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Central America · North America

Nicaragua

Nicaragua
Capital
Managua
Population
6.6M
Area
130,374 km²
Language
Spanish

Nicaragua is a country in Central America, North America. Its capital is Managua, with a population of approximately 6.6M and a total area of 130,374 km². The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO).

📊 Quick Facts about Nicaragua

👥
Population
6.6M
total residents
📐
Total Area
130,374 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
51/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$15.8B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$2,394
per person
💱
Currency
Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
Spanish
official
🌊
Coastline
910 km
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC-6
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1821
established
🕐
Local Time in Managua

Nicaragua covers an area of 130,374 km² with a population density of 51/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $15.8B ($2,394 per capita) and gained independence in 1821. It has a coastline of 910 km.

Did You Know?

Lake Nicaragua is the only freshwater lake in the world that contains sharks, bull sharks adapted to fresh water by swimming up the San Juan River from the Caribbean. Nicaragua also has the world's only volcano you can surf down, Cerro Negro.

See all 14+ facts about Nicaragua

✈️ Travel Information for Nicaragua

📅
Best Time to Visit
November–April
Tropical, dry season November–April
💸
Cost of Travel
Budget
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa-free for most Western nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Nicaragua travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Nicaragua on the Map

Street-level photo from Ometepe Island
📍 Ometepe Island · 1/2
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Nicaragua World Rankings

1st
Freshwater Sharks
Lake Nicaragua, world's only freshwater lake with bull sharks
1st
Volcano Surfing
Cerro Negro, world's only active volcano where you can surf down
1st
Central America Size
Largest country in Central America
1st
Colonial Cities
Granada, oldest colonial city in mainland Central America

🏛 Must-See Places in Nicaragua

🗺️ Countries Bordering Nicaragua

Honduras
Honduras
Tegucigalpa
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
San José

⚖️ Compare Nicaragua with another country

See how Nicaragua stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

NicaraguavsHonduras
Nicaragua vs Honduras
NicaraguavsCosta Rica
Nicaragua vs Costa Rica
NicaraguavsBelize
Nicaragua vs Belize
NicaraguavsEl Salvador
Nicaragua vs El Salvador
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Nicaragua

What is the capital of Nicaragua?

The capital of Nicaragua is Managua.

What continent is Nicaragua in?

Nicaragua is located in North America, in the Central America region.

What currency does Nicaragua use?

Nicaragua uses the Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO). The international calling code is +505.

What is the GDP of Nicaragua?

Nicaragua has a GDP of $15.8B, with a GDP per capita of $2,394.

🌍 Explore More Countries in Central America

Belize
Belize
Belmopan
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
San José
El Salvador
El Salvador
San Salvador
Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala City

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