Atlantico Sur: population, births and deaths, health services, schools, insured workers, wages, taxes, roads and crime
Atlantico Sur is a department of Nicaragua, number 6 of 17 by population. INIDE estimates the population of Atlantico Sur (RACCS, the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region) at 448,392 in 2025, 6.5% of the national 6,946,351 and 6th highest of 17 departments and autonomous regions.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Atlantico Sur: INSS recorded an average of 23,269 active insured workers at employers in Atlantico Sur in 2023, 5.4 per 100 residents (7th lowest of 17) against 11.6 nationally. Insured employment counts formal jobs by the employer's location.
- Health in Atlantico Sur: The Supreme Electoral Council registered 9,213 births in Atlantico Sur in 2023, 21.2 per 1,000 residents, 2nd highest of 17; the national rate is 17.1. Records follow the place of registration.
- Education in Atlantico Sur: Schools in Atlantico Sur enrolled 104,567 pupils in initial, primary and secondary education in 2023, 241 per 1,000 residents (6th lowest of 17) against 242 nationally.
- Poverty and living standards in Atlantico Sur: The National Police recorded 478 road accidents in Atlantico Sur in 2023, 11.0 per 10,000 residents, the lowest of 17 against 76.4 nationally.
- Government budget and revenue in Atlantico Sur: The DGI collected C$ 112 million in taxes in Atlantico Sur (the Bluefields column of the table) in 2023, 0.6% of the C$ 20,016 million collected through departments (5th lowest of 17). Large taxpayers, with C$ 72,862 million, are reported separately.
Is the population of Atlantico Sur growing?
The population of Atlantico Sur changed by +3.3% between 2023 (434,270) and 2025 (448,392), 3rd fastest growth of 17, against +2.1% for Nicaragua as a whole.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyWhat is the population density of Atlantico Sur?
Atlantico Sur covers 27,260 square kilometres and had 16.2 people per square kilometre in 2024, the lowest of 17 by density; the national figure is 57.1.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many women and men live in Atlantico Sur?
Atlantico Sur had 99.8 women per 100 men in 2025 (224,012 women and 224,380 men), against 102.7 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow young is the population of Atlantico Sur?
In 2025 32.3% of the people of Atlantico Sur were aged 0 to 14 and 4.6% were 65 or older, against 28.0% and 6.9% nationally; the 0-14 share is 3rd highest of 17.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow departments are governed in Nicaragua
Departments (15). No elected government; administrative units of central government. Deliver national services.
Every tier of government in Nicaragua
Other departments of Nicaragua
- Managua 1,612,321
- Matagalpa 626,590
- Atlantico Norte 585,941
- Jinotega 515,630
- Chinandega 449,553
- Leon 430,567
- Masaya 421,132
- Nueva Segovia 290,419
- Esteli 235,138
- Granada 222,496
- Carazo 203,361
- Chontales 195,788
- Boaco 191,308
- Rivas 187,377
- Madriz 185,807
- Rio San Juan 144,531
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Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE): Anuario Estadistico 2023, tables III.2.2, III.3.6 and V.6.6: road network (MTI), tourist lodging (INTUR) and free-zone firms (CNZF) by department, 2023, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 47c54be057f9…)
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