Chinandega: population, births and deaths, health services, schools, insured workers, wages, taxes, roads and crime
Chinandega is a department of Nicaragua, number 5 of 17 by population. INIDE estimates the population of Chinandega at 449,553 in 2025, 6.5% of the national 6,946,351 and 5th highest of 17 departments and autonomous regions.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Chinandega: INSS recorded an average of 53,122 active insured workers at employers in Chinandega in 2023, 11.9 per 100 residents (4th highest of 17) against 11.6 nationally. Insured employment counts formal jobs by the employer's location.
- Health in Chinandega: The Supreme Electoral Council registered 7,653 births in Chinandega in 2023, 17.2 per 1,000 residents, 9th highest of 17; the national rate is 17.1. Records follow the place of registration.
- Education in Chinandega: Schools in Chinandega enrolled 113,996 pupils in initial, primary and secondary education in 2023, 256 per 1,000 residents (3rd highest of 17) against 242 nationally.
- Poverty and living standards in Chinandega: The National Police recorded 1,823 road accidents in Chinandega in 2023, 40.9 per 10,000 residents, 9th highest of 17 against 76.4 nationally.
- Government budget and revenue in Chinandega: The DGI collected C$ 516 million in taxes in Chinandega in 2023, 2.6% of the C$ 20,016 million collected through departments (4th highest of 17). Large taxpayers, with C$ 72,862 million, are reported separately.
Is the population of Chinandega growing?
The population of Chinandega changed by +0.8% between 2023 (445,784) and 2025 (449,553), the slowest 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 Chinandega?
Chinandega covers 4,822 square kilometres and had 92.8 people per square kilometre in 2024, 7th highest 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 Chinandega?
Chinandega had 102.5 women per 100 men in 2025 (227,561 women and 221,992 men), against 102.7 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow young is the population of Chinandega?
In 2025 26.4% of the people of Chinandega were aged 0 to 14 and 8.2% were 65 or older, against 28.0% and 6.9% nationally; the 0-14 share is 7th lowest 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
- Atlantico Sur 448,392
- 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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