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Population · North America

Nicaragua population 2026

Right now · estimate

Nicaragua population right now

7,127,716

Births today
0
Deaths today
0
Births this year
110,095
Births minus deaths this year
+81,856

Nicaragua has an estimated 7,097,329 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 89,827 more than a year earlier (+1.28%). It is the 108th most populous country in the world. It is projected to keep growing until 2071, peaking at 9.2 million, then decline to 8.6 million by 2100.

UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.

Nicaragua in numbers, 2026

Births in 2026
131 thousand 359 a day
Deaths in 2026
34 thousand 92 a day
Net migration
−8 thousand more departures than arrivals
Growth rate
+1.25% growing
Fertility rate
2.16per woman above replacement (2.1)
Median age
26.3years world: 31.1
Life expectancy
75.4years
Aged 65 and over
5.9% 12.8% by 2050

Land, people and health

Capital
Managua
Area
129,494 km² 98th largest of 237
Population density
59per km² 161st most crowded
Urban population
59.6% 68.5% by 2050
Men and women
3.5 million / 3.6 million 96.9 men per 100 women
Life expectancy, women
77.9years men: 72.8 years
Infant mortality
10.2per 1,000 births under-5: 12.4
Birth rate
18.5per 1,000 death rate: 4.7
Net migration rate
−1.2per 1,000 net departures

Population of Nicaragua, 1950–2100

Projected peak: 2071, 9.2 million. By 2050: 8.8 million (+23.4% from today).

Population of Nicaragua
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
8.6M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearPopulation
19501,331,439
19511,369,650
19521,409,021
19531,449,900
19541,492,256
19551,536,246
19561,581,973
19571,629,465
19581,678,739
19591,729,787
19601,782,370
19611,836,451
19621,892,320
19631,950,159
19642,010,176
19652,072,681
19662,137,820
19672,205,567
19682,275,836
19692,348,398
19702,423,065
19712,499,826
19722,573,578
19732,649,278
19742,732,075
19752,816,943
19762,903,851
19772,992,534
19783,080,314
19793,164,525
19803,252,403
19813,345,674
19823,438,745
19833,530,282
19843,619,104
19853,706,479
19863,794,156
19873,882,164
19883,972,320
19894,066,476
19904,162,559
19914,259,637
19924,357,026
19934,453,732
19944,549,316
19954,642,931
19964,729,974
19974,809,573
19984,883,656
19994,954,018
20005,022,634
20015,087,825
20025,149,910
20035,210,964
20045,272,912
20055,342,106
20065,418,856
20075,497,243
20085,576,593
20095,656,601
20105,737,450
20115,819,051
20125,901,286
20135,983,844
20146,066,492
20156,149,417
20166,232,666
20176,316,232
20186,400,080
20196,483,657
20206,565,267
20216,644,741
20226,730,654
20236,823,613
2024 *6,916,140
2025 *7,007,502
2026 *7,097,329
2027 *7,185,722
2028 *7,272,686
2029 *7,358,004
2030 *7,441,603
2031 *7,523,768
2032 *7,604,395
2033 *7,683,393
2034 *7,760,891
2035 *7,836,703
2036 *7,910,786
2037 *7,983,288
2038 *8,054,135
2039 *8,122,957
2040 *8,189,914
2041 *8,255,158
2042 *8,318,520
2043 *8,380,006
2044 *8,439,716
2045 *8,497,615
2046 *8,553,411
2047 *8,607,278
2048 *8,659,284
2049 *8,708,924
2050 *8,756,430
2051 *8,801,962
2052 *8,844,972
2053 *8,885,363
2054 *8,923,486
2055 *8,959,459
2056 *8,993,116
2057 *9,024,586
2058 *9,054,244
2059 *9,081,922
2060 *9,107,126
2061 *9,129,737
2062 *9,150,115
2063 *9,168,374
2064 *9,184,317
2065 *9,198,030
2066 *9,209,808
2067 *9,219,472
2068 *9,227,008
2069 *9,232,482
2070 *9,235,612
2071 *9,236,798
2072 *9,236,138
2073 *9,233,361
2074 *9,228,417
2075 *9,221,968
2076 *9,214,038
2077 *9,204,062
2078 *9,192,488
2079 *9,179,281
2080 *9,164,172
2081 *9,147,266
2082 *9,128,844
2083 *9,109,258
2084 *9,088,339
2085 *9,066,054
2086 *9,042,502
2087 *9,017,930
2088 *8,992,484
2089 *8,965,769
2090 *8,938,113
2091 *8,909,512
2092 *8,879,841
2093 *8,849,180
2094 *8,817,825
2095 *8,785,878
2096 *8,752,898
2097 *8,719,026
2098 *8,684,150
2099 *8,648,332
2100 *8,611,722

