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Communications

Airports [time series]

261 total, 169 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

12 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

25,930 km total; 4,000 km paved (includes all 2,170 km gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km earth or graded earth, 14,335 km unimproved, 368.5 km of the Pan-American highway)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Merchant marine [time series]

2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161 GRT/2,500 DWT

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil, 56 km

Ports [time series]

Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

373 km 1.067-meter gauge, government owned; majority of system not operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect with mainline)

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded; connection into Central American Microwave System; 60,000 telephones; stations--45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Sandinista Popular Army, Sandinista Navy, Sandinista Air Force/Air Defense, Sandinista People's Militia

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

Military manpower [time series]

males 15-49, 747,144; 459,333 fit for military service; 44,213 reach military age (18) annually

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 23% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash crops--coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; food crops--rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans; variety of animal products--beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy; while normally self-sufficient in food, war-induced shortages now exist

Aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-82), $290 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $981 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $3.3 billion

Budget [time series]

revenues $0.9 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.15 billion (1987)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

cordoba (plural--cordobas); 1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Electricity [time series]

415,000 kW capacity; 1,340 million kWh produced, 380 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

cordobas (C$) per US$1--65,000 (February 1990) is the free market rate; official rate is 46,000 (February 1990), 270 (1988), 0.103 (1987), 0.097 (1986), 0.039 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$250 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals; partners--CEMA 15%, OECD 75%, others 10%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$8 billion (year end 1988)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$1.7 billion, per capita $470; real growth rate - 5.0% (1989 est.)

Imports [time series]

$550 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities--petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing; partners--CEMA 55%, EC 20%, Latin America 10%, others 10%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate - 23% (1988 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1,700% (1989)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although the new government has pledged to reduce it. The financial system is directly controlled by the state, which also regulates wholesale purchasing, production, sales, foreign trade, and distribution of most goods. Over 50% of the agricultural and industrial firms are state owned. Sandinista economic policies and the war have produced a severe economic crisis. The foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7% in 1989, the fifth successive year of decline. The agricultural sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 23% of GDP and 86% of export earnings. Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and contributes 26% to GDP, showed a sharp drop of - 23% in 1988 and remains below pre-1979 levels. External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In 1989 the annual inflation rate was 1,700%, down from a record 16,000% in 1988. Shortages of basic consumer goods are widespread.

Unemployment rate [time series]

25% (1989)

Geography

Climate [time series]

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Coastline [time series]

910 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly larger than New York State

Contiguous zone [time series]

25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain);

Continental shelf [time series]

not specified;

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

9% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 43% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 12% other; including 1% irrigated

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

200 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

129,494 km2; land area: 120,254 km2

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 administrative regions encompassing 17 departments (departamentos, singular--departamento); North, Atlantic Coast, South, Atlantic Coast, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Capital [time series]

Managua

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

FSLN--35,000; other Communists--15,000-20,000

Constitution [time series]

January 1987

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Charge d'Affaires Leonor Arguello de HUPER; Chancery at 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 387-4371 or 4372; US--Charge d'Affaires John P. LEONARD; Embassy at Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua (mailing address is APO Miami 34021); telephone [505] (2) 66010 or 66013, 66015 through 66018, 66026, 66027, 66032 through 66034; note--Nicaragua expelled the US Ambassador on 11 July 1988, and the US expelled the Nicaraguan Ambassador on 12 July 1988

Executive branch [time series]

president, vice president, Cabinet

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) and municipal courts Chief of State and Head of Government--President-Elect Violeta Barios de CHAMORRO (since 25 February 1990; takes office 25 April 1990); Vice President-elect Virgilio GODOY (since 25 February 1990; takes office 25 April 1990)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Legislative branch [time series]

National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Republic of Nicaragua

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

CACM, CEMA (observer), FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS, ODECA, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Opposition parties [time series]

Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel Ortega; Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca Rojas; Democratic Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose Brenes; Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo Coronado; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco Samper; Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick Ramirez; Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio Miranda; Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando Aguerro; Popular Action Movement--Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro Tellez; Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio Diaz

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT), Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS), Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A), Independent General Confederation of Workers (CTG-I), Communist Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS), Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CST); Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is an umbrella group of 11 different business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Industry, and the Nicaraguan Development Institute (INDE)

Ruling coalition [time series]

National Opposition Union (UNO)--14 party alliance: National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano Matamoros; Conservative Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Miriam Arguello; National Conservative Action Party (PANC), Hernaldo Zuniga; National Democratic Confidence Party (PDCN), Augustin Jarquin; Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Virgilio Godoy; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Andres Zuniga; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto Somarriba; National Action Party (PAN), Eduardo Rivas; Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo Tablada; Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli Altimirano; Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Luis Humberto; Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto Urroz; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo Potoy; Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC), Alejandro Perez;

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 16 President--last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results--Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel Ortega Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, others 4.5%; National Constituent Assembly--last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results--UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats--(92 total) UNO 51, FSLN 39, PSC 1, MUR 1

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

People

Birth rate [time series]

40 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

9 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

69% mestizo, 17% white, 9% black, 5% Indian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

68 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

1,086,000; 43% service, 44% agriculture, 13% industry (1986)

Languages (Language) [time series]

Spanish (official); English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

61 years male, 62 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

88% (1981)

Nationality [time series]

noun--Nicaraguan(s); adjective--Nicaraguan

Net migration rate [time series]

- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

35% of labor force

Population [time series]

3,722,683 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

95% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.0 children born/woman (1990)