Nicaragua vs United States: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 169 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

United States has 49.2 times as many people as Nicaragua (349.13 million vs 7.1 million). United States's economy is 1,431 times the size of Nicaragua's ($32.95 trillion vs $23.03 billion GDP).

Comparing Nicaragua and United States: Nicaragua leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (20,120) against United States (2.17); Nicaragua leads on Oil Imports (30,290) against United States (10.27); Nicaragua leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (37,000) against United States (19.96). Across 169 compared metrics, Nicaragua wins on 61 and United States wins on 101.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 63 metrics compared
  • Environment: 13 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 38 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration5.78 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants38.86 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)61.4 %94.69 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)58.23 %93.14 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 58% (2023 est.)percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed5.78 Mbps38.86 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score22.83 points65.49 pointsā˜…
Radios1.24575ā˜…
Televisions320,000ā˜…219
Waterways2,22041,009ā˜…

Economy

63 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country3.05B $350.60B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars23.03B $32.95T $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)24.69 %ā˜…21.84 %
Apple Import Volume4.81M tonnes76.82M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate23.47 %97.02 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)3 %ā˜…0.5 %
Coal Revenue00.2ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)10.8 %ā˜…4.1 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.6 % of GDP16.9 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index79.692ā˜…
Electricity Consumption3.593.9ā˜…
Electricity Exports17.87ā˜…9.7
Electricity from Fossil Fuels5670ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants9ā˜…7
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels09ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables35ā˜…14
Electricity Imports205ā˜…72.72
Electricity Installed Capacity1.55ā˜…1.09
Electricity Production4.45ā˜…4.1
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)10.66 USD per capita278.47 USD per capitaā˜…
Female Labor Force Participation Rate54.64 %68.99 %ā˜…
Gender Pay Gap Percentage0.92 %14.76 %ā˜…
Gender Wage Gap0.92 %ā˜…14.76 %
Gini Index Coefficient46.2ā˜…39.8
Gross Fixed Investment34.1ā˜…12.9
Gross National Saving24ā˜…18.9
High-Tech Export Percentage20.61 %59.63 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries7,933.49 USD76,931.31 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)3.6 %ā˜…3.25 %
Inflation Rate4.62 %2.95 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.6 %2.9 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.5 % of GDP3.2 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption0767.6ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports089.7ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports086.15ā˜…
Natural Gas Production0772.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption30,000ā˜…19.15
Oil Exports742ā˜…1.92
Oil Imports30,290ā˜…10.27
Oil Production377ā˜…9.69
Oil Proved Reserves020.68ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line24.9 people15.1 peopleā˜…
Public Debt33.3ā˜…114.8
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.11 %2.77 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)3.6 USDā˜…2.8 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends5.89 %ā˜…-1.26 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption37,000ā˜…19.96
Refined Petroleum Products Exports460ā˜…5.22
Refined Petroleum Products Imports20,120ā˜…2.18
Refined Petroleum Products Production14,720ā˜…20.3
Remittances26.6ā˜…0
Revenue from Forest Resources1.26ā˜…0.04
Robotics Research Funding0.11 USD2.77 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)6.571.25ā˜…
Tax Burden (% of GDP)20.09 %10.77 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)20.09 % of GDPā˜…10.77 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues19.9ā˜…10.6
Top Exporting Countries7.97B USD3.19T USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)6.87 %ā˜…1.01 %
Unemployment Rate4.6 %4.2 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate66.07 %61.7 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate9.54 %9.34 %ā˜…

Environment

13 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)202,047-14.29Mā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-22,125.98 %ā˜…-72,000 %
Average Annual Temperature25.95 °Cā˜…10.43 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions3.81ā˜…4.8
Contiguous Zone25ā˜…12
Continental Shelfnot specified;not specified;
Global Precipitation Distribution1,915.23 mmā˜…810.4 mm
Population Distributionthe 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 clusterslarge urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest
Protected Land Area for Adaptation21.17 sq kmā˜…12.85 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage21.2 %ā˜…12.9 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country59 Cubic meters per year1,383 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources164.52ā˜…3.07
Total Threatened Mammal Species9 speciesā˜…43 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.3 %2.11 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)91.0294.67ā˜…
Agricultural land51,008 sq. km4.17M sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km120,3409.15Mā˜…
Coastline Length (km)910 km19,924 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita4,510.25 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land1,990234,782ā˜…