* UN projection

Population of Nicaragua by year

5 million in 2000, 7.1 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.

YearPopulationYearly changeWorld rank
2026* 7,097,329 +1.28% 108
2025* 7,007,502 +1.32% 109
2024* 6,916,140 +1.36% 109
2023 6,823,613 +1.38% 109
2022 6,730,654 +1.29% 111
2021 6,644,741 +1.21% 111
2020 6,565,267 +1.26% 111
2019 6,483,657 +1.31% 111
2018 6,400,080 +1.33% 110
2017 6,316,232 +1.34% 110
2016 6,232,666 +1.35% 111
2015 6,149,417 +1.37% 112
2010 5,737,450 +1.43% 110
2005 5,342,106 +1.31% 111
2000 5,022,634 +1.39% 112
1995 4,642,931 +2.06% 111
1990 4,162,559 +2.36% 114
1985 3,706,479 +2.41% 113
1980 3,252,403 +2.78% 116
1975 2,816,943 +3.11% 118
1970 2,423,065 +3.18% 120
1965 2,072,681 +3.11% 123
1960 1,782,370 +3.04% 123
1955 1,536,246 +2.95% 125
1950 1,331,439 – 126

Population forecast for Nicaragua

UN medium-variant projection: 8.8 million in 2050 (+23.4% from 2026), 8.6 million in 2100.

YearPopulationYearly changeWorld rank
2030 7,441,603 +1.14% 107
2035 7,836,703 +0.98% 108
2040 8,189,914 +0.82% 108
2045 8,497,615 +0.69% 109
2050 8,756,430 +0.55% 108
2060 9,107,126 +0.28% 107
2070 9,235,612 +0.03% 106
2080 9,164,172 −0.16% 106
2090 8,938,113 −0.31% 107
2100 8,611,722 −0.42% 109

Largest cities in Nicaragua

Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world

#CityPopulation 2026
1 Managua (capital) 1,322,626
2 León 157,924
3 Masaya 157,290
4 Matagalpa 135,203
5 Esteli 112,143
6 Bilwi 109,919
7 Chinandega 105,187
8 Granada 97,449
9 Tipitapa 81,193
10 Jinotega 80,044

Age structure

Median age 26.3. 5.9% are 65 or older, 12.8% by 2050; 27.9% are under 15.

Nicaragua, 2026 Men 2026 Women 2026 2050 (projection)
100+: men 0.0% 100+: women 0.0% 100+ 95-99: men 0.0% 95-99: women 0.0% 90-94: men 0.0% 90-94: women 0.1% 90-94 85-89: men 0.1% 85-89: women 0.2% 80-84: men 0.2% 80-84: women 0.4% 80-84 75-79: men 0.4% 75-79: women 0.7% 70-74: men 0.7% 70-74: women 0.9% 70-74 65-69: men 1.0% 65-69: women 1.2% 60-64: men 1.3% 60-64: women 1.6% 60-64 55-59: men 1.8% 55-59: women 2.0% 50-54: men 2.3% 50-54: women 2.5% 50-54 45-49: men 2.7% 45-49: women 3.0% 40-44: men 3.1% 40-44: women 3.4% 40-44 35-39: men 3.7% 35-39: women 3.9% 30-34: men 4.1% 30-34: women 4.1% 30-34 25-29: men 4.3% 25-29: women 4.2% 20-24: men 4.5% 20-24: women 4.4% 20-24 15-19: men 4.7% 15-19: women 4.6% 10-14: men 4.8% 10-14: women 4.6% 10-14 5-9: men 4.7% 5-9: women 4.6% 0-4: men 4.7% 0-4: women 4.5% 0-4

Share of the total population in each age group (%)

Births per woman

2.16 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration.

