Demographics of Nicaragua explained

Demographics of Nicaragua
Population (est.)
Male population2,839,168
Female population2,836,188
Population growth1.855%
Birth rate18.9/1,000 (2020 est.)
Death rate5.1/1,000 (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate11.861/1,000[1]
Life expectancy74.8 years
NationalityNicaraguan
Demographic bureausINEC
According to, Nicaragua has a population of ..According to a 2014 research published in the journal Genetics and Molecular Biology, European ancestry predominates in 69% of Nicaraguans, followed by African ancestry in 20%, and lastly indigenous ancestry in 11%.[2] A Japanese research of "Genomic Components in America's demography" demonstrated that, on average, the ancestry of Nicaraguans is 58–62% European, 28% Native American, and 14% African, with a very small Near Eastern contribution.[3] Non-genetic data from the CIA World Factbook establish that from Nicaragua's 2016 population of 5,966,798, around 69% are mestizo, 17% white, 5% Native American, and 9% black and other races. This fluctuates with changes in migration patterns. The population is 58% urban .[4]

Prior to the Sandinista revolution of 1979 since most of the migration during the years that followed were primarily of upper or middle-class Nicaraguans, a group primarily made up of whites. A growing number of these expats have returned, while many continue to live abroad.[5]

42.5% of the population lives below the poverty line.[6] The general poverty rate is estimated at 47.3%, although much of the population falls in the lower middle class due to low salaries and a low GDP (US$1000–3000).[7]

The most populous city in the country is the capital city, Managua, with a population of 1.2 million (2005). As of 2005, over 4.4 million inhabitants live in the Pacific, Central and North regions. 2.7 million inhabitants reside in the Pacific region alone, while inhabitants in the Caribbean region only reach an estimated 700,000.[8]

The Census Bureau in Nicaragua is the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). The institution is in charge of completing censuses and surveys. INEC ran its first census in 1906, the last census was taken in 2005, it was the eighth to date.

Population

According to the total population was in, compared to only 1,295,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 34.5%, 60.9% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 4.6% was 65 years or older.[9]

YearTotal population
(million)
Proportion percentage
aged 0–14aged 15–64aged 65+
19501 295
19551 508
19601 775
19652 063
19702 400
19752 798
19803 250
19853 710
19904 138
19954 659
20005 069
20055 439
20105 824
20156 223
20206 625

Structure of the population

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total2 844 2442 898 0725 742 316100
0-4347 205332 920680 12511.84
5-9336 817323 279660 09611.50
10-14344 831332 925677 75611.80
15-19331 536329 072660 60811.50
20-24286 484290 439576 92310.05
25-29250 672260 730511 4028.91
30-34197 120214 967412 0877.18
35-39162 472174 845337 3175.87
40-44136 223143 572279 7954.87
45-49115 914124 028239 9424.18
50-5498 355107 733206 0883.59
55-5974 17380 156154 3292.69
60-6445 22148 46093 6811.63
65-6943 12146 23089 3511.56
70-7432 41835 44367 8611.18
75-7922 24925 95648 2050.84
80+19 43327 31746 7500.81
Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent
0-141 028 853989 1242 017 97735.14
15-641 698 1701 774 0023 472 17260.47
65+117 221134 946252 1674.39
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total3 288 4083 375 956 6 664 364100
0–4335 249320 686655 9359.84
5–9343 583 328 904672 48710.09
10–14337 314323 968661 2829.92
15–19313 019301 775614 7949.23
20–24304 662297 089 601 7519.03
25–29296 857299 885596 7428.95
30–34259 590270 778530 3687.96
35–39235 250251 343486 5937.30
40–44193 337216 923410 2606.16
45–49156 792176 961333 7535.01
50–54129 366143 115272 4814.09
55–59110 143122 372232 5153.49
60–6494 032107 538201 5703.02
65-6972 95083 721156 6712.35
70-7440 99647 56488 5601.33
75-7931 67937 60369 2821.04
80+33 58945 73179 3201.19
Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–141 016 146973 5581 989 70429.86
15–642 093 0482 187 7794 280 82764.23
65+179 214214 619393 8335.91

Population distribution

Ninety percent of Nicaraguans live in the Pacific lowlands and the adjacent interior highlands. The population is 54% urban. The most populous city in Nicaragua is the capital city, Managua, with a population of 1.2 million (2005). As of 2005, over 4.4 million inhabitants live in the Pacific, Central and North regions of the country. There are 2.7 million residents in the Pacific region. The Caribbean region has an estimated 700,000 residents.[8] In addition, many Nicaraguans live abroad.

