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Mexico vs Nicaragua: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 173 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Mexico
mex
Leads on 102 of 173 metrics
Nicaragua
nic
Leads on 65 of 173 metrics

Summary

Mexico has 18.7 times as many people as Nicaragua (133.03 million vs 7.1 million). Mexico's economy is 99.6 times the size of Nicaragua's ($2.29 trillion vs $23.03 billion GDP).

Comparing Mexico and Nicaragua: Nicaragua leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (37,000) against Mexico (1.98); Nicaragua leads on Oil Consumption (30,000) against Mexico (2.07); Nicaragua leads on Televisions (320,000) against Mexico (25.60). Across 173 compared metrics, Mexico wins on 102 and Nicaragua wins on 65.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 64 metrics compared
  • Environment: 13 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration21.74 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…5.78 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)83.12 %ā˜…61.4 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)81.18 %ā˜…58.23 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 81% (2023 est.)percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed21.74 Mbpsā˜…5.78 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score45.55 pointsā˜…22.83 points
Radios31ā˜…1.24
Televisions25.6320,000ā˜…
Waterways2,900ā˜…2,220

Economy

64 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country69.44B $ā˜…3.05B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars2.29T $ā˜…23.03B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)24.12 %24.69 %ā˜…
Apple Import Volume246.26M tonnesā˜…4.81M tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate53.03 %ā˜…23.47 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)7.25 %ā˜…3 %
Coal Revenue0.03ā˜…0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)7.34 %10.8 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.4 % of GDP8.6 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index86.1ā˜…79.6
Electricity Consumption258.7ā˜…3.59
Electricity Exports7.3117.87ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels71ā˜…56
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants17ā˜…9
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels2ā˜…0
Electricity from Other Renewables935ā˜…
Electricity Imports3.53205ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity72.56ā˜…1.55
Electricity Production302.7ā˜…4.45
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)57.54 USD per capitaā˜…10.66 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate51.88 %54.64 %ā˜…
Gender Pay Gap Percentage-3.6 %0.92 %ā˜…
Gender Wage Gap-3.6 %ā˜…0.92 %
Gini Index Coefficient43.546.2ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment21.534.1ā˜…
Gross National Saving21.424ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage78.22 %ā˜…20.61 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries21,911.93 USDā˜…7,933.49 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)0.2 %3.6 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate3.81 %2.08 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.7 %4.6 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.9 % of GDPā˜…0.5 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption81.61ā˜…0
Natural Gas Exports36.81ā˜…0
Natural Gas Imports50.12ā˜…0
Natural Gas Production31.57ā˜…0
Natural Gas Proved Reserves279.8ā˜…0
Oil Consumption2.0730,000ā˜…
Oil Exports1.51742ā˜…
Oil Imports496,000ā˜…30,290
Oil Production2.98377ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves10.42ā˜…0
Population Below Poverty Line36.3 people24.9 peopleā˜…
Private Investment (% of GDP)19.21 % of GDPā˜…15.11 % of GDP
Public Debt45.133.3ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.41 %ā˜…0.11 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)1.5 USD3.6 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends3.97 %ā˜…1.44 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption1.9837,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports155,800ā˜…460
Refined Petroleum Products Imports867,500ā˜…20,120
Refined Petroleum Products Production844,600ā˜…14,720
Remittances3.726.6ā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources0.11.26ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding0.41 USDā˜…0.11 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)7.26.57ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)14.82 %ā˜…20.09 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)14.82 % of GDP20.09 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues14.219.9ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries681.35B USDā˜…7.97B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)2.48 %6.87 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate2.8 %ā˜…4.6 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate61.61 %ā˜…66.07 %
Youth Unemployment Rate5.71 %ā˜…9.54 %

Environment

13 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)2.73M202,047ā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-127,765.63 %-22,125.98 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature21.68 Ā°C25.95 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions441.053.81ā˜…
Contiguous Zone2425ā˜…
Continental Shelfnatural prolongation of continental margin or 200 nm;not specified;
Global Precipitation Distribution809.08 mm1,915.23 mmā˜…
Population Distributionmost of the population is found in the middle of the country between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; approximately a quarter of the population lives in and around Mexico Citythe overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters
Protected Land Area for Adaptation15.55 sq km21.17 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage15.3 %21.2 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country150 Cubic meters per yearā˜…59 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources461.89ā˜…164.52
Total Threatened Mammal Species97 species9 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.86 %ā˜…1.3 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)52.4491.02ā˜…
Agricultural land1.04M sq. kmā˜…51,008 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km1.94Mā˜…120,340
Coastline Length (km)9,330 kmā˜…910 km
Dam capacity per capita1,145.45 cubic meters per inhabitant4,510.25 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land59,910ā˜…1,990

