Nicaragua

**Nicaragua**, officially the **Republic of Nicaragua**, is a country in Central America. It borders, El Salvador, Honduras, and Costa Rica. To the south is the Pacific Ocean and to the north is Caribbean Sea. Its capital and largest city is Managua.

The population of Nicaragua is approximately 6 million. The population is multicultural. The population includes indigenous native tribes from the Miskito Coast, Europeans, Africans, and Asians. The main language is Spanish. Some native tribes on the eastern coast speak their native languages. Some of these languages are Miskito, Sumo, and Rama. Some people speak English Creole. Creole is a curious mix-match of English, Dutch, French, Portuguese and Spanish. It dates back to the days when pirates hid out among the islands and cays that make up the coastline. The mixture of cultures has created diversity in art and literature. Some famous Nicaraguan writers are Rubén Darío, Ernesto Cardenal, and Gioconda Belli. The International Poetry Festival held each February in Granada attracts poets and fans from all over the world. Unlike the majority of Latin American countries, Nicaraguans do not see soccer as their main sport. Baseball is king here, an influence from the years of United States occupation in the early 20th century. Music in Nicaragua is the same as elsewhere in the region. The traditional Latin styles like salsa and meringue rule. The Caribbean side has its own Caribbean Island vibe, as well as the traditional Garifuna Punta style.

The biological diversity, warm tropical climate, and active volcanoes make Nicaragua an increasingly popular tourist destination.

On 30 January 2025, following the approval of a constitutional reform, the country became a diarchy with Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo becoming co-presidents.

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Republic of Nicaragua
- **common name**: Nicaragua
- **native name**: (Spanish language, Spanish)
- **image flag**: Flag of Nicaragua.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Nicaragua.svg
- **other symbol**: <div style="padding-top:0.7em;"></div>
- **other symbol type**: Dual flag:
- **national motto**:
"In God We Trust"
- **national anthem**: _Salve a ti, Nicaragua_
"Hail to Thee, Nicaragua"

- **image map**: NIC orthographic.svg
- **capital**: Managua
- **largest city**: capital
- **official languages**: Nicaraguan Spanish, Spanish
- **ethnic groups year**: 2023
- **government type**: Unitary diarchy, diarchic presidential socialist state, socialist republic under an authoritarianism, authoritarian dictatorship
- **leader title1**: President of Nicaragua, Co-Presidents
- **leader title2**: President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua, President of the National Assembly
- **leader name2**: Gustavo Porras Cortés
- **leader title3**: Supreme Court of Justice of Nicaragua, Chief Justice
- **leader name3**: Alba Luz Ramos
- **legislature**: National Assembly (Nicaragua), National Assembly
- **sovereignty type**: Independence
- **established event1**: From New Spain
- **established date1**: 15 September 1821
- **established event2**: From the First Mexican Empire
- **established date2**: 1 July 1823
- **established event3**: From the Federal Republic of Central America
- **established date3**: 30 April 1838
- **established event4**: Recognized
- **established date4**: 25 July 1850
- **established event5**: Nicaraguan Revolution
- **established date5**: 19 July 1979
- **established event6**: Constitution of Nicaragua, Current constitution
- **established date6**: 9 January 1987
- **area km2**: 130,375
- **area rank**: 96th
- **area sq mi**: 50,193
- **percent water**: 7.14
- **population estimate**: 6,676,948
- **population estimate year**: 2024
- **population estimate rank**: 106th
- **population density km2**: 51
- **population density sq mi**: 114
- **population density rank**: 155th
- **gdp ppp**: $56.697 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2024
- **gdp ppp rank**: 115th
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $8,492
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 129th
- **gdp nominal**: $17.843 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2024
- **gdp nominal rank**: 127th
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $2,673
- **gdp nominal per capita rank**: 134th
- **gini**: 46.2
- **gini year**: 2014
- **hdi**: 0.706
- **hdi year**: 2023
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 123rd
- **currency**: Nicaraguan córdoba, Córdoba
- **currency code**: NIO
- **time zone**: Central Time Zone, CST
- **utc offset**: −6
- **drives on**: right
- **calling code**: +505
- **cctld**: .ni
- **religion year**: 2015