Departments by population

align=center style="background:#f5f5f5;" Rankalign=center style="background:#f5f5f5;" Cityalign=center style="background:#f5f5f5;" Departmentalign=center style="background:#f5f5f5;" Pop.align=center style="background:#f5f5f5;" Rankalign=center style="background:#f5f5f5;" Cityalign=center style="background:#f5f5f5;" Departmentalign=center style="background:#f5f5f5;" Pop.
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 1 align=left Managua 1,262,978 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 10 align=left Estelí 201,548
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 2 align=left Matagalpa 469,172 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 11 align=left Granada 168,186
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 3 align=left Chinandega 378,970 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 12 align=left Jinotepe 166,073
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 4 align=left León 355,779 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 13 align=left Rivas Rivas 156,283 align=center Managua
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 5 align=left Jinotega 331,335 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 14 align=left Juigalpa 153,932
Granada
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 6 align=left Bilwi 314,130 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 15 align=left Boaco 150,636
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 7 align=left Bluefields 306,510 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 16 align=left Somoto 132,459
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 8 align=left Masaya 289,988 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 17 align=left San Carlos 95,596
align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 9 align=left Ocotal 208,523 align=center style="background:#f0f0f0;" 18 align=left Total -- 5,142,098 (2005)

[10]

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Nicaragua not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.[9]

PeriodLive births
per year
Deaths
per year
Natural change
per year
CBR*CDR*NC*TFR*IMR*Life expectancy
totalfor malesfor females
1950–1955 77 00032 00045 00054.923.031.97.2017242.340.943.7
1955–1960 89 00033 00056 00054.220.433.87.5015145.444.146.8
1960–1965 93 00033 00060 00048.517.031.57.1013148.747.350.0
1965–1970 103 00032 00071 00046.314.431.96.9511452.050.553.4
1970–1975 120 00033 00088 00046.312.633.76.799855.353.756.8
1975–1980 137 00034 000102 00045.211.333.96.359057.655.360.0
1980–1985 149 00035 000114 00042.910.132.75.858059.556.562.6
1985–1990 150 00033 000117 00038.28.429.85.006562.259.065.5
1990–1995 156 00029 000127 00035.46.528.94.504866.163.568.7
1995–2000 147 00027 000120 00030.15.624.63.603468.465.971.1
2000–2005 139 00026 000112 00025.85.220.62.912670.968.073.8
2005–2010 140 00027 000113 00024.35.119.22.682272.969.976.0
2010–2015 22.85.017.82.54
2015–2020 20.95.115.82.42
2020–2025 18.75.113.62.28
2025–2030 17.15.311.82.16
  • CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Fertility and births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[11]

YearTotalUrbanRural
CBR TFRCBR TFRCBR TFR
1998293,6 (2,5)2,9 (2,0)5,0 (3,3)
2001273,2 (2,3)242,6 (1,8)314,4 (3,0)
2006–2007 2,72,23,5
2011/20122,42,12,9

Births and deaths[12] [13]

YearPopulation Live birthsDeathsNatural increaseCrude birth rateCrude death rateRate of natural increaseCrude migration (per thousands)TFR
19903,959,785
19914,058,434
19924,162,367
19934,268,685
19944,374,490
19954,476,881
19964,574,524
19974,669,352
19984,763,366
19994,858,570
20004,956,964
20015,058,643
20025,162,275
20035,267,714
20045,374,820
20055,483,447121,38016,770104,61022.13.119.02.94
20065,522,606123,88616,595107,29122.43.019.4-12.3
20075,595,541128,17117,288110,88322.93.119.8-6.62.509
20085,668,876129,50618,262111,24422.83.219.6-6.52.487
20095,742,310132,22218,179114,04323.03.219.8-6.82.492
20105,815,524132,16519,944112,22122.73.419.3-6.62.458
20115,996,619140,95819,523121,43523.53.320.210.92.541
20126,071,045142,87420,300122,57423.53.320.2-7.82.544
20136,134,270142,75621,381121,37523.33.519.8-9.42.526
20146,198,154143,42122,469120,95223.13.619.5-9.12.521
20156,262,703144,59723,540121,05723.13.819.3-8.92.524
20166,327,927139,59523,738115,85722.13.818.3-7.92.430
20176,393,824139,48724,300115,18721.83.818.0-7.62.421
20186,460,411139,12624,296114,83021.53.817.7-7.32.416
20196,527,691131,67325,340106,33320.13.916.2- 5.82.284
20206,595,674124,36533,68190,68418.95.113.8-3.42.158
20216,664,000120,47334,99985,47417.55.012.5-2.1
20226,734,000118,118
2023106,43926,16080,27915.6

