Country Basics
Nicaragua - The Land of Contrasts
Welcome to Nicaragua, a tropical land of mountains, volcanoes, rivers, lakes, lush rain forests and broad sandy beaches. Nicaragua is the largest Central American country with Costa Rica on the south and Honduras on the north. This fascinating, mysterious and often misunderstood country is bordered by the Caribbean on the east and the Pacific on the west. It is somewhat smaller than the state of New York in the United States, and has about 6 million people.
Beautiful country that few have seen,
Peaceful people from a war torn past
Rich in resources without tools to harvest,
Independent spirits seeking leadership and counsel
A rich country, with so little wealth,
Families that give so much yet have so little
Children with dreams of the future held by a past that lingers,
Full of potential but alas, with little direction
D.B. 2009
Nicaragua is truly a land of contrasts in so many ways. A 2 ½ hour flight from Miami, Florida yet many people would not know where to find it on a map. Lake Nicaragua is one of the largest lakes in the world covering 3,180 square miles. Volcanoes dot the horizons in every direction but the soil is rich for the endless farmlands and pastures. People tend to think of the tropics as jungle but the western half of Nicaragua is fairly arid similar to the heartland of the USA and the mountain areas are cool enough to require a jacket.
The beaches are endless, stretching into infinity, with flat sun-swept sandy shores while others have cliffs and crags like those of California or Ireland. International surfing championships are held here yet even the expert surfers argue among themselves which Nicaragua beach has the best surfing conditions due to so many choices. Miles of white sand yet there are many black volcanic sand beaches. On the Caribbean coast the rain forest reaches to the water while on Pacific side, the mangroves protect the shores. This country offers other natural wonders such as tropical paradises, immense forests, waterfalls and meandering, peaceful rivers. The rich and flourishing flora allows the enthusiast to photograph and view the wildlife, exotic species and birds of Nicaragua.
It is a poor country so rich in resources trying to find its way into the 21st century. So few receive education beyond grade school yet are more knowledgeable in the government affairs of Europe and the USA than many of the residents there. In the capital of Managua, the grocery stores are modern and clean, the galleria malls full of the latest products, the international airport as elegant as any and new tall buildings are appearing. Old-fashioned ox carts and new BMW cars are seen sharing the same bustling streets that are lined with food vendors. The rural life of remote villages is foreign to those living in the larger cities yet those villages have Internet cafes everywhere.
Memories of revolution and war are still present even though the country now is considered one of the most peaceful and safest places to visit or live in the Americas. The country vibrates with history and culture from the indigenous, Spanish and Afro Caribbean influences. There are still relatively few visitors that makes Nicaragua a place for anyone in search of something new and exotic. The pace may appear hectic at first but as soon as you settle in, you realize that the Nicaraguans seldom are in a hurry yet a caring people.
Nicaragua is the most sparsely populated of the Central American nations. To the east lies the Caribbean, and to the west the Pacific. In the north are the Isabella Mountains, while the country’s main feature in the southwest is Lake Nicaragua, 148 km (92 miles) long and about 55 km (34 miles) at its widest. The island of Ometepe is the largest of the 366 islands on the lake. These islands have a reputation for great beauty and are one of the country’s main tourist attractions. Volcanoes, including the famous Momotombo, protrude from the surrounding lowlands northwest of the lakes. The country’s main rivers are the San Juan, the lower reaches of which form the border with Costa Rica, and the Rio Grande. The Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz) in the Caribbean are two small beautiful islands fringed with white coral and palms. They are very popular as holiday resorts with both Nicaraguans and tourists. The majority of Nicaragua’s population lives and works in the lowland between the Pacific and western shores of Lake Nicaragua, the southwestern shore of LakeManagua and the southwestern sides of the range of volcanoes.
Nicaragua has three main eco-regions: Pacific, Central and Atlantic; the Pacific region is home to volcanoes, lakes, tropical forests, beaches and mangrove systems; the Central region is home to mountains, rivers and agricultural areas; and the Atlantic region contains rainforests, marine lagoons, mangrove systems and coral reefs.