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Rule of Law Index by Country8.26 %88.3 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions1550ā˜…
Corruption Perception Index14 indexā˜…65 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score14 index65 indexā˜…
Independence15ā˜…4
LGBT Rights Index Score3.077.08ā˜…
Prison Population Rate332 per 100,000ā˜…642 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception14ā˜…65
Suffrage Participation Rate1618ā˜…

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Average BMI for Adults26.5 kg/m²28.8 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate85 %92 %ā˜…
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)48.4226.21ā˜…
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)10.413.7ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders75.1 years78.89 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.95 per 1,000 births0.27 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita882.84 USD15,459.46 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score70 score88 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9.7 % of GDP16.6 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy75.1 years78.89 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.3 %NA
Hospital Bed Density0.9 people/sq km2.7 people/sq kmā˜…
Hospital Beds per Capita0.97 beds per 1,0002.68 beds per 1,000ā˜…
Low Birth Weight Prevalence10.1 %8.26 %ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)60 %17 %ā˜…
Mean Age at First Birth19.227.5ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density1.57 per 1,000 people11.55 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)23.7 %ā˜…36.2 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending37.63 %10.93 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDS12,000NA
Total Number of Doctors0.682.55ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 54.60.4ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Active Military Personnel12,000 personnel1.36M personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0.56 %ā˜…3.12 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)12,0001.40Mā˜…

People and Society

38 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Currently married (Percent)55.88 %ā˜…51.38 %
Human Capital Index0.510.72ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth79.4 years83.22 yearsā˜…
Median age of population26.32 years38.79 yearsā˜…
Population Change96,292.6 persons2.26M personsā˜…
Population density58.98 per sq. km38.15 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population7.10M persons349.13M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.020.4ā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita1.36 liters3.86 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)16.07 %ā˜…10.75 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate80.4 %ā˜…73.9 %
Crude Birth Rate19.14 per 1,000 peopleā˜…10.6 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)5.14 %ā˜…8.76 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.9 % of GDP5.4 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age1.96M persons78.56M personsā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate5.78 %38.86 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth103.22 male/female104.75 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.230.75ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate3.23174.17ā˜…
Learning-adjusted years of school5.8 years11.07 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days183.4 daysā˜…
Major Urban Areas Population1.1 people18.94 peopleā˜…
Mean Male Height (cm)166.71177.13ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling7.76 years13.32 yearsā˜…
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio8.22 %ā˜…26.8 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization64.75 %74.52 %ā˜…
Physician Density0.68 people/sq km3.68 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate0.92 %ā˜…0.45 %
Population living in slums3.87 %ā˜…0.05 %
Total deaths27,821.9 personsā˜…2.87M persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)64.82 %65.73 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate2.16 per womanā˜…1.61 per woman
Total net-migration-7,437.7 persons1.49M personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate11.96 per live births5.52 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.62 %ā˜…0.61 %
Voting Age Population59.7 millionsā˜…55.98 millions

Transportation

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.052.06ā˜…
Airports3916,116ā˜…
Civil Air Travel98,252ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita510.90M USD251.65B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡³šŸ‡® NicaraguašŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Current Bank Rate6 %ā˜…3.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Nicaragua vs United States

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

United States. United States has 49.2 times as many people as Nicaragua (349.13 million vs 7.1 million). Data for 2026.

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

United States. United States's economy is 1,431 times the size of Nicaragua's ($32.95 trillion vs $23.03 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

United States is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $94,373 in United States vs $3,244 in Nicaragua (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

Related comparisons