Ethnic groups

See also: Nicaraguans.

According to the 2005 census 443,847 (8.6%) residents consider themselves to belong to an indigenous people or to an ethnic community.[14] The remaining majority of the Nicaraguan population (91.6%) are deemed mestizo and white, with the majority of these being of Spanish, with some German, Italian, Portuguese and French ancestry. Mestizos and whites mainly reside in the western region of the country.

Possibly also a part of the black or Afro-Nicaraguan population, which mainly resides on the country's sparsely populated Caribbean (or Atlantic) coast, is included in the majority population which does not consider itself to belong to an ethnic community. In the 2005 census, there were only 19,890 Creoles (0.4% of the total population). The Creole population is mostly of West Indian (Antillean) origin, the descendants of indentured laborers brought mostly from Jamaica when the region was a British protectorate.

Primarily in the 19th century, Nicaragua saw several waves of immigration from European nations. In particular the northern cities of Estelí, Jinotega and Matagalpa have significant populations of fourth generation Germans.

The Garifuna, a people of mixed Carib, Angolan, Congolese and Arawak descent, numbered 3,271 in 2005 (0.1%). 112,253 people considered themselves "Mestizo de la Costa Caribe" (mestizo of the Caribbean coast). In addition to the inhabitants who declared themselves Indigenous or Ethnic community, 13,740 answered "Other". Another 47,473 responded "Not Sure" and an additional 19,460 responded "Ignore".

Indigenous population

The Native American population, the unmixed descendants of the country's indigenous inhabitants, numbered 227,760 (4.4% of the total population) in 2005.[14] Nicaragua's pre-Columbian consisted of many indigenous groups. In the western region, the Nicarao people were present along with other groups such as the Mangue and Subtiaba, all three being considered Mesoamerican peoples.

The central region and the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua were mainly inhabited by speakers of Misumalpan languages and some speakers of Chibchan languages. These groups include the Miskitos (120,817 people), Matagalpa (15,240 people), Ramas (4,185 people), Sumos (9,756 people) and Ulwa (698 people).

In the 19th century, the indigenous population was more demographically significant, but they have since largely been culturally assimilated into the mestizo majority. In the mid-1980s, the government divided the department of Zelaya – consisting of the eastern half of the country — into two autonomous regions and granted the black and indigenous people of this region limited self-rule within the Republic.

Those belonging to recognized indigenous communities (2005)
Rama4,1850.9%Chorotega46,00210.4
Sumo9,7562.2%Miskito120.81727.2%
Ulwa6980.2%Matagalpa15,2403.4%
Subtiaba19,9494.5%Nahua11,1132.5

Immigration

Relative to its overall population, Nicaragua has never experienced any large scale wave of immigrants. The total number of immigrants to Nicaragua, both originating from other Latin American countries and all other countries, never surpassed 1% of its total population prior to 1995. The 2005 census showed the foreign-born population at 1.2%, having risen 0.06% in 10 years.[8] However, in the 19th century, Nicaragua received immigrants from Europe, who established many agricultural businesses such as coffee and sugar cane plantations, and also newspapers, hotels and banks.

Emigration

During the Nicaraguan Revolution and the Civil War, thousands of Nicaraguans left the country. After the 1990 Nicaraguan Elections some people returned, but many more emigrated during the rest of the decade. In 1998, the Hurricane Mitch killed almost 4,000 people in the country and destroyed much of the Nicaraguan economy, as a result thousands of Nicaraguans received the TPS enabling them to emigrate to the United States as "refugees".[15] In recent years, many Nicaraguans had left the country to escape poverty and unemployment.

