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Nicaragua - General Country Information

Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Military
Transnational Issues

Introduction

General Information: Nicaragua

The capital of Nicaragua is Managua.

Major cities of Nicaragua are:
Managua.

Geography

Location:	Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Coordinates:	13 00 N, 85 00 W
Area:	total: 129,494 sq km land: 120,254 sq km water: 9,240 sq km
Area Comparative:	slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land Boundaries:	total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:	910 km
Maritime Claims:	territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate:	tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:	extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation Extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural Resources:	gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land Use:	arable land: 15.94% permanent crops: 1.94% other: 82.12% (2001)
Irrigated Land:	880 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Hazards:	destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Environment Current Issues:	deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment International Agreements:	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Note:	largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

People

Population:	5,359,759 (July 2004 est.)
Age Structure:	total: 20.2 years male: 19.8 years female: 20.6 years (2004 est.)
Population Growth Rate:	1.97% (2004 est.)
Birth Rate:	25.5 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death Rate:	4.54 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Migration Rate:	-1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex Ratio:	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate:	total: 30.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 33.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Expectancy Birth:	total population: 70.02 years male: 67.99 years female: 72.16 years (2004 est.)
Fertility Rate:	2.89 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV Adult Prevalence Rate:	0.2% (2003 est.)
People Living HIV:	6,400 (2003 est.)
HIV Deaths:	less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:	noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic Groups:	mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions:	Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Languages:	Spanish (official) note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.5% male: 67.2% female: 67.8% (2003 est.)

Gouvernment

Country Name:	conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua
Government Type:	republic
Capital:	Managua
Administrative Divisions:	15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Atlantico Norte, Atlantico Sur, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:	15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National Holiday:	Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:	9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal System:	civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage:	16 years of age; universal
Executive Branch:	chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006) election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president - 56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PCN) 1.4%; Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president
Legislative Branch:	unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; members are elected by proportional representation and party lists to serve five-year terms; one seat for previous President, one seat for runner-up in previous Presidential election elections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PCCN, PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCN 2.12%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 53, FSLN 38, PCN 1
Judicial Branch:	Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)
Political Parties Leaders:	Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Mario RAPPACCIOLI]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO Molina]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [leader NA]; Unity Alliance or AU [leader NA]; Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon, Oscar WENDOLYN Vargas, Karla WHITE]; Liberal Salvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; Christian Alternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]
Political Pressure Groups Leaders:	National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including - Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business groups
International Organization Participation:	BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic in US:	chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December 2003) chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic from US:	chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] 266-6010 FAX: [505] 266-9074
Flag Description:	three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Economy

Economy Overview:	Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per capita income, massive unemployment, and huge external debt. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe. While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic stability over the past few years, GDP annual growth of 1.5% - 2.5% has been far too low to meet the country's need. Nicaragua will continue to be dependent on international aid and debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Nicaragua has undertaken significant economic reforms that are expected to help the country qualify for more than $4 billion in debt relief under HIPC in early 2004. Donors have made aid conditional on the openness of government financial operation, poverty alleviation, and human rights. A three-year poverty reduction and growth plan, agreed to with the IMF in December 2002, guides economic policy.
GDP:	purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (2003 est.)
GDP Growth Rate:	2.3% (2003 est.)
GDP Capital:	purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2003 est.)
GDP Composition:	agriculture: 28.9% industry: 25.4% services: 45.7% (2003 est.)
Investment:	28.1% of GDP (2003)
Population Below Poverty Line:	50% (2001 est.)
Household Income:	lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 48.8% (1998)
Gini Index:	60.3 (1998)
Inflation Rate:	5.3% (2003 est.)
Labor Force:	1.91 million (2003)
Labor Force Occupation:	agriculture 42%, industry 15%, services 43% (1999 est.)
Unemployment Rate:	22% plus considerable underemployment (2003 est.)
Budget:	revenues: $672.5 million expenditures: $954.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2003 est.)
Public Debt:	125.3% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture Products:	coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Industries:	food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Industry Production Growth Rate:	4.4% (2000 est.)
Electricity Production:	2.549 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity Consumption:	2.388 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity Exports:	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity Imports:	17 million kWh (2001)
Oil Production:	0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Consumption:	24,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Exports:	NA (2001)
Oil Imports:	NA (2001)
Current Account Balance:	$-859 million (2003)
Exports:	$632 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports Commodities:	coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, bananas, beef, sugar, gold
Exports Partners:	US 35.9%, El Salvador 17.2%, Costa Rica 8.1%, Honduras 7.3%, Mexico 4.6%, Guatemala 4.3% (2003)
Imports:	$1.658 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports Commodities:	machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products, consumer goods
Imports Partners:	US 24.9%, Venezuela 9.7%, Costa Rica 9%, Mexico 8.4%, Guatemala 7.3%, El Salvador 4.9%, Japan 4.3% (2003)
Reserves:	$502 million (2003)
Debt External:	$5.833 billion (2003 est.)
Currency:	gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency Code:	NIO
Exchange Rates:	gold cordobas per US dollar - 14.2513 (2003), 14.2513 (2002), 13.3719 (2001), 12.6844 (2000), 11.8092 (1999)
Fiscal Year:	calendar year

Communications

Telephones Lines Use:	171,600 (2002)
Mobile Cellular:	202,800 (2002)
Telephone System:	general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreign investment domestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System international: country code - 505; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio Stations:	AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television Stations:	3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Internet Code:	.ni
Internet Hosts:	7,094 (2003)
Internet Users:	90,000 (2002)

Military

Military Branches:	Army (includes Navy), Navy
Military Age Obligation:	17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military Availability:	males age 15-49: 1,399,356 (2004 est.)
Fit Military Service:	males age 15-49: 858,022 (2004 est.)
Reaching Military Age Annually:	males: 61,869 (2004 est.)
Military Expenditures Dollar Figure:	$30.8 million (2003)
Military Expenditures Percent GDP:	1.2% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Disputes International:	territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank region; the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica
Illicit Drugs:	transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing