Economy, jobs and prices in Chontales, Nicaragua: official figures
INSS recorded an average of 16,986 active insured workers at employers in Chontales in 2023, 8.8 per 100 residents (8th highest of 17) against 11.6 nationally. Insured employment counts formal jobs by the employer's location.
How many people work for the government in Chontales?
38.4% of insured workers in Chontales worked for municipal governments, the State or ministries and institutions in 2023 (6,526 people), against 23.6% nationally (8th highest of 17).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries for jobs in Chontales?
The largest group of insured workers in Chontales in 2023 was community, social, personal and health services, with 8,398 people or 49.4% of the total; manufacturing accounted for 9.9% (7th lowest of 17), against 21.8% nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many women have formal jobs in Chontales?
Chontales had 43.3% women among its insured workers in 2023 (7,360 women and 9,626 men), against 43.8% nationally (8th lowest of 17).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many employers are there in Chontales?
INSS recorded 1,086 active insured employers in Chontales in 2023, 56.0 per 10,000 residents (3rd highest of 17) against 48.3 nationally, with an average of 15.6 insured workers per employer.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow much do workers earn in total in Chontales?
Insured workers in Chontales earned C$ 2.83 billion in 2023, 2.1% of the national C$ 132.8 billion, which is C$ 14,589 per resident against C$ 19,516 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Chontales?
The average insured worker in Chontales earned about C$ 13,873 a month in 2023, 2nd highest of 17 and 99% of the national average of C$ 13,991.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow much less do women earn than men in Chontales?
Insured men in Chontales averaged about C$ 15,455 a month in 2023 and insured women about C$ 11,804; women's average was 76.4% of men's (the lowest of 17), against 91.7% nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyIs pay in Chontales high compared with the rest of Nicaragua?
Chontales accounted for 2.1% of Nicaragua's insured workers but 2.1% of insured wages in 2023, a wage share below its worker share.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow much does the average worker earn in a year in Chontales?
Insured wages in Chontales averaged C$ 166,477 a year per worker in 2023; across the 17 departments and regions annual averages ran from C$ 121,941 to C$ 202,357.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many hotels are there in Chontales?
Chontales had 27 tourist lodging establishments with 284 rooms and 359 beds in 2023 (INTUR), 14.7 rooms per 10,000 residents (8th highest of 17) against 19.5 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow long is the road network in Chontales?
The national road network in Chontales measured 1,375 km in 2023, 21.2 km per 100 square kilometres (4th lowest of 17) against 20.6 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many roads are paved in Chontales?
26.7% of the road network in Chontales was paved, cobblestone or hydraulic concrete in 2023 (367 of 1,375 km), 6th highest of 17 by paved share; the national share is 21.3%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow Chontales compares with other departments
Insured (INSS) workers per 100 residents, 2023 (2023)
Chontales ranks 8 of 17, highest first. Average active insured workers by place of the employer, per 100 residents
| Rank | Region | Insured (INSS) workers per 100 residents, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Masaya | 11.6 |
| 6 | Rivas | 11.4 |
| 7 | Carazo | 10.8 |
| 8 | Chontales | 8.8 |
| 9 | Granada | 7.7 |
| 10 | Matagalpa | 5.8 |
| 11 | Atlantico Sur | 5.4 |
Public-sector share of insured workers, 2023 (2023)
Chontales ranks 8 of 17, highest first. Municipal governments, State and ministries and institutions
| Rank | Region | Public-sector share of insured workers, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Jinotega | 50.0% |
| 6 | Nueva Segovia | 43.2% |
| 7 | Atlantico Sur | 39.9% |
| 8 | Chontales | 38.4% |
| 9 | Matagalpa | 35.1% |
| 10 | Granada | 30.9% |
| 11 | Rivas | 27.3% |
Manufacturing share of insured workers, 2023 (2023)
Chontales ranks 11 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Manufacturing share of insured workers, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Madriz | 20.4% |
| 9 | Managua | 16.5% |
| 10 | Nueva Segovia | 16.4% |
| 11 | Chontales | 9.9% |
| 12 | Rio San Juan | 7.6% |
| 13 | Matagalpa | 4.4% |
| 14 | Atlantico Sur | 3.6% |
Average monthly insured wage, 2023 (cordobas) (2023)
Chontales ranks 2 of 17, highest first. Annual insured wages divided by average active insured workers and by 12
| Rank | Region | Average monthly insured wage, 2023 (cordobas) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Managua | C$ 16,863 |
| 2 | Chontales | C$ 13,873 |
| 3 | Atlantico Norte | C$ 12,604 |
| 4 | Leon | C$ 11,934 |
| 5 | Chinandega | C$ 11,913 |
| 6 | Masaya | C$ 11,904 |
| 7 | Rivas | C$ 11,635 |
Women's average insured wage as a share of men's, 2023 (2023)
Chontales ranks 17 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Women's average insured wage as a share of men's, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Esteli | 93.6% |
| 12 | Managua | 93.0% |
| 13 | Masaya | 88.4% |
| 14 | Atlantico Norte | 88.4% |
| 15 | Leon | 85.9% |
| 16 | Chinandega | 84.4% |
| 17 | Chontales | 76.4% |
Insured wages per resident, 2023 (cordobas) (2023)
Chontales ranks 7 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Insured wages per resident, 2023 (cordobas) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Chinandega | C$ 17,035 |
| 5 | Masaya | C$ 16,512 |
| 6 | Rivas | C$ 15,867 |
| 7 | Chontales | C$ 14,589 |
| 8 | Carazo | C$ 13,923 |
| 9 | Granada | C$ 10,686 |
| 10 | Matagalpa | C$ 7,526 |
Tourist lodging rooms per 10,000 residents, 2023 (2023)
Chontales ranks 8 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Tourist lodging rooms per 10,000 residents, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Atlantico Sur | 25.9 |
| 6 | Managua | 21.9 |
| 7 | Leon | 17.7 |
| 8 | Chontales | 14.7 |
| 9 | Matagalpa | 13.3 |
| 10 | Madriz | 12.7 |
| 11 | Boaco | 11.9 |
Road network per 100 km2, 2023 (2023)
Chontales ranks 14 of 17, highest first. Kilometres of national road network per 100 square kilometres
| Rank | Region | Road network per 100 km2, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Chinandega | 30.5 km |
| 12 | Boaco | 29.5 km |
| 13 | Jinotega | 24.9 km |
| 14 | Chontales | 21.2 km |
| 15 | Rio San Juan | 9.1 km |
| 16 | Atlantico Norte | 6.0 km |
| 17 | Atlantico Sur | 5.9 km |
Paved share of the road network, 2023 (2023)
Chontales ranks 6 of 17, highest first. Paved, cobblestone and hydraulic concrete roads
| Rank | Region | Paved share of the road network, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Rio San Juan | 30.7% |
| 4 | Rivas | 29.2% |
| 5 | Granada | 27.3% |
| 6 | Chontales | 26.7% |
| 7 | Chinandega | 26.0% |
| 8 | Atlantico Sur | 23.5% |
| 9 | Boaco | 21.5% |
Active insured employers per 10,000 residents, 2023 (2023)
Chontales ranks 3 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Active insured employers per 10,000 residents, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Managua | 94.3 |
| 2 | Rivas | 62.6 |
| 3 | Chontales | 56.0 |
| 4 | Esteli | 55.1 |
| 5 | Leon | 48.4 |
| 6 | Chinandega | 47.8 |
| 7 | Granada | 47.4 |
More on Chontales: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Nicaragua
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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