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country17.92 %ā˜…8.26 %
Administrative Divisions32ā˜…15
Corruption Perception Index26 index14 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score26 indexā˜…14 index
Independence16ā˜…15
LGBT Rights Index Score6.13ā˜…3.07
Prison Population Rate156 per 100,000ā˜…332 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception2614ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate18ā˜…16

Health

23 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Average BMI for Adults27.5 kg/mĀ²ā˜…26.5 kg/mĀ²
Change in Measles Immunization Rate76 %85 %ā˜…
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)93.8548.42ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)16.4ā˜…10.4
Female Life Expectancy Leaders75.26 yearsā˜…75.1 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.64 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.95 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita1,579.68 USDā˜…882.84 USD
Health Coverage Index Score79 scoreā˜…70 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)6.1 % of GDP9.7 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy75.26 yearsā˜…75.1 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.4 %0.3 %ā˜…
Hospital Bed Density1 people/sq kmā˜…0.9 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita1.01 beds per 1,000ā˜…0.97 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence10.15 %10.1 %ā˜…
Malaria Incidence Rate0.1 cases per 1,000ā˜…1.04 cases per 1,000
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)42 %ā˜…60 %
Mean Age at First Birth21.3ā˜…19.2
Nurses and Midwives Density2.88 per 1,000 peopleā˜…1.57 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)28.9 %23.7 %ā˜…
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending41.24 %37.63 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS340,00012,000ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors2.46ā˜…0.68
Underweight Children Under 54.74.6ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Active Military Personnel216,000 personnelā˜…12,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.74 %0.56 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)341,000ā˜…12,000

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Currently married (Percent)51.87 %55.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.63ā˜…0.51
Life expectancy at birth80.06 yearsā˜…79.4 years
Median age of population29.96 yearsā˜…26.32 years
Population Change1.20M personsā˜…96,292.6 persons
Population density67.89 per sq. km58.98 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population133.03M personsā˜…7.10M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.71ā˜…0.02
Beer Consumption per Capita4.55 litersā˜…1.36 liters
Birth Rate (%)14.73 %16.07 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate73.1 %80.4 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate15.46 per 1,000 people19.14 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)6.04 %5.14 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)4.1 % of GDPā˜…2.9 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age35.92M personsā˜…1.96M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)51.61 %ā˜…35.66 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate21.74 %ā˜…5.78 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.66 male/femaleā˜…103.22 male/female
Human Development Index0.43ā˜…0.23
Labor Force Participation Rate60.96ā˜…3.23
Learning-adjusted years of school9.01 yearsā˜…5.8 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population22.28 peopleā˜…1.1 people
Mean Male Height (cm)169.01ā˜…166.71
Mean Years of Schooling10.18 yearsā˜…7.76 years
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1818
Old-Age Dependency Ratio11.9 %8.22 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization77.59 %ā˜…64.75 %
Physician Density2.59 people/sq kmā˜…0.68 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.81 %0.92 %ā˜…
Population living in slums15.76 %ā˜…3.87 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio28.15ā˜…30.22
Total deaths685,869.9 persons27,821.9 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)62.6 %64.82 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.84 per woman2.16 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration-98,968.7 persons-7,437.7 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate11.69 per live birthsā˜…11.96 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.19 %1.62 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population54.52 millions63.87 millionsā˜…

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.48ā˜…0.05
Airports1,580ā˜…39
Civil Air Travel186ā˜…9

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita36.24B USDā˜…510.90M USD

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡²šŸ‡½ MexicošŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguaShare
Current Bank Rate6.5 %ā˜…6 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Mexico vs Nicaragua

Which has a larger population, Mexico or Nicaragua?ā–¾

Mexico. Mexico has 18.7 times as many people as Nicaragua (133.03 million vs 7.1 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Mexico or Nicaragua?ā–¾

Mexico. Mexico's economy is 99.6 times the size of Nicaragua's ($2.29 trillion vs $23.03 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Mexico or Nicaragua?ā–¾

Mexico is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $17,235 in Mexico vs $3,244 in Nicaragua (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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