Nicaragua: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Nicaragua?

Life expectancy at birth in Nicaragua is 76.65 years for 2020 to 2025: 73.66 for men and 79.78 for women, according to population projections published in the INIDE Statistical Yearbook 2023.

These are projections from INIDE's 2007 revision, not counts from recent death records, and they cover a five-year period. The same table gives an infant mortality rate of 13.9 per 1,000 live births for 2020 to 2025. A new census, which would allow the projections to be updated, is being prepared.

Official sources: INIDE: Statistical Yearbook 2023

How many doctors are there in Nicaragua?

Nicaragua's Ministry of Health employed 6,201 doctors, 5,630 professional nurses and 5,929 nursing auxiliaries in 2023, according to the INIDE Statistical Yearbook 2023. It ran 32 hospitals with 6,267 beds.

The figures come from the Ministry of Health. With a population of about 6.8 million, that is roughly 0.9 ministry doctors per 1,000 people.

Official sources: INIDE: Statistical Yearbook 2023

How many births and deaths are there in Nicaragua?

Nicaragua's civil registry recorded 116,657 births and 23,166 deaths in 2023, according to preliminary figures in the INIDE vital statistics compendium 2022-2023. The Ministry of Health recorded 106,449 births and 26,162 deaths.

The two sources count differently: the Ministry of Health records events in its health units, while the Supreme Electoral Council's civil registry records registrations, which can happen late or in a different place. Both 2023 series are preliminary and births in 2023 were lower than in 2022 in both sources.

Official sources: INIDE: vital statistics compendium 2022-2023

What is life expectancy in Nicaragua?

In 2024, life expectancy at birth in Nicaragua was 75.1 years, according to the UN Population Division. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 15th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 74.0 years. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 85th highest.

How many babies die in Nicaragua?

According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the infant mortality rate in Nicaragua was 9.4 per 1,000 in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 12.1 per 1,000; Nicaragua is 25th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 114th of 192.

What is maternal mortality in Nicaragua?

According to the WHO, the maternal mortality ratio in Nicaragua was 60.0 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 13th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 55.0 per 100,000. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 87th highest.

How much does Nicaragua spend on health?

According to the WHO, current health spending in Nicaragua was 8.3% of GDP in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 6.2% of GDP (2005) to 9.5% of GDP (2021). Latin America & Caribbean median: 6.8% of GDP; Nicaragua is 9th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 56th of 191.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Nicaragua?

37.6%: that is out-of-pocket health spending in Nicaragua for 2023, according to the WHO. The peak was 42.0% in 2006 and the low 30.8% in 2021. It is 10th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 29.3%. World rank, highest first: 60th of 191.

How many doctors per person does Nicaragua have?

The WHO puts the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Nicaragua at 0.68 per 1,000 in 2018. Its high point since 2005 was 2017, at 1.0 per 1,000; its low point was 2006, at 0.50 per 1,000. It is 21st highest of 24 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 1.7 per 1,000. Worldwide: 106th of 156.

How many hospital beds does Nicaragua have?

0.97 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Nicaragua for 2022, according to the WHO. The peak was 0.98 per 1,000 in 2019 and the low 0.80 per 1,000 in 2006. Latin America & Caribbean median: 2.0 per 1,000; Nicaragua is 28th highest of 30. Worldwide: 100th of 110.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Nicaragua?

WHO and UNICEF puts measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Nicaragua at 85.0% in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 83.0% (2021) to 99.0% (2006). It is 20th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 88.0%. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 121st highest.