Fertility rate, Nicaragua
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
1.7 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearFertility rate
19507.12
19517.12
19527.10
19537.10
19547.11
19557.12
19567.14
19577.15
19587.16
19597.16
19607.16
19617.11
19627.10
19637.08
19647.06
19657.03
19666.99
19676.94
19686.88
19696.82
19706.77
19716.71
19726.65
19736.59
19746.52
19756.45
19766.37
19776.28
19786.16
19796.07
19805.96
19815.84
19825.74
19835.61
19845.49
19855.36
19865.22
19875.07
19884.93
19894.76
19904.60
19914.43
19924.27
19934.10
19943.94
19953.78
19963.62
19973.47
19983.34
19993.22
20003.12
20013.00
20022.89
20032.83
20042.78
20052.76
20062.73
20072.70
20082.66
20092.63
20102.60
20112.56
20122.53
20132.49
20142.46
20152.43
20162.41
20172.38
20182.35
20192.32
20202.30
20212.27
20222.24
20232.22
2024 *2.21
2025 *2.18
2026 *2.16
2027 *2.14
2028 *2.11
2029 *2.09
2030 *2.07
2031 *2.05
2032 *2.04
2033 *2.02
2034 *2.01
2035 *2.00
2036 *1.98
2037 *1.97
2038 *1.96
2039 *1.95
2040 *1.94
2041 *1.93
2042 *1.92
2043 *1.91
2044 *1.90
2045 *1.89
2046 *1.89
2047 *1.88
2048 *1.87
2049 *1.87
2050 *1.86
2051 *1.85
2052 *1.84
2053 *1.83
2054 *1.83
2055 *1.82
2056 *1.82
2057 *1.81
2058 *1.81
2059 *1.80
2060 *1.80
2061 *1.79
2062 *1.79
2063 *1.78
2064 *1.78
2065 *1.77
2066 *1.77
2067 *1.77
2068 *1.77
2069 *1.76
2070 *1.76
2071 *1.75
2072 *1.75
2073 *1.75
2074 *1.75
2075 *1.75
2076 *1.75
2077 *1.75
2078 *1.74
2079 *1.74
2080 *1.74
2081 *1.74
2082 *1.74
2083 *1.73
2084 *1.73
2085 *1.73
2086 *1.73
2087 *1.73
2088 *1.73
2089 *1.72
2090 *1.72
2091 *1.72
2092 *1.72
2093 *1.72
2094 *1.72
2095 *1.72
2096 *1.72
2097 *1.72
2098 *1.72
2099 *1.72
2100 *1.72

* UN projection

Births and deaths each year

Deaths are projected to outnumber births from 2076.

