Economy, jobs and prices in Leon, Nicaragua: official figures
INSS recorded an average of 53,820 active insured workers at employers in Leon in 2023, 12.6 per 100 residents (3rd 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 Leon?
19.6% of insured workers in Leon worked for municipal governments, the State or ministries and institutions in 2023 (10,541 people), against 23.6% nationally (4th lowest of 17).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyWhat are the main industries for jobs in Leon?
The largest group of insured workers in Leon in 2023 was manufacturing, with 18,406 people or 34.2% of the total; manufacturing accounted for 34.2% (4th highest of 17), against 21.8% nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many women have formal jobs in Leon?
Leon had 47.8% women among its insured workers in 2023 (25,748 women and 28,071 men), against 43.8% nationally (4th highest of 17).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many employers are there in Leon?
INSS recorded 2,067 active insured employers in Leon in 2023, 48.4 per 10,000 residents (5th highest of 17) against 48.3 nationally, with an average of 26.0 insured workers per employer.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow much do workers earn in total in Leon?
Insured workers in Leon earned C$ 7.71 billion in 2023, 5.8% of the national C$ 132.8 billion, which is C$ 18,056 per resident against C$ 19,516 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Leon?
The average insured worker in Leon earned about C$ 11,934 a month in 2023, 4th highest of 17 and 85% 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 Leon?
Insured men in Leon averaged about C$ 12,799 a month in 2023 and insured women about C$ 10,992; women's average was 85.9% of men's (3rd lowest of 17), against 91.7% nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyIs pay in Leon high compared with the rest of Nicaragua?
Leon accounted for 6.8% of Nicaragua's insured workers but 5.8% 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 Leon?
Insured wages in Leon averaged C$ 143,207 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 Leon?
Leon had 74 tourist lodging establishments with 756 rooms and 1,550 beds in 2023 (INTUR), 17.7 rooms per 10,000 residents (7th highest of 17) against 19.5 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow long is the road network in Leon?
The national road network in Leon measured 2,090 km in 2023, 40.7 km per 100 square kilometres (8th lowest of 17) against 20.6 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many roads are paved in Leon?
21.4% of the road network in Leon was paved, cobblestone or hydraulic concrete in 2023 (448 of 2,090 km), 8th lowest of 17 by paved share; the national share is 21.3%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow many free-zone companies are there in Leon?
Leon hosted 7 free-zone companies in 2023, 3.4% of the 203 in Nicaragua (CNZF).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow Leon compares with other departments
Insured (INSS) workers per 100 residents, 2023 (2023)
Leon ranks 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Managua | 23.8 |
| 2 | Esteli | 21.6 |
| 3 | Leon | 12.6 |
| 4 | Chinandega | 11.9 |
| 5 | Masaya | 11.6 |
| 6 | Rivas | 11.4 |
| 7 | Carazo | 10.8 |
Public-sector share of insured workers, 2023 (2023)
Leon ranks 14 of 17, highest first. Municipal governments, State and ministries and institutions
| Rank | Region | Public-sector share of insured workers, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Rivas | 27.3% |
| 12 | Carazo | 26.6% |
| 13 | Chinandega | 22.9% |
| 14 | Leon | 19.6% |
| 15 | Managua | 18.3% |
| 16 | Masaya | 15.7% |
| 17 | Esteli | 12.0% |
Manufacturing share of insured workers, 2023 (2023)
Leon ranks 4 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Manufacturing share of insured workers, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Masaya | 52.7% |
| 2 | Esteli | 52.4% |
| 3 | Carazo | 37.1% |
| 4 | Leon | 34.2% |
| 5 | Chinandega | 27.8% |
| 6 | Rivas | 22.2% |
| 7 | Granada | 21.0% |
Average monthly insured wage, 2023 (cordobas) (2023)
Leon ranks 4 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)
Leon ranks 15 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)
Leon ranks 3 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Insured wages per resident, 2023 (cordobas) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Managua | C$ 48,101 |
| 2 | Esteli | C$ 26,479 |
| 3 | Leon | C$ 18,056 |
| 4 | Chinandega | C$ 17,035 |
| 5 | Masaya | C$ 16,512 |
| 6 | Rivas | C$ 15,867 |
| 7 | Chontales | C$ 14,589 |
Tourist lodging rooms per 10,000 residents, 2023 (2023)
Leon ranks 7 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Tourist lodging rooms per 10,000 residents, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Rio San Juan | 28.5 |
| 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 |
Road network per 100 km2, 2023 (2023)
Leon ranks 10 of 17, highest first. Kilometres of national road network per 100 square kilometres
| Rank | Region | Road network per 100 km2, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Managua | 47.0 km |
| 8 | Rivas | 46.8 km |
| 9 | Matagalpa | 43.4 km |
| 10 | Leon | 40.7 km |
| 11 | Chinandega | 30.5 km |
| 12 | Boaco | 29.5 km |
| 13 | Jinotega | 24.9 km |
Paved share of the road network, 2023 (2023)
Leon ranks 10 of 17, highest first. Paved, cobblestone and hydraulic concrete roads
| Rank | Region | Paved share of the road network, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Chinandega | 26.0% |
| 8 | Atlantico Sur | 23.5% |
| 9 | Boaco | 21.5% |
| 10 | Leon | 21.4% |
| 11 | Carazo | 18.7% |
| 12 | Matagalpa | 17.9% |
| 13 | Esteli | 17.7% |
Active insured employers per 10,000 residents, 2023 (2023)
Leon ranks 5 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Active insured employers per 10,000 residents, 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Rivas | 62.6 |
| 3 | Chontales | 56.0 |
| 4 | Esteli | 55.1 |
| 5 | Leon | 48.4 |
| 6 | Chinandega | 47.8 |
| 7 | Granada | 47.4 |
| 8 | Carazo | 44.0 |
More on Leon: 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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