Americas

Nicaragua: flag, map, capital and facts

Everything about Nicaragua: its flag, its map and its facts.

Capital: Managua
Population: 7 million
Area: 130,373 km²
Currency: Nicaraguan Córdoba (C$)

#108 by population · #96 by area · #127 economy in the world · #130 by population density

Population and society

Population of ni, 1960–2025. From 1.8 million in 1960 to 7 million in 2025.

Population density: 57 per km² (rank 130 of 194)
Urban population: 59.4% (2025)
Under 15: 28.3% (2025)
Over 65: 5.7% (2025)
Children per woman: 2.21 (2024)
Internet users: 61.4% (2024)

Economy and nature

GDP: $22.2B (rank 127 of 194)
Unemployment: 5% (2025)
Inflation: 2.1% (2025)
Forests: 25.8% (of its land · 2023)
CO₂ per person: 0.8 t (a year · 2024)
Lowest point: 0 m (sea level)

Figures: World Bank, latest year with data. Lowest point: reviewed by hand.

Symbols

Anthem: Salve a ti
Official name: República de Nicaragua
Motto: En Dios confiamos (Spanish)

Coat of arms and anthem: Wikimedia Commons. Authors, where the licence asks for it: Coat of arms (Attribution, Wikimedia Commons).

Practical facts

Official language: Spanish
Calling code: +505
Internet domain: .ni
Driving side: On the right
Time zone: UTC−6
Demonym: Nicaraguan

Geography

Continent: Americas
Neighbouring countries: Costa Rica, Honduras
Highest point: Cerro Mogotón (2,107 m)
Largest city: Managua, the capital
Access to the sea: Yes

History and politics

Form of government: Presidential republic
Independence from: Spain (1821)

Economy and life

GDP per person: $3,173 (2025)
Life expectancy: 75.1 years (2024)
Human Development Index: 0.706 (rank 123 of 193)

Departments in figures

Name	Capital	Population	Area (km²)
Boaco	—	150,636 (2005)	4,177
Carazo	Jinotepe (City)	166,073 (2005)	1,081
Chinandega	Chinandega (city)	378,970 (2005)	4,822
Chontales	Juigalpa	153,932 (2005)	6,481
Estelí	—	201,548 (2005)	2,230
Granada	Granada (City)	168,186 (2005)	1,040
Jinotega	—	331,335 (2005)	9,222
León	—	355,779 (2005)	5,138
Madriz	Somoto	132,459 (2005)	1,708
Managua	—	1,262,978 (2005)	3,465
Masaya	—	289,988 (2005)	611
Matagalpa	—	469,172 (2005)	6,804
North Caribbean Coast	Bilwi	314,130 (2005)	33,106
Nueva Segovia	Ocotal	208,523 (2005)	3,491
Río San Juan	San Carlos (City)	95,596 (2005)	7,541
Rivas	—	156,283 (2005)	2,162
South Caribbean Coast	Bluefields	306,510 (2005)	27,260

Capitals, population and area: Wikidata. The year of each population is in brackets.

Flags: Wikimedia Commons. Authors, where the licence asks for it: Boaco (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Carazo (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Chinandega (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Chontales (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Estelí (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Granada (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), León (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Managua (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Masaya (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Matagalpa (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), North Caribbean Coast (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Nueva Segovia (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy), Rivas (CC BY-SA 3.0, Vrysxy).