GeoRealityMatch
Aerial shot of the Old Cathedral of Managua, showcasing its historic architecture and surrounding cityscape.Breathtaking view of a volcanic eruption at sunset in León, Nicaragua, showcasing vibrant colors and dramatic clouds.

Nicaragua

North America · Central America

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Incomes are low.

Safety

105th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.107lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#105 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
11.3per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2021
Safety index
49.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$2,850national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
7.9New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 154% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 44% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$5.0K$10K$9,284 PPP$3,173Inflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $1,248 a person, $3,658 at PPP, inflation 9.1%2007, $1,350 a person, $3,891 at PPP, inflation 11.1%2008, $1,524 a person, $4,044 at PPP, inflation 19.8%2009, $1,467 a person, $3,880 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2010, $1,527 a person, $4,042 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2011, $1,680 a person, $4,325 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2012, $1,785 a person, $4,508 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2013, $1,835 a person, $4,711 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2014, $1,958 a person, $5,068 at PPP, inflation 6%2015, $2,074 a person, $5,449 at PPP, inflation 4%2016, $2,132 a person, $5,882 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2017, $2,183 a person, $6,225 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2018, $2,035 a person, $5,935 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2019, $1,959 a person, $5,981 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2020, $1,938 a person, $6,274 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2021, $2,138 a person, $7,119 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2022, $2,323 a person, $7,795 at PPP, inflation 10.5%2023, $2,609 a person, $8,327 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2024, $2,848 a person, $8,721 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2025, $3,173 a person, $9,284 at PPP, inflation 2.1%$0$5.0K$10KInflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $1,248 a person, $3,658 at PPP, inflation 9.1%2007, $1,350 a person, $3,891 at PPP, inflation 11.1%2008, $1,524 a person, $4,044 at PPP, inflation 19.8%2009, $1,467 a person, $3,880 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2010, $1,527 a person, $4,042 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2011, $1,680 a person, $4,325 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2012, $1,785 a person, $4,508 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2013, $1,835 a person, $4,711 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2014, $1,958 a person, $5,068 at PPP, inflation 6%2015, $2,074 a person, $5,449 at PPP, inflation 4%2016, $2,132 a person, $5,882 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2017, $2,183 a person, $6,225 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2018, $2,035 a person, $5,935 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2019, $1,959 a person, $5,981 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2020, $1,938 a person, $6,274 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2021, $2,138 a person, $7,119 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2022, $2,323 a person, $7,795 at PPP, inflation 10.5%2023, $2,609 a person, $8,327 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2024, $2,848 a person, $8,721 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2025, $3,173 a person, $9,284 at PPP, inflation 2.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
75.1years, at birthHigh
#87 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
70WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
18.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
95 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
512EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet95 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Breathtaking view of a volcanic eruption at sunset in León, Nicaragua, showcasing vibrant colors and dramatic clouds.
How it changed

Nicaragua's Human Development Index

0.706High human development

123rd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 19th of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #121Venezuela0.709
  2. #122Samoa0.708
  3. #123Nicaragua0.706
  4. #124Nauru0.703
  5. #125Bhutan0.698
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.515 in 1990 to 0.706 in 2023.

0.450.600.750.70619902000201020231990: 0.5151991: 0.5261992: 0.5311993: 0.5341994: 0.5401995: 0.5491996: 0.5591997: 0.5681998: 0.5691999: 0.5852000: 0.5932001: 0.6012002: 0.6092003: 0.6152004: 0.6232005: 0.6302006: 0.6362007: 0.6422008: 0.6462009: 0.6462010: 0.6512011: 0.6572012: 0.6642013: 0.6682014: 0.6742015: 0.6792016: 0.6842017: 0.6882018: 0.6902019: 0.6902020: 0.6762021: 0.6822022: 0.7012023: 0.7060.450.600.7519902000201020231990: 0.5151991: 0.5261992: 0.5311993: 0.5341994: 0.5401995: 0.5491996: 0.5591997: 0.5681998: 0.5691999: 0.5852000: 0.5932001: 0.6012002: 0.6092003: 0.6152004: 0.6232005: 0.6302006: 0.6362007: 0.6422008: 0.6462009: 0.6462010: 0.6512011: 0.6572012: 0.6642013: 0.6682014: 0.6742015: 0.6792016: 0.6842017: 0.6882018: 0.6902019: 0.6902020: 0.6762021: 0.6822022: 0.7012023: 0.706

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
75.1 years2024at birthUp 4.7 years from 70.4 years in 2005
Internet users
61%2024of people onlineUp 59 points from 3% in 2006
Urban population
59%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 3 points from 56% in 2006
Births per woman
2.212024births per womanDown 0.56 from 2.77 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
50%2021of energy usedDown 1 point from 51% in 2004
Access to electricity
89%2024of people with electricityUp 15 points from 74% in 2005
Infant mortality
92024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 16 from 26 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
26%2023of land under forestDown 15 points from 41% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Central America's cheapest, under the authoritarian Ortega government. The case against is low incomes.

About Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a Central American country of volcanic lakes, colonial cities, Pacific surf beaches, and Caribbean jungle coast that remains one of the region's most affordable and least visited destinations. Granada and León are beautiful colonial cities with distinct characters, and the countryside of the southwest has a lush, vivid quality. Those who travel independently and engage with local life will find it honest, beautiful, and full of character.

Practical facts

  • CapitalManagua
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyNicaraguan córdoba (NIO)
  • Area120,340 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

Costa RicaHonduras

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Quick answers

What is Nicaragua's Human Development Index?

Nicaragua's Human Development Index is 0.706 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #123 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Nicaragua safe?

Nicaragua scores 2.11 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #105 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Nicaragua?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Nicaragua at 34.2 (New York = 100); that is #44 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Nicaragua?

Life expectancy at birth in Nicaragua is 75.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #87 of 195 countries.