronger position in that category.
Population
7.0M
#107 of 196
46th percentile
2025 · World Bank WDI / UN population sources
View data source ↗GDP (Nominal)
$22.24B
#127 of 196
35th percentile
2025 · World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Military Expenditure
$105.3M
#145 of 196
26th percentile
2024 · SIPRI via World Bank WDI
View data source ↗R&D Spending
$13.7M
#126 of 196
36th percentile
2015 · UNESCO UIS and World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Manufacturing Output
$2.80B
#109 of 196
45th percentile
2025 · World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Quick facts
- Capital
- Managua
- Region
- Americas
- Subregion
- Central America
- Country code
- NIC
- Neighbors
- Costa RicaHonduras
Three interesting facts
Nicaragua shares land borders with 2 countries: Costa Rica and Honduras.
Nicaragua spans roughly 130,373 square kilometers, placing it around 96th by area in this factbook.
Nicaragua’s position in Central America places it within a distinctive network of regional trade routes and migration paths.
Geography
Nicaragua on the map
Nicaragua is located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras. Its terrain is extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains, narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes. The climate is tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands. In area, the country is slightly larger than Pennsylvania, slightly smaller than New York State.
Economy
Economic profile
Nicaragua's economy is characterized by low-income Central American economy, until 2018, nearly 20 years of sustained GDP growth, recent struggles due to COVID-19, political instability, and hurricanes, significant remittances, increasing poverty and food scarcity since 2005, sanctions limit investment. Major industries include food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining. Important agricultural products include sugarcane, milk, rice, oil palm fruit, maize, plantains, cassava, groundnuts, beans, chicken (2023). Notable exports include garments, gold, insulated wire, coffee, beef (2023).
Demographics
People and population
Nicaragua has an estimated population of 6,803,886. Language and cultural traditions vary across Nicaragua. The population includes Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 69%, White 17%, Black 9%, Indigenous 5%. The urban population represents 59.8% of total population (2023).
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