Moving to Nicaragua: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

6,203,441

Population Growth Rate

1.05%

Urban Population

57.500000

Population in Major Urban Areas

MANAGUA (capital) 970,000

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Age Structure

27.880000

Median Age

23.700000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

19

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

5.06

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.03

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

72.4%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

72.4%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

19.7

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.7

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.050000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-3.26

Ethnic Groups

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Nationality Noun

Nicaraguan(s)

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Literacy - total population

67.5%

Literacy - male

67.2%

Literacy - female

67.8%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.6%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

11.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

72.450000

Infant Mortality Rate

21.090000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

21.090000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

95

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.37

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

1.1

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

10.1%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.2%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

97.600000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

63.200000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

5.7%

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Economic Overview

• Agriculture: Agriculture has traditionally been a crucial sector in Nicaragua's economy, employing a significant portion of the workforce and contributing to export earnings. Vital agricultural products include coffee, bananas, sugar, beef, tobacco, and various fruits and vegetables.
• Industry: Nicaragua has a growing industrial sector, with manufacturing activities focused on food processing, beverages, textiles and apparel, construction materials, and machinery. The country has also attracted foreign investments in automotive harness manufacturing and light manufacturing sectors.
• Services: Nicaragua's services sector encompasses a range of activities, including tourism, telecommunications, banking, retail, and transportation. Tourism, in particular, has seen growth in recent years, with Nicaragua's natural beauty, including beaches, volcanoes, and colonial cities, attracting visitors worldwide. Exports and
• Trade: Nicaragua's main exports include coffee, beef, gold, seafood, sugar, and textiles. The United States is Nicaragua's largest trading partner in terms of exports and imports. The country also participates in regional trade agreements, such as the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), facilitating trade with the United States.
• Challenges: Nicaragua faces several economic challenges, including poverty, inequality, and vulnerability to natural disasters such as hurricanes and droughts. Political instability and social unrest have also impacted the economy, affecting investor confidence and leading to a decline in foreign investment.
• Infrastructure: Nicaragua has invested in infrastructure development, including roads, ports, and energy infrastructure. Improving infrastructure is crucial for supporting economic growth and attracting investment. Government
• Policies: The Nicaraguan government has promoted economic development, including initiatives to attract foreign investment, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and diversify the economy. However, political tensions and concerns about democratic governance have raised uncertainty about the direction of economic policies in recent years.

Industries

food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,000.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$34,980,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$5,000.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4%

GDP - official exchange rate

$12,320,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 82.7% government
• consumption: 6.5% investment in fixed
• capital: 28.8% investment in
• inventories: 0% exports of goods and
• services: 40.7% imports of goods and
• services: -58.7%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

18.1%

GDP by Sector- Industry

22.9%

GDP by Sector- services

58.9%

Industrial Growth Rate

1.5%

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Inflation Rate

4.7%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

gold cordoba (NIO)

Currency Name and Code

Nicaraguan Cordoba (NIO)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

12%

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Labor Force

2,320,000

Unemployment Rate

8%

Unemployment - note

underemployment was 46.5% in 2008

Major Industries

food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood

Agriculture Products

coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Population Below Poverty Line

48%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

223,992

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

14%

Child Labor - note

note: data represents children ages 5-17

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

31%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

18%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

50%

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Annual Budget

$1,421,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

130%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-0.3%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

25.6%

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Full Country Name

Republic of Nicaragua

Country Name

Nicaragua

Local - Long

República de Nicaragua

Local - Short

Nicaragua

Etymology- history of name

Nicarao was the name of the largest indigenous settlement at the time of Spanish arrival

conquistador Gil GONZALEZ Davila, who explored the area (1622-23), combined the name of the community with the Spanish word "agua" (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua)

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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Government Type

presidential republic

Constitution

• history: several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987
• amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or assent of at least half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires approval by 60% of the membership of the next elected Assembly and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2021

Legal System:

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
• head of government: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017)
• cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
• elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 November 2021 (next to be held on 1 November 2026)
• election results: 2021: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a fourth consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 75.9%, Walter ESPINOZA (PLC) 14.3%, Guillermo OSORNO (CCN) 3.3%, Marcelo MONTIEL (ALN) 3.1%, other 3.4% 2016: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a third consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7%

