Nicaragua: official statistics and sources
10 official bodies for Nicaragua, from National Institute of Development Information to Public Procurement System (SISCAE), with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official language: Spanish. Capital: Managua.
Who holds power in Nicaragua
- Head of state: Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Rosario Murillo Zambrana (Co-Presidentes de la República de Nicaragua)
- Head of government: The head of state leads the government (no prime minister listed)
- Foreign minister: Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker y Denis Ronaldo Moncada Colindres (Ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Nicaragua)
Source: UN Protocol and Liaison Service list, dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Unitary presidential republic. How local power works in Nicaragua: 4 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.
Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.
Government, regions and cities
- Government and power in Nicaragua: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
- All 17 departments: Managua, Matagalpa, Atlantico Norte, Jinotega, Chinandega…
- The 9 largest cities: Managua
Key figures
What the figures show
Nicaragua had 7.0 million people in 2025, by the World Bank's count; ten years earlier the figure was 6.1 million. Of the 33 UN members in the World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean region, 15 have more people; worldwide it comes 107th.
In 2025 Nicaragua recorded gross domestic product of $22.2 billion, converted to US dollars by the World Bank. That works out at $3,173 a head; the regional median is $10,989.
Real GDP grew by 4.9% in 2025, World Bank figures show. For 2026 the IMF expects 3.8%.
Across 2025 the annual rate was 2.1%. The IMF forecasts 3.5% for 2026.
The ILO's modelled unemployment rate for 2025 is 5.0%; the national statistics office may publish a different figure from its own survey.
The IMF records general government gross debt of 34.6% of GDP for 2025, compared with a median of 65.6% across the World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean region; its 2026 projection is 31.7%.
Life expectancy at birth: 75.1 years (2024).
- Annual inflation since 2015: highest 10.5% (2022), lowest 2.1% (2025).
- Debt ratio 2015: 28.9%; 2025: 34.6%.
- GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2025: +53%.
Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.
Official sources in Nicaragua
Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output
- National Institute of Development Information (Instituto Nacional de Información de Desarrollo)
Population estimates, consumer price index, household surveys and census data for Nicaragua. Not in English.
Central bank interest rates and money
- Central Bank of Nicaragua (Banco Central de Nicaragua)
Exchange rates, monetary and financial statistics, national accounts and economic reports. Not in English.
Parliament debates, votes, bills
- National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Laws approved, legislative agenda and deputy information; also hosts the national legislation database. Not in English.
Laws and the official gazette the text of laws
- La Gaceta, Official Gazette (La Gaceta, Diario Oficial)
The official gazette publishing laws, decrees and official notices. Not in English.
Courts judgments
- Judiciary (Supreme Court of Justice) (Poder Judicial – Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Court rulings, judicial statistics and judiciary notices. Not in English.
Elections results and rules
- Supreme Electoral Council (Consejo Supremo Electoral)
Electoral calendars, official results and electoral regulations. Not in English.
Regulators
- Superintendency of Banks and Other Financial Institutions (Superintendencia de Bancos y de Otras Instituciones Financieras)
Banking, insurance and securities supervision rules and financial statistics. Not in English.
- Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services (Instituto Nicaragüense de Telecomunicaciones y Correos)
Telecommunications and postal regulation, licences and spectrum management. Not in English.
- Nicaraguan Energy Institute (Instituto Nicaragüense de Energía)
Electricity and hydrocarbons regulation, tariffs and sector statistics. Not in English.
Public contracts government tenders and awards
- Public Procurement System (SISCAE) (Sistema de Contrataciones Administrativas del Estado)
Publishes public tenders, contracts and supplier register. Not in English.
Notes
No central government portal could be reached on 2026-10-13 (presidencia.gob.ni and gob.ni did not connect).
Freedom of information in Nicaragua
| Law | Ley No. 621, Ley de Acceso a la Información Pública (2007) |
|---|---|
| Time limit | 15 working days |
| Appeals to | Oficina de Coordinación de Acceso a la Información Pública of each branch of the state (appeal within 6 days). |
Published in La Gaceta No. 118 of 22 June 2007.
What Nicaragua does not have
- No online company or land register could be reached (registropublico.gob.ni and ineter.gob.ni did not connect on 2026-10-13).
Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.
Nicaragua by subject
- Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
- Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
- Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
- Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
- Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
- Housing homes, cities, water and power
- Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
- Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
- Education schools, universities and literacy
- Environment emissions, air, forests and water
Power in Nicaragua, from local government up to the G20
The global bodies above national governments, and the levels of power inside Nicaragua. How the ten levels work.
Level 3: Local councils
- Cities of Nicaragua the largest cities, with their figures
- Local government in Nicaragua how councils, regions and municipalities work
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Regions of Nicaragua 17 regions, states or provinces
Level 6: National government
- Nicaragua: national government this page
- Government and power in Nicaragua who leads, the parliament and the courts
- World leaders every country's head of state and government
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Common questions
What is the population of Nicaragua?
7.0 million (2025, World Bank). National figures: National Institute of Development Information.
What is the inflation rate in Nicaragua?
2.1% (2025, World Bank). Official index: National Institute of Development Information.
What is Nicaragua's GDP?
$22.2 billion (2025, World Bank).
How much government debt does Nicaragua have?
34.6% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).
Who publishes official statistics in Nicaragua?
National Institute of Development Information (Instituto Nacional de Información de Desarrollo): https://www.inide.gob.ni/
Is there a freedom of information law in Nicaragua?
Ley No. 621, Ley de Acceso a la Información Pública (2007). Time limit: 15 working days. Appeals: Oficina de Coordinación de Acceso a la Información Pública of each branch of the state (appeal within 6 days)..
What is the central bank of Nicaragua?
Central Bank of Nicaragua (Banco Central de Nicaragua): https://www.bcn.gob.ni/
Link moved? Tell us.