National name: República de Nicaragua
President: Daniel Ortega (2012) and perhaps for many more years
Land area: 46,430 sq mi (120,254 sq km); approx the size of New York state
Population (2012 est.): 5,800,000 (growth rate: 1.9%); birth rate: 24.5/1000;
infant mortality rate: 28.1/1000; life expectancy: 70.6; density per sq mi: 120
Capital and largest city (2012): Managua, 1,800,500
Monetary unit: Gold córdoba
Languages: Spanish 98% (official); English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Ethnicity/race: mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
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)
Literacy rate: 68%
Electricity 110 volts AC, 60Hz.
Telephone Country code: 505
GDP/PPP (2012 est.): $18.7 billion; per capita $3,200.
Real growth rate: 4%.
Unemployment: 7.3% plus considerable underemployment of 46.5%.
Agriculture: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,
soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp, lobsters.
Labor force: 2.8 million; agriculture 30.5%, industry 17.3%, services 52.2% (2003)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood.
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish.
Exports: $1.55 billion; note—includes free-trade zones (2005 est.): coffee, beef,
shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts.
Imports: $2.865 billion (2005 est.): consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw
materials, petroleum products.
Major trading partners: U.S., El Salvador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Guatemala,
South Korea (2004).
Highways: total: 19,032 km; paved: 2,094 km; unpaved: 16,938 km (2000).
Waterways: 2,220 km (including 2 large lakes).
Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur.
If you like statistics click here for every detail on any country.
Nicaragua's economy has historically been based on the export of cash crops such as bananas, coffee and tobacco. Nicaragua's rum is renowned as among the best in Latin America, and its tobacco and beef are also well regarded. During the Contra War in the early 1980's, much of the country's infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, and inflation ran for a time at several thousand per cent. Since the end of the war almost two decades ago, many state-owned industries have been privatized. Inflation has been brought to manageable levels, and the economy has grown quite rapidly in recent years.
As in many other developing countries, a large segment of the economically poor in Nicaragua are women. In addition, a relatively high percentage of Nicaragua's average homes have a woman as head of household: 39% of urban homes and 28% of the rural ones.
The country is still a recovering economy and it continues to implement further reforms, on which aid from the IMF is conditional. In 2005, finance ministers of the leading eight industrialized nations (G-8) agreed to forgive Nicaragua's foreign debt, as part of the HIPC program.
Welcome to Nicaragua, a tropical land of mountains, volcanoes, rivers, lakes, lush rain forests and broad sandy beaches. Nicaragua is the largest Central American country with Costa Rica on the south and Honduras on the north. This fascinating, mysterious and often misunderstood country is bordered by the Caribbean on the east and the Pacific on the west. It is somewhat smaller than the state of New York in the United States, and has about 6 million people.
Beautiful country that few have seen,
Peaceful people from a war torn past
Rich in resources without tools to harvest,
Independent spirits seeking leadership and counsel
A rich country, with so little wealth,
Families that give so much yet have so little
Children with dreams of the future held by a past that lingers,
Full of potential but alas, with little direction
D.B. 2009
Nicaragua is truly a land of contrasts in so many ways. A 2 ½ hour flight from Miami, Florida yet many people would not know where to find it on a map. Lake Nicaragua is one of the largest lakes in the world covering 3,180 square miles. Volcanoes dot the horizons in every direction but the soil is rich for the endless farmlands and pastures. People tend to think of the tropics as jungle but the western half of Nicaragua is fairly arid similar to the heartland of the USA and the mountain areas are cool enough to require a jacket.
The beaches are endless, stretching into infinity, with flat sun-swept sandy shores while others have cliffs and crags like those of California or Ireland. International surfing championships are held here yet even the expert surfers argue among themselves which Nicaragua beach has the best surfing conditions due to so many choices. Miles of white sand yet there are many black volcanic sand beaches. On the Caribbean coast the rain forest reaches to the water while on Pacific side, the mangroves protect the shores. This country offers other natural wonders such as tropical paradises, immense forests, waterfalls and meandering, peaceful rivers. The rich and flourishing flora allows the enthusiast to photograph and view the wildlife, exotic species and birds of Nicaragua.
It is a poor country so rich in resources trying to find its way into the 21st century. So few receive education beyond grade school yet are more knowledgeable in the government affairs of Europe and the USA than many of the residents there. In the capital of Managua, the grocery stores are modern and clean, the galleria malls full of the latest products, the international airport as elegant as any and new tall buildings are appearing. Old-fashioned ox carts and new BMW cars are seen sharing the same bustling streets that are lined with food vendors. The rural life of remote villages is foreign to those living in the larger cities yet those villages have Internet cafes everywhere.