Nicaraguan emigration is a recent process. During the 1990–2004 period, more than 800,000 Nicaraguans left the country, compared to 100,000 during the 1970–1989 period.[16] According to the World Bank, in 2005 there were 683,520 Nicaraguans living outside Nicaragua legally. If those who are undocumented are counted, some sources estimate as many as 1,500,000 Nicaraguans living abroad by the end of 2005.[17] Nicaraguans are the third largest community of Central Americans living abroad, after Guatemalans and Salvadorans. Nicaragua is also the second country in Central America by percentage of population living abroad.

Following the return of Daniel Ortega to power in the 2006 Nicaraguan general election and subsequent democratic backsliding, especially during and after the violently suppressed 2018 Nicaraguan protests, a new wave of political emigration occurred.[18] Most political emigrants live in Costa Rica[19] which has been a stable representative democracy since the end of the Costa Rican Civil War in 1948. Other target countries of political emigration include the United States and European countries, particularly Spain.

Remittances to Nicaragua represent about 15% of the country's GDP.[20] In 2008 Nicaragua received close to one billion dollars in remittances; an increase from the $750,000,000 received in 2007, according to the World Bank[21]

Language

See main article: Languages of Nicaragua. The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish, or Nicañol as Nicaraguan Spanish is sometimes referred to, and is spoken by the country's population. In Nicaragua the Voseo form is common, just as in other countries in Central and South America like Honduras, Argentina, and Uruguay. Spanish has many different dialects spoken throughout Latin America, Central American Spanish is the dialect spoken in Nicaragua.

Phonology

Some other characteristics of Nicaraguan phonology include:

Nicaraguans on the Caribbean coast speak their indigenous languages and also English. The indigenous peoples of the east who use their original language tend to also speak Spanish and/or English, the main languages being Miskito language, Sumo language, and Rama language. Creole languages are also present in the Caribbean coast, Nicaragua Creole English has 30,000 speakers.

Nicaragua has many minority groups. Many ethnic groups in Nicaragua, such as the Chinese Nicaraguans and Palestinian Nicaraguans, have maintained their ancestral languages while also speaking Spanish and/or English. Minority languages include Chinese, Arabic, German, Italian among others. Nicaragua also has a total of 3 extinct languages.[22]

Nicaraguan Sign Language is also of particular interest to linguists.

Religion

See main article: Religion in Nicaragua.

Religious Affiliation in Nicaragua (census 2005)
ReligionPercentage
Roman Catholic58.5%
Evangelical21.6%
Moravian1.6%
Jehovah's Witnesses0.9%
None15.7%
Other11.6%
1 Includes Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism among other religions.
Source: 2005 Nicaraguan Census

Religion is a significant part of the culture of Nicaragua and forms part of the constitution. Religious freedom, which has been guaranteed since 1939, and religious tolerance is promoted by both the Nicaraguan government and the constitution. Bishops are expected to lend their authority to important state occasions, and their pronouncements on national issues are closely followed. They can also be called upon to mediate between contending parties at moments of political crisis.[23]

Although Nicaragua has no official religion it is nominally Roman Catholic. Practicing Roman Catholics are no longer the majority and are declining while evangelical Protestant groups and Mormons are growing rapidly have been growing since the 1990s. There are also strong Anglican and Moravian communities on the Caribbean coast.

Roman Catholicism came to Nicaragua in the 16th century with the Spanish conquest and remained, until 1939, the established faith. Protestantism and various Christian sects came to Nicaragua during the 19th century, but only during the 20th century have Protestant denominations gained large followings in the Caribbean Coast of the country. Popular religion revolves around the saints, who are perceived as intermediaries between human beings and God.[23]

Most localities, from the capital of Managua to small rural communities, honor patron saints selected from the Roman Catholic calendar with annual fiestas. In many communities, a rich lore has grown up around the celebrations of patron saints, such as Managua's Saint Dominic (Santo Domingo), honored in August with two colorful, often riotous, day-long processions through the city. The high point of Nicaragua's religious calendar for the masses is neither Christmas nor Easter, but La Purísima, a week of festivities in early December dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, during which elaborate altars to the Virgin Mary are constructed in homes and workplaces.[23]

Other demographic statistics

Demographic statistics according to the 2022 World Population Review.