Births and deaths, Nicaragua
  • Births
  • Deaths
  • UN estimate
  • UN projection
78.1k108k 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearBirthsDeaths
195072,04631,987
195173,52232,774
195274,80232,449
195376,34732,600
195478,02232,697
195579,84132,808
195681,69232,884
195783,56432,970
195885,43733,042
195987,33133,123
196089,19433,530
196190,60933,110
196292,56333,015
196394,58132,843
196496,84732,618
196599,21732,162
1966101,74131,857
1967104,47331,750
1968107,37731,918
1969110,37432,138
1970113,51732,391
1971116,88132,739
1972120,06843,162
1973122,88133,219
1974126,09933,593
1975129,17633,948
1976132,43534,336
1977135,61235,115
1978138,15839,739
1979141,07844,648
1980143,28034,677
1981145,24434,821
1982147,28934,820
1983148,53137,912
1984149,64839,513
1985150,49739,548
1986151,18838,135
1987151,82138,932
1988152,64135,340
1989152,58832,457
1990152,54731,867
1991152,69030,905
1992151,91430,710
1993150,86430,397
1994149,59030,024
1995148,25429,928
1996146,63429,785
1997144,37129,960
1998142,61933,757
1999141,10130,882
2000140,05730,864
2001137,54630,434
2002135,34229,534
2003135,09428,954
2004135,38028,480
2005136,81927,835
2006137,78927,720
2007138,39828,059
2008138,81828,422
2009139,21329,002
2010139,67929,206
2011139,41929,392
2012139,36129,292
2013138,84129,814
2014138,53530,115
2015138,05130,704
2016137,49330,906
2017136,72731,261
2018135,74030,927
2019134,91432,095
2020134,25943,746
2021133,18843,972
2022132,56031,574
2023132,21431,294
2024 *132,38332,065
2025 *131,80432,846
2026 *131,20533,653
2027 *130,62834,490
2028 *129,88235,337
2029 *129,14636,210
2030 *128,47437,074
2031 *127,74137,945
2032 *127,22338,863
2033 *126,73539,798
2034 *126,23940,781
2035 *125,68741,790
2036 *124,88642,784
2037 *124,30243,862
2038 *123,54144,961
2039 *122,78646,009
2040 *122,07847,064
2041 *121,30748,177
2042 *120,61549,302
2043 *119,93850,441
2044 *119,16051,619
2045 *118,39552,816
2046 *117,67954,038
2047 *116,88555,279
2048 *115,99056,553
2049 *115,28357,859
2050 *114,39259,150
2051 *113,49260,540
2052 *112,51461,920
2053 *111,58463,268
2054 *110,72364,703
2055 *109,91466,143
2056 *109,14967,580
2057 *108,32069,025
2058 *107,56970,458
2059 *106,79471,926
2060 *105,92073,339
2061 *105,08574,766
2062 *104,34776,224
2063 *103,57277,675
2064 *102,69879,168
2065 *102,05780,623
2066 *101,39382,039
2067 *100,60483,435
2068 *99,87684,800
2069 *99,06086,094
2070 *98,27487,462
2071 *97,50488,852
2072 *96,80790,124
2073 *96,13891,372
2074 *95,41492,644
2075 *94,70793,792
2076 *94,07894,945
2077 *93,40196,075
2078 *92,64297,141
2079 *91,99898,111
2080 *91,20299,070
2081 *90,44799,928
2082 *89,703100,759
2083 *89,026101,490
2084 *88,297102,113
2085 *87,662102,633
2086 *87,010103,202
2087 *86,214103,774
2088 *85,503104,241
2089 *84,849104,624
2090 *84,242104,988
2091 *83,608105,303
2092 *82,946105,726
2093 *82,337105,986
2094 *81,801106,252
2095 *81,251106,577
2096 *80,606106,853
2097 *80,035107,002
2098 *79,479107,320
2099 *78,800107,391
2100 *78,143107,539

* UN projection

Economy of Nicaragua

GDP by country →
GDP 2026
$25.4 billion 126th largest economy
GDP per person
$3,732 US$, market rates
GDP per person (PPP)
Int$ 10,256 at purchasing power parity
Economic growth
+3.8% real GDP
Inflation
3.5% consumer prices
Unemployment
3.1% of the labour force
Government debt
31.7% of GDP
Share of world GDP
0.0%
GDP of Nicaragua, current US dollars
  • IMF estimate
  • IMF projection
37.4B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
YearGDP, US$
1990519,000,000
19913,678,000,000
19923,894,000,000
19933,726,000,000
19943,861,000,000
19954,140,000,000
19964,308,000,000
19974,390,000,000
19984,635,000,000
19994,856,000,000
20005,109,000,000
20015,335,000,000
20025,224,000,000
20035,322,000,000
20045,793,000,000
20056,321,000,000
20066,764,000,000
20077,423,000,000
20088,497,000,000
20098,297,000,000
20108,759,000,000
20119,774,000,000
201210,532,000,000
201310,983,000,000
201411,880,000,000
201512,757,000,000
201613,286,000,000
201713,786,000,000
201813,025,000,000
201912,713,000,000
202012,730,000,000
202114,208,000,000
202215,634,000,000
202317,813,000,000
202419,697,000,000
202522,237,000,000
2026 *25,404,000,000
2027 *28,933,000,000
2028 *30,853,000,000
2029 *32,900,000,000
2030 *35,083,000,000
2031 *37,411,000,000

