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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 208 usable: 149 with permanent-surface runways: 11 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 13

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 25,930 km paved: 4,000 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 2,170 km; graded earth 5,425 km; unimproved earth 14,335 km

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

Pan-American highway [time series]

368.5 km (not in total)

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 narrow 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; broadcast stations - 45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $43.0 million, 1.6% of GDP (1992)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 946,177; fit for military service 582,669; reach military age (18) annually 45,555 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

crops account for about 15% of GDP; export crops - coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans; also produces a variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; normally self-sufficient in food

Budget [time series]

revenues: $375 million (1992) expenditures: $410 million (1992), including capital expenditures of $115 million (1991 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-92), $620 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.381 billion

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 434,000 kW production: 1.118 billion kWh consumption per capita: 290 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 6 (10 January 1993), 5 (1992); note - gold cordoba replaced cordoba as Nicaragua's currency in 1991 (exchange rate of old cordoba had reached per US$1 - 25,000,000 by March 1992)

Exports [time series]

$228 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: foodstuffs, cotton, coffee, chemicals partners: EC 26%, US 26%, Japan, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico (1992)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$10.5 billion ( 1992)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

Imports [time series]

$907 million (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing partners: US 26%, Venezuela, Costa Rica, EC, Guatemala (1992)

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

growth rate NA%; accounts for 20-25% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

20% (1993 est.)

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

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.4 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$1,600 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-0.5% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Since March 1991, when President CHAMORRO began an ambitious economic stabilization program, Nicaragua has had considerable success in reducing inflation and obtaining substantial economic aid from abroad. Annual inflation fell from more than 750% in 1991 to less than 5% in 1992. Inflation rose again to an estimated 20% in 1993, although this increase was due almost entirely to a large currency devaluation in January. As of early 1994, the government was close to finalizing an enhanced structural adjustment facility with the IMF, after the previous standby facility expired in early 1993. Despite these successes, achieving overall economic growth in an economy scarred by misguided economic values and civil war during the 1980s has proved elusive. Economic growth was flat in 1992 and slightly negative in 1993. Nicaragua's per capita foreign debt is one of the highest in the world; nonetheless, as of late 1993, Nicaragua was current on its post-1988 debt as well as on payments to the international financial institutions. Definition of property rights remains a problem; ownership disputes over large tracts of land, businesses, and homes confiscated by the previous government have yet to be resolved.

Unemployment rate [time series]

13%; underemployment 50% (1991)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 129,494 sq km land area: 120,254 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than New York State

Climate [time series]

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Coastline [time series]

910 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution natural hazards: subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required

Irrigated land [time series]

850 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

Middle America, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean, South America

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone (status of claim uncertain) continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 200 nm

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Managua

Constitution [time series]

9 January 1987

Digraph [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto MAYORGA Cortes chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-6570 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President Virgilio GODOY Reyes (since 25 April 1990); election last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held November 1996); results - Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 40.8%, other 4.5% cabinet: Cabinet

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

[505] (2) 666046

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)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)) [time series]

elections last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held November 1996); results - UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats - (92 total) UNO 41, FSLN 39, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 12

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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

National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista Workers' Central (CST); Farm Workers Association (ATC); Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD); National Union of Employees (UNE); National Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN); Union of Journalists of Nicaragua (UPN); Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations (CONAPRO); and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG); Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS); Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A); Independent General Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of business groups

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

ruling coalition: National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 10-party alliance - moderate parties: National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS Lacayo, president; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto SOMARRIBA, Arnold ALEMAN; Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN, Agustin JARQUIN, Azucena FERREY, Roger MIRANDA, Francisco MAYORGA; National Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; National Action Party (PAN), Duilio BALTODANO; UNO - hardline parties: Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO,Virgilio GODOY Reyes; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre, secretary general; Conservative Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel opposition parties: 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

Suffrage [time series]

16 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John MAISTO embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] (2) 666010 or 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032 through 34

People

Birth rate [time series]

34.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.69 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

52.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.086 million by occupation: services 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.02 years male: 61.18 years female: 66.96 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1971) total population: 57% male: 57% female: 57%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

4,096,689 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.68% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)