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 statutory seats, current 91; 70 members in multi-seat constituencies, representing the country's 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions, and 20 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; up to 2 seats reserved for the previous president and the runner-up candidate in the previous presidential election; members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 7 November 2021 (next to be held on 1 November 2026)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 75, PLC 10, ALN 2, APRE 1, PLI 2, YATAMA 1;
• Composition: men 45, women 46, percent of women 50.6%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly to serve 5-year staggered terms
• subordinate courts: Appeals Court; first instance civil, criminal, and labor courts; military courts are independent of the Supreme Court

Regions or States:

15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Carlos CANALES]
• Alternative for Change or AC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Orlando Jose TARDENCILLA]
• Autonomous Liberal Party or PAL [Rene Margarito BELLO ROMERO]
• Caribbean Unity Movement or PAMUC [Armando Francisco ARISTA FLORES]
• Christian Unity Party or PUC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Guillermo Daniel ORTEGA REYES]
• Citizens for Liberty or CxL [Carmella ROGERS AUMBURN]
• Note: barred from participating in the presidential election by the Supreme Electoral Council on 6 August 2021 Conservative Party or PC [Alfredo CESAR Aguirre] Democratic Restoration Party or PRD [Saturnino CERRATO];

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: yes citizenship by
• descent: yes dual citizenship
• recognized: no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist residency requirement for
• naturalization: 4 years

Capital Name

Managua

Capital - geographic coordinate

12 08 N, 86 15 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• BCIE
• CACM
• CD
• CELAC
• FAO
• G-77
• IADB
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO (correspondent)
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• LAES
• LAIA (observer)
• MIGA
• NAM
• OAS
• OPANAL
• OPCW
• PCA
• Petrocaribe
• SICA
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHCR
• UNIDO
• Union Latina
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Kevin Michael O'REILLY (since 28 June 2023)
• Embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
• Mailing Address: 3240 Managua Place, Washington DC 20521-3240
• Telephone: [505] 2252-7100,
• FAX: [505] 2252-7250
• Email: ACS.Managua@state.gov
• Website: https://ni.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires M. Lautaro SANDINO Montes (since 23 February 2024)
• Chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570
• FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545
• Email: mperalta@cancilleria.gob.ni
• Consulate(s) General: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

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Geographic Location

Central America

Geographic Coordinates

13 00 N, 85 00 W

Total Area

50,336 Square Miles 130,370 Square Kilometers

Land Area

46,328 Square Miles 119,990 Square Kilometers

Water Area

4,008 Square Miles 10,380 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

765 Miles 1,231 Kilometers

Border Countries

Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Coastline

565 Miles 910 Kilometers

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Terrain

extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains

narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Highest Point

2,438 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mogoton 2,438 m

Lowest Point Location

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

Irrigated Land

364 Square Miles 942 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Nicaragua’s climate varies with altitude and season.

The summer, or dry season, from mid-November to mid-May, is hot and dry, with cooler nights.

Winter, better described as the rainy season, from mid-May to mid-November, is hot and humid, with short, heavy tropical showers that may occur daily, often accompanied by violent electrical storms.

Streams flood in the rainy season and dry up the rest of the year.

The average daily high temperature in Managua ranges from 79°F to 93°F.

Nights are usually temperate.

Temperatures in the mountains can dip as low as 61°F, while the east coast high may be a humid 84°F.

Terrain

extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains

narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Total Area

50,336 Square Miles 130,370 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Environment - Current Issues

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$3,182,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$4,700,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, bananas, beef, sugar, gold

Major Imports

machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products, consumer goods

Top Export Partners

US 59.4%, El Salvador 7.5%, Honduras 4.8%

Top Import Partners

US 23.6%, Costa Rica 10.2%, Guatemala 7.8%, Venezuela 7.1%, El Salvador 6%, Mexico 4.9%, South Korea 4.6%

Export Partners

US 59.4%, El Salvador 7.5%, Honduras 4.8%

Import Partners

US 23.6%, Costa Rica 10.2%, Guatemala 7.8%, Venezuela 7.1%, El Salvador 6%, Mexico 4.9%, South Korea 4.6%

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Country Description

The second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Nicaragua is a developing nation that faces many economic and political challenges.