* IMF projection

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries

CO₂ emissions of Nicaragua

CO₂ by country →
CO₂ emissions 2024
5.6 million tonnes 133rd largest emitter
Per person
0.81 t world: 4.73 t
Share of world CO₂
0.01% 0.09% of its people
Change since 1990
+176% +32% since 2005
CO₂ emissions of Nicaragua, million tonnes a year
5.6 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
YearCO₂, million tonnes
19500.19
19510.20
19520.28
19530.29
19540.32
19550.39
19560.38
19570.42
19580.60
19590.48
19600.53
19610.56
19620.66
19630.84
19640.95
19650.78
19660.96
19671.08
19681.23
19691.29
19701.40
19711.50
19721.60
19731.83
19741.95
19751.93
19762.22
19772.83
19782.63
19791.71
19802.02
19812.13
19822.11
19832.00
19841.85
19851.98
19862.25
19872.43
19882.24
19891.47
19902.04
19911.98
19922.37
19932.28
19942.51
19952.75
19962.84
19973.11
19983.39
19993.59
20003.71
20013.91
20023.98
20034.31
20044.36
20054.25
20064.41
20074.54
20084.35
20094.43
20104.45
20114.79
20124.53
20134.59
20144.72
20155.41
20165.38
20175.44
20185.18
20195.21
20204.64
20215.13
20225.13
20235.43
20245.63

By source, 2024

  • Oil96.6%
  • Cement3.4%

Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions

Compare with North America

CountryPopulation 2026Growth
Nicaragua 7.1 million +1.25%
United States 349 million +0.49%
Mexico 133 million +0.78%
Canada 40.5 million +0.79%
Guatemala 19 million +1.47%
Haiti 12 million +1.08%
Dominican Republic 11.6 million +0.75%
Honduras 11.2 million +1.59%
Cuba 10.9 million −0.42%

All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country

Air quality in Nicaragua today

Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for Managua.

See air quality →

Questions

What is the population of Nicaragua in 2026?

7,097,329 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 7.1 million people, +1.28% on 2025.

Is Nicaragua's population growing or shrinking?

Growing: 89,827 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 359 births and 92 deaths a day and net migration of −8,485 a year.

When will Nicaragua's population peak?

In 2071, at about 9.2 million, on the UN's medium projection; 8.6 million by 2100.

What is the fertility rate in Nicaragua?

2.16 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1.

How many babies are born in Nicaragua every day?

About 359 a day (131 thousand in 2026), against about 92 deaths a day.

What is the life expectancy in Nicaragua?

75.4 years at birth in 2026: 77.9 for women and 72.8 for men, against a world average of 73.8.

How many men and women live in Nicaragua?

About 3.5 million men and 3.6 million women in 2026, or 96.9 men for every 100 women.

What is the population density of Nicaragua?

59 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 129,494 km². The world average is 64.

What was the population of Nicaragua in 2000?

5,022,634 (5 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 41% since, to 7.1 million in 2026.

What will the population of Nicaragua be in 2050?

About 8.8 million on the UN's medium projection (8,756,430), +23.4% from 2026; 8.6 million by 2100.

What are the largest cities in Nicaragua?

Managua (1.3 million), León (158 thousand), Masaya (157 thousand), Matagalpa (135 thousand), Esteli (112 thousand). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.

What is the GDP of Nicaragua in 2026?

$25.4 billion at current prices, the 126th largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +3.8%.

What is Nicaragua's GDP per capita?

$3,732 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 10,256 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.

How much CO₂ does Nicaragua emit?

5.6 million tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.81 t per person and 0.01% of the world total; oil is the largest source (97%).

Source and method

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.