Demographic statistics according to the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population

6,301,880 (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 69%, White 17%, Black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.63% (male 811,731/female 777,984)

15-24 years: 19.51% (male 609,962/female 600,567)

25-54 years: 42.41% (male 1,254,683/female 1,376,052)

55-64 years: 6.63% (male 188,591/female 222,766)

65 years and over: 5.82% (2020 est.) (male 159,140/female 201,965)

Birth rate

16.52 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 97th

Death rate

5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 191st

Median age

total: 27.3 years. Country comparison to the world: 148th

male: 26.4 years

female: 28.2 years (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 145th

Population growth rate

0.92% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 104th

Net migration rate

-2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 170th

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2011/12 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Contraceptive prevalence rate

80.4% (2011/12)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.78 years. Country comparison to the world: 132nd

male: 72.56 years

female: 77.11 years (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 59.6% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2019) Country comparison to the world: 132nd

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 82.6%

male: 82.4%

female: 82.8% (2015)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 8.5%

male: 6.4%

female: 12.9% (2014 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official) 95.3%, Miskito 2.2%, Mestizo of the Caribbean coast 2%, other 0.5%; note - English and indigenous languages found on the Caribbean coast (2005 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 50%, Evangelical 33.2%, other 2.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 13.2% (2017 est.)

See also

General:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nicaragua Demographics. Worldometer. 2023.
  2. Mauro Salzano, Francisco . Sans, Mónica . Interethnic admixture and the evolution of Latin American populations. Genetics and Molecular Biology. 2014. 37. 1 (suppl). 151–170. 10.1590/s1415-47572014000200003. 24764751 . 3983580.
  3. Web site: Genomic Components in America's demography. January 8, 2018. 7 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210307232735/https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4307/35125440893_3566ed7714_o.jpg. live.
  4. Web site: Urban population (% of total). World Bank. 2015-06-26. 2 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170302054104/http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. live.
  5. Web site: Sandinista political and military organization, Nicaragua Britannica . www.britannica.com . en.
  6. Web site: The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency. https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003340/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2046.html#nu. dead. June 13, 2007. Cia.gov. 3 October 2017.
  7. Web site: Instituto Nacional de Información de Desarrollo- INIDE de Nicaragua. Inide.gob.ni. 3 October 2017.
  8. News: VIII Censo de Poblacion y IV de Vivienda. October 2005. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. 2007-07-07. es. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070824192548/http://www.inec.gob.ni/censos2005/ResumenCensal/RESUMENCENSAL.pdf. 2007-08-24.
  9. Web site: World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations. https://web.archive.org/web/20110506065230/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm. dead. May 6, 2011. population.un.org.
  10. Web site: Worldbank, country Nicaragua, visited October 9, 2021.
  11. Web site: MEASURE DHS: Demographic and Health Surveys. Microdata.worldbank.org. 3 October 2017.
  12. Web site: 3. Live births, deaths, and infant deaths, latest available year (2002 - 2016). Unstats.un.org. 3 October 2017.
  13. Web site: Instituto Nacional de Información de Desarrollo - INIDE .
  14. Web site: CAPÍTULO 1 : CENSO DE POBLACIÓN. Inide.gob.ni. 3 October 2017.
  15. Web site: Knowledge of Immigrant Nationalities of Santa Clara County (KIN) - Nicaragua . 2007-05-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070520160930/http://www.immigrantinfo.org/kin/nicaragua.htm . 2007-05-20 . dead .
  16. Web site: La Prensa - Economia - los exiliados económicos . 2009-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080604212859/http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2004/abril/14/economia/economia-20040414-02.html . 2008-06-04 . dead .
  17. Web site: Nicaragüenses en el exterior divididos y rizo no renunciará. Lajornadanet.com. 3 October 2017.
  18. https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2018/08/01/costa-rica-abrumada-con-miles-de-nicaraguenses-que-buscan-asilo-escapando-de-la-violencia-en-nicaragua/
  19. https://www.vozdeamerica.com/a/crisis-de-nicaragua-sacude-a-vecina-costa-rica-con-migraci%C3%B3n-masiva/4519899.html
  20. Web site: The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency. Cia.gov. 3 October 2017.
  21. Web site: Nicaragua. Siteresources.worldbank.org. 3 October 2017.
  22. Web site: Nicaragua. Ethnologue.com. 3 October 2017.
  23. News: Gilbert . Dennis . Nicaragua: Religion . Library of Congress . Country Studies . 2007-10-30.