Crime, while less severe than neighboring countries to the north, continues to affect residents and visitors alike.

The national language is Spanish, although many residents of the Caribbean coastal areas also speak English and indigenous languages.

The climate is hot and humid, with the hot dry season running mid-November through mid-May and the less hot rainy season running from mid-May through mid-November.

Terrain ranges from the hilly and volcanic to coastal beaches and tropical jungles.

Geological faults, along which active volcanoes are situated, run through the country.

Tremors are common, and a major earthquake destroyed most of downtown Managua in 1972.

Nicaragua presents many opportunities for tourists.

There is a growing tourist infrastructure with comfortable resorts and several large, international chain hotels in Managua catering to business and government clientele as well as tourist travelers.

However, support infrastructure is still basic.

A good highway network exists along the Pacific littoral and central mountain region, and streets in most cities are in decent condition.

However, most rural roads are unpaved.

Nicaragua’s Atlantic coast is largely roadless.

Public transportation is undependable and sometimes unsafe.

Emergency services are sporadic, and most hospitals are substandard.

Potential tourists may want to obtain information from the National Tourism Institute (INTUR – Spanish only), the governmental agency responsible for developing, regulating and promoting tourism in Nicaragua.

Nicaragua’s government and judiciary are not always responsive to efforts by the U.S.

Embassy to facilitate Nicaraguan government processes for U.S. citizens.

Safety & Security

As in many developing countries, Nicaragua presents a number of security concerns to which travelers should pay close attention.

Political demonstrations and strikes continue to occur sporadically, are usually limited to urban areas, and occasionally become violent.

Typically, protests in Managua take place at major intersections or rotundas.

Activities observed during past protests include, but are not limited to, the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, fireworks, rock-throwing, tire burning, road blocks, bus/vehicle burning, and physical violence between members of rival political parties.

Police have often been slow to respond, and reluctant to interfere in violent confrontations between rival political factions.

Because even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can escalate into violence, U.S. citizens are advised to avoid crowds and blockades during such occurrences, to monitor local media reports, and to exercise caution when in the vicinity of any large gathering.

The country’s spectacular landscape presents additional safety concerns.

Strong currents off sections of Nicaragua's Pacific coast have resulted in a number of drownings.

Powerful waves have also caused broken bones, and sting ray injuries are not uncommon at popular beaches.

Warning signs are not posted, and lifeguards and rescue equipment are not readily available.

Those visiting Nicaragua's beaches should exercise appropriate caution, as even the most experienced swimmers and surfers have drowned..

In the past 18 months, four U.S. citizens have drowned in the waters of Nicaragua’s Pacific coast.

Hiking in volcanic or other remote areas can be dangerous and travelers should take appropriate precautions.

Hikers should have appropriate dress, footwear, and sufficient consumables for any trek undertaken.

Individuals who travel to remote areas are encouraged to hire a reputable local guide familiar with the terrain and area.

Individuals hiking Volcan Maderas and/or Volcan Concepcion on Ometepe Island are required by law to hire a local guide.

Hikers have perished or lost their way on these volcanoes.

While they may look like easy climbs, the terrain is treacherous.

Volcanic activity recently increased, resulting in a minor eruption of the Volcan San Cristobal near Chinandega in September 2012 and increased seismic activity under other volcanoes.

U.S. citizens in an area of volcanic activity should heed the advice of local authorities and, if necessary, evacuate to safe areas.

Domestic travel within Nicaragua by land and air, particularly to the Atlantic coast, can be risky.

Domestic airlines are generally up to international standards, but when flying to more remote locales, travelers should be aware that airports are likely to be poorly developed facilities with short airstrips, minimal safety equipment, and little boarding security.

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Crime

While less than in neighboring countries, violent crime in Managua exists, and petty street crimes are common.

Gang activity exists, but also remains less prevalent than in neighboring Central American countries.

Pick-pocketing and occasional armed robberies occur on crowded buses, at bus stops, in taxis, and in open markets like the Oriental and Huembes Markets.

