Matagalpa: population, births and deaths, health services, schools, insured workers, wages, taxes, roads and crime
Matagalpa is a department of Nicaragua, number 2 of 17 by population. INIDE estimates the population of Matagalpa at 626,590 in 2025, 9.0% of the national 6,946,351 and 2nd highest of 17 departments and autonomous regions.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Matagalpa: INSS recorded an average of 35,490 active insured workers at employers in Matagalpa in 2023, 5.8 per 100 residents (8th lowest of 17) against 11.6 nationally. Insured employment counts formal jobs by the employer's location.
- Health in Matagalpa: The Supreme Electoral Council registered 11,555 births in Matagalpa in 2023, 18.8 per 1,000 residents, 5th highest of 17; the national rate is 17.1. Records follow the place of registration.
- Education in Matagalpa: Schools in Matagalpa enrolled 148,263 pupils in initial, primary and secondary education in 2023, 242 per 1,000 residents (8th lowest of 17) against 242 nationally.
- Poverty and living standards in Matagalpa: The National Police recorded 2,382 road accidents in Matagalpa in 2023, 38.8 per 10,000 residents, 8th lowest of 17 against 76.4 nationally.
- Government budget and revenue in Matagalpa: The DGI collected C$ 428 million in taxes in Matagalpa in 2023, 2.1% of the C$ 20,016 million collected through departments (6th highest of 17). Large taxpayers, with C$ 72,862 million, are reported separately.
Is the population of Matagalpa growing?
The population of Matagalpa changed by +2.2% between 2023 (613,262) and 2025 (626,590), 8th 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 Matagalpa?
Matagalpa covers 6,804 square kilometres and had 91.1 people per square kilometre in 2024, 8th 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 Matagalpa?
Matagalpa had 102.4 women per 100 men in 2025 (317,081 women and 309,509 men), against 102.7 nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Informacion de Desarrollo (INIDE) · saved copyHow young is the population of Matagalpa?
In 2025 30.3% of the people of Matagalpa were aged 0 to 14 and 5.7% were 65 or older, against 28.0% and 6.9% nationally; the 0-14 share is 4th 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
- Atlantico Norte 585,941
- Jinotega 515,630
- Chinandega 449,553
- 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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