| Region | Central America | |
| UN membership date | 24 October 1945 | |
| Surface area (km2) | 130 373b | |
| Population (000, 2017) | 6 218a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2017) | 51.7a | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f, 2017) | 97.2a | |
| Capital city | Managua | |
| Capital city pop. (000) | 956.2b | |
| National currency | Cordoba Oro (NIO) | |
| Exchange rate (per US$) | 29.3c |
| 2005 | 2010 | 2017 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 6 321 | 8 741 | 12 693b |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2005 prices) | 4.3 | 3.2 | 4.9b |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 1 175.1 | 1 523.5 | 2 086.9b |
| Economy: Agriculture (% of GVA) | 17.7 | 18.8 | 18.8b |
| Economy: Industry (% of GVA) | 23.0 | 24.3 | 26.8b |
| Economy: Services and other activity (% of GVA) | 59.3 | 56.9 | 54.4b |
| Employment: Agricultured (% of employed) | 29.0 | 27.4 | 24.1 |
| Employment: Industryd (% of employed) | 19.6 | 14.0 | 14.5 |
| Employment: Servicesd (% of employed) | 51.4 | 58.7 | 61.4 |
| Unemployment (% of labour force) | 5.6 | 8.0 | 6.1d |
| Labour force participationd (female/male pop. %) | 43.7 / 80.4 | 46.8 / 80.5 | 49.6 / 80.6 |
| CPI: Consumer Price Indexe (2000=100) | 147f | 234g | 308h |
| Agricultural production index (2004-2006=100) | 104 | 118 | 130h |
| Food production index (2004-2006=100) | 102 | 119 | 130h |
| International trade: Exports (million US$) | 866 | 1 848 | 2 225c |
| International trade: Imports (million US$) | 2 536 | 4 191 | 5 927c |
| International trade: Balance (million US$) | - 1 670 | - 2 343 | - 3 701c |
| Balance of payments, current account (million US$) | - 784f | - 790 | - 1 045b |
| Export partner (% of exports) | 2016 | |
| United States | 53.7 | |
| Mexico | 11.1 | |
| Venezuela (Bol. Rep.) | 6.2 | |
| Import partner (% of imports) | 2016 | |
| United States | 18.0 | |
| China | 14.4 | |
| Mexico | 10.4 | |
| 2005 | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Population growth ratei (average annual %) | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2b |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 55.9 | 57.3 | 58.8b |
| Urban population growth ratei (average annual %) | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.0b |
| Fertility rate, totali (live births per woman) | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.3b |
| Life expectancy at birthi (females/males, years) | 73.8 / 68.0 | 75.8 / 69.8 | 77.5 / 71.4b |
| Population age distribution (0-14 and 60+ years, %) | 36.0 / 6.1 | 32.8 / 6.5 | 29.0 / 8.4a |
| International migrant stockj (000/% of total pop.) | 34.9 / 0.6 | 37.3 / 0.7 | 40.3 / 0.7b |
| Refugees and others of concern to UNHCR (000) | 0.2k | 0.1k | 0.6c |
| Infant mortality ratei (per 1 000 live births) | 26.4 | 24.0 | 20.0b |
| Health: Total expenditure (% of GDP) | 6.1 | 6.6 | 9.0h |
| Health: Physicians (per 1 000 pop.) | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9h |
| Education: Government expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.4d,l | 4.5 | ... |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 120.2 / 121.9 | 122.7 / 123.8 | ... / ... |
| Education: Secondary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 74.1 / 63.7 | 78.8 / 69.8 | ... / ... |
| Education: Tertiary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 18.7 / 16.8m | ... / ... | ... / ... |
| Intentional homicide rate (per 100 000 pop.) | 13.6 | 13.7 | 11.5n |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 20.7 | 20.7 | 45.7 |
| 2005 | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Mobile-cellular subscriptions (per 100 inhabitants) | 20.5 | 68.0o | 116.1o,b |
| Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants) | 2.6 | 10.0d | 19.7d,b |
| Research & Development expenditure (% of GDP) | ~0.0m | ... | ... |
| Threatened species (number) | 90p | 121 | 144 |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 28.8 | 25.9 | 25.9d,h |
| CO2 emission estimates (million tons/tons per capita) | 4.3 / 0.8 | 4.5 / 0.8 | 4.9 / 0.8h |
| Energy production, primary (Petajoules) | 62 | 66 | 91h |
| Energy supply per capita (Gigajoules) | 22 | 22 | 26h |
| Tourist/visitor arrivals at national bordersq (000) | 712 | 1 011 | 1 386b |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 73.7 | 73.7 | 73.7 |
| Pop. using improved drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 96.3 / 63.7 | 98.2 / 67.3 | 99.3 / 69.4b |
| Pop. using improved sanitation facilities (urban/rural, %) | 70.8 / 45.4 | 74.3 / 51.8 | 76.5 / 55.7b |
| Net Official Development Assist. received (% of GNI) | 12.39 | 7.77 | 3.68b |
| Footnotes |  |
| a | Projected estimate (medium fertility variant). | |
| b | 2015. | |
| c | 2016. | |
| d | Estimate. | |
| e | Index base: 1999=100. | |
| f | Break in the time series. | |
| g | Series linked to former series. | |
| h | 2014. | |
| i | Data refers to a 5-year period preceding the reference year. | |
| j | Including refugees. | |
| k | Data as at the end of December. | |
| l | 2003. | |
| m | 2002. | |
| n | 2012. | |
| o | Includes inactive subscriptions. | |
| p | 2004. | |
| q | Including nationals residing abroad. |