Violence, robbery, assault, and stabbings are mostly confined to poorer neighborhoods, including the area around the Ticabus terminal, a major arrival and departure point for tourist buses.

However, over the past year, acts of petty crime have taken place in more upscale neighborhoods and near major hotels, including in the Zona Hippos, Galerias Mall, Santo Domingo, Las Colinas, and South Highway neighborhoods.

We also advise U.S. citizens not to leave any valuables or passports in a car, especially while shopping at gas station convenience stores, as there have been a large number of reports by U.S. citizens of cars being burglarized in these locations.

In the past, some U.S. citizens were targeted shortly after arriving in the country by criminals posing as Nicaraguan police officers who pull over their vehicles – including those operated by reputable hotels – for inspection.

In each case, the incidents happened after dark and involved gun-wielding assailants who robbed passengers of all valuables and abandoned them in remote locations.

Some assailants employed threats of physical violence.

While the traditional scene of these attacks has been the Tipitapa-Masaya Highway, also known as Carretera Norte, this activity has also spread to the Managua-Leon Highway.

There has also been an increase in armed robbery attempts by masked individuals along roadsides leading to popular tourist destinations.

Assailants will step out of roadside vegetation with weapons in an attempt to stop the vehicle and rob passengers.

Another criminal strategy is to set up make-shift blockades of tree branches and rocks to force travelers to stop.

Once vehicle occupants exit their vehicles to move the items, they are typically robbed at gun or knife point.

U.S. citizens should exercise particular caution when approached by strangers offering assistance with finding a taxi cab.

Dozens of U.S. citizens have reported being victimized by fellow travelers who offered to assist them in locating and/or sharing a taxi in and around San Juan del Sur, San Jorge, Granada, Managua, Masaya, and other popular tourist destinations.

Upon entering the taxi, the U.S. citizens were held at knife- or gunpoint, threatened with bodily injury and/or rape, robbed of their valuables, and driven around to ATMs to withdraw funds from their accounts.

Taxi drivers have also picked up additional passengers along the route who then threaten and rob the U.S. citizen, generally in conjunction with the taxi driver.

After the assault, the U.S. citizen victims were left abandoned and destitute in remote areas.

In 2011, two U.S. citizen victims were beaten and raped after providing incorrect bank card PIN numbers to assailants.

Before taking a taxi, make sure that it has a red license plate and that the number is legible.

Pick taxis carefully and note the driver's name and license number.

Instruct the driver not to pick up other passengers, agree on the fare before entering the taxi, and have small bills available for payment, as taxi drivers often do not make change.

Also, check that the taxi is properly labeled with the cooperativa (company) name and logo.

Purse and jewelry snatchings sometimes occur at stoplights.

While riding in a vehicle, windows should be closed, car doors locked and valuables placed out of sight.

Radio dispatched cabs are recommended and can be summoned at Managua’s international airport and to most major hotels and restaurants.

Many consider the police presence in the tourist destination of San Juan del Sur to be inadequate.

There have been incidents of sexual assaults of foreign tourists on beaches in Ni

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Nicaragua, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, for example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Nicaragua, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating Nicaraguan laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Nicaragua are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and fines.

Nicaragua’s judicial system is subject to political interference and suffers from widespread corruption.

Laws are not enforced uniformly.

Detainees, both Nicaraguan and foreign, have been subject to imprisonment for lengthy periods without charges being filed against them.

U.S. citizens should be aware that

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Medical Facilities

Medical care is very limited, particularly outside of Managua.

Basic and emergency medical services are available in Managua and in many of the smaller towns and villages.

However, treatment for many serious medical problems is either unavailable or available only in Managua.

Ambulance services, where available, provide transportation and basic first aid only.

More advanced medical equipment, and some medications and treatments, are not available in Nicaragua.

Physicians and hospital personnel frequently do not speak English, and medical reports are written in Spanish.

In an emergency, individuals are taken to the nearest hospital that will accept a patient.

This is usually a public hospital unless the individual or someone acting on their behalf indicates that they can pay for a private hospital.

Payment for medical services is typically done on a cash basis, although some private hospitals will accept major credit cards for payment.

U.S. health insurance plans are generally not accepted in Nicaragua, