Nicaragua

The Republic of Nicaragua, the largest country and least densely populated country in Central America, shares its land boundary with Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The Pacific Ocean borders the nation to the west whereas the Caribbean Sea borders the nation to the east. Managua is the capital of Nicaragua.

HISTORY:- The Spanish sailor Christopher Columbus arrived in the land in 1502 and claimed it for Spain. In 1524, Nicaragua was officially colonized by Spain. In 1821, the region gained independence from the Spanish. It was then incorporated into the Mexican Empire for a brief period. Splitting from the Mexican Empire, it joined the federation of independent Central American provinces. As a part of the federation, Nicaragua achieved independence in 1838. The history of the post-independence period was dominated by the rivalry between the Liberals and the Conservatives. In 1909, the US provided political aid to the Conservatives, rebelling against President Zelaya. Gen. César Augusto Sandino, a guerrilla leader fought the US troop until 1933. Gen. Anastasio Somoza García became the president in 1936. The Somoza rule was ended in 1979 with an uprising led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front. The US aid to Nicaragua was suspended in 1981. In late 1981, a guerrilla rebellion broke out to overthrow the Sandinistas. In 1984 elections, Daniel Ortega became the president. Violetta Barrios de Chamorro became the first elected female president ending 11 years of Sandinista reign. Arnoldo Alemán of the Constitutional Liberal Party became the president in 1996 elections. In 2005 elections, Daniel Ortega reassumed the power. 

GEOGRAPHY:- Nicaragua is located at 13 00 N, 85 00 W in Central America, spanning across 129,494 sq km area, in which 120,254 sq km and 9,240 sq km are captured by land and water respectively. The coastline is 910 km bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Mogoton (2,438 m). Nicaragua is composed of Atlantic coastal plains with mountainous plateau in the center. The Pacific coastal plains are disjoined by the volcanoes.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Nicaragua ranges from tropical in lowlands and cooler in highlands.

GOVERNMENT:- Nicaragua is a republic. The constitution was adopted on 9th January 1987 but was amended in 1995, 2000, and 2005. The legal system is based on the civil law system. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state and head of government), the Vice President, and the cabinet. The council of Ministers is appointed by the president. Both the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by a popular vote on a 5-year term.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Asamblea Nacional or National Assembly (92 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court. All the 16 judges are elected by the National Assembly on a 5-year term.

 Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN), Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Sandinista Renewal Movement (MRS) are the major political parties of Nicaragua. Suffrage is universal at the age of 16.

President  Daniel Ortega

Vice President  Jaime Morales Carazo

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Nicaragua is divided into 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions.

CULTURE:- Nicaragua has rich folklore, music and religious traditions. European culture is predominant in the culture. Nicaraguan music is influenced by Spanish music. Cuisine is influenced by Spanish and Creole dishes. Gallopinto is the national dish of the nation.

ECONOMY:- Nicaraguan economy is mainly based on agriculture while other industries like tourism, banking, mining, fisheries, and general commerce are also expanding. It has the 3rd lowest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere and one of the highest rates of income inequality in the world.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $15.84 billion; per capita $2,600.

Real growth rate: 3.8%.

Inflation: 11.1%.

Unemployment: 3.6% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2007 est.).

Arable land: 15%.

Agriculture: Coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp, lobsters.

Labor force: 2.262 million; agriculture 29%, industry 19%, services 52% (2006 est.).

Industries: Food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood.

Natural resources: Gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish.

Budget:  

Revenues: $1.115 billion

Expenditures: $1.291 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 63% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $3.335 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exports: $2.235 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2007 est.): coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts.

Imports: $3.647 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products.

Major trading partners: U.S., El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Venezuela, China, Guatemala (2006).

Monetary unit: Gold cordoba

LANGUAGE:- Spanish is the official language of Nicaragua spoken by 97.5% of the population while English and indigenous languages are widely spoken in the Atlantic coastal area.

Miskito 1.7%

Other 0.8% (1995).

CITIES:- The capital of Nicaragua, Managua is also the largest city of the country. Other large cities are Leon, Granada, Jinotega, Matagalpa, Chinandega, Masaya.

POPULATION:-  The estimated population of Nicaragua is 5,675,356 with a growth rate of 1.9%.

Density per sq mi: 122

Literacy rate: 68% (2003 est.).

RACE:-

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%

White 17%

Black 9%

Amerindian 5%

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 72.9%

Evangelical 15.1%

Moravian 1.5%

Episcopal 0.1%

Other 1.9%

None 8.5% (1995)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 23.7 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 25.91 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.21 years

Total fertility rate: 2.63 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 253

UNICEF:- Poverty is the main issue in Nicaragua. UNICEF partners with the government to establish women's and children's rights. UNICEF also focuses on children health and hygiene. UNICEF supported education and citizenship programme promotes equal education for all.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 6 km (2006).

Highways: total: 19,032 km; paved: 2,094 km; unpaved: 16,938 km (2005).

Waterways: 2,220 km.

Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur.

Airports: 163 (2007).