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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3

Radios [time series]

1.037 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System domestic: wire and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

66,810 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (in addition, there are seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

260,000 (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $389 million expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$839.9 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, Nicaragua had been pursuing a number of impressive economic reforms and had begun to shed the legacy of a decade of civil war and economic mismanagement by posting strong annual growth numbers. The storm has put the reform effort on hold and has changed economic forecasts for the foreseeable future--Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane. Nicaragua sustained approximately $1 billion in damages and will probably see GDP growth slow by at least one percentage point in 1999. Hardest hit was the all-important agriculture sector, which is responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to roughly $900 million. Significant aid and relief have helped to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and other creditors have offered substantial debt relief. Nevertheless, additional financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch condition.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

1.665 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

1.665 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 48.95% hydro: 21.02% nuclear: 0% other: 30.03% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

gold cordobas (C$) per US$1--11.14 (December 1998), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$704 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US, Central America, Germany, Canada

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$11.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 32% industry: 24% services: 44% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

4% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)

Imports [time series]

$1.45 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.4% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

16% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.5 million

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 54%, agriculture 31%, industry 15% (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

50.3% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

14%; underemployment 36% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 129,494 sq km land: 120,254 sq km water: 9,240 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than the state of New York

Climate [time series]

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Coastline [time series]

910 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 00 N, 85 00 W

Irrigated land [time series]

880 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 27% other: 17% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone continental shelf: natural prolongation territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes

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]

15 departments (departamentos, singular--departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular--region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*

Capital [time series]

Managua

Constitution [time series]

9 January 1987

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 666026, 666027, 666032, 666033

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years party]--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other candidates) remaining 4.33%

FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected for seven-year terms by the National Assembly

Legal system [time series]

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--Liberal Alliance (ruling party--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party--Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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

OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC Saavedra]

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

National Workers Front or

Suffrage [time series]

16 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$26 million (1998)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1.2% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,108,146 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 681,495 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 53,508 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44% (male 1,037,269; female 1,018,909) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,236,326; female 1,297,356) 65 years and over: 2% (male 54,706; female 72,566) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.04 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

40.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.08 years male: 64.7 years female: 69.56 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 65.7% male: 64.6% female: 66.6% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

4,717,132 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.84% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

Transportation

Airports [time series]

184 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 171 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 143 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 16,382 km paved: 1,818 km unpaved: 14,564 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 56 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur

Waterways [time series]

2,220 km, including 2 large lakes