Memories of revolution and war are still present even though the country now is considered one of the most peaceful and safest places to visit or live in the Americas. The country vibrates with history and culture from the indigenous, Spanish and Afro Caribbean influences. There are still relatively few visitors that makes Nicaragua a place for anyone in search of something new and exotic. The pace may appear hectic at first but as soon as you settle in, you realize that the Nicaraguans seldom are in a hurry yet a caring people.
Nicaragua is the most sparsely populated of the Central American nations. To the east lies the Caribbean, and to the west the Pacific. In the north are the Isabella Mountains, while the country’s main feature in the southwest is Lake Nicaragua, 148 km (92 miles) long and about 55 km (34 miles) at its widest. The island of Ometepe is the largest of the 366 islands on the lake. These islands have a reputation for great beauty and are one of the country’s main tourist attractions. Volcanoes, including the famous Momotombo, protrude from the surrounding lowlands northwest of the lakes. The country’s main rivers are the San Juan, the lower reaches of which form the border with Costa Rica, and the Rio Grande. The Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz) in the Caribbean are two small beautiful islands fringed with white coral and palms. They are very popular as holiday resorts with both Nicaraguans and tourists. The majority of Nicaragua’s population lives and works in the lowland between the Pacific and western shores of Lake Nicaragua, the southwestern shore of LakeManagua and the southwestern sides of the range of volcanoes.
Nicaragua has three main eco-regions: Pacific, Central and Atlantic; the Pacific region is home to volcanoes, lakes, tropical forests, beaches and mangrove systems; the Central region is home to mountains, rivers and agricultural areas; and the Atlantic region contains rainforests, marine lagoons, mangrove systems and coral reefs.
National name: República de Nicaragua
President: Daniel Ortega (2012) and perhaps for many more years
Land area: 46,430 sq mi (120,254 sq km); approx the size of New York state
Population (2012 est.): 5,800,000 (growth rate: 1.9%); birth rate: 24.5/1000;
infant mortality rate: 28.1/1000; life expectancy: 70.6; density per sq mi: 120
Capital and largest city (2012): Managua, 1,800,500
Monetary unit: Gold córdoba
Languages: Spanish 98% (official); English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Ethnicity/race: mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
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)
Literacy rate: 68%
Electricity 110 volts AC, 60Hz.
Telephone Country code: 505
GDP/PPP (2012 est.): $18.7 billion; per capita $3,200.
Real growth rate: 4%.
Unemployment: 7.3% plus considerable underemployment of 46.5%.
Agriculture: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,
soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp, lobsters.
Labor force: 2.8 million; agriculture 30.5%, industry 17.3%, services 52.2% (2003)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood.
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish.
Exports: $1.55 billion; note—includes free-trade zones (2005 est.): coffee, beef,
shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts.
Imports: $2.865 billion (2005 est.): consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw
materials, petroleum products.
Major trading partners: U.S., El Salvador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Guatemala,
South Korea (2004).
Highways: total: 19,032 km; paved: 2,094 km; unpaved: 16,938 km (2000).
Waterways: 2,220 km (including 2 large lakes).
Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur.
If you like statistics click here for every detail on any country.
Nicaragua's economy has historically been based on the export of cash crops such as bananas, coffee and tobacco. Nicaragua's rum is renowned as among the best in Latin America, and its tobacco and beef are also well regarded. During the Contra War in the early 1980's, much of the country's infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, and inflation ran for a time at several thousand per cent. Since the end of the war almost two decades ago, many state-owned industries have been privatized. Inflation has been brought to manageable levels, and the economy has grown quite rapidly in recent years.
As in many other developing countries, a large segment of the economically poor in Nicaragua are women. In addition, a relatively high percentage of Nicaragua's average homes have a woman as head of household: 39% of urban homes and 28% of the rural ones.
The country is still a recovering economy and it continues to implement further reforms, on which aid from the IMF is conditional. In 2005, finance ministers of the leading eight industrialized nations (G-8) agreed to forgive Nicaragua's foreign debt, as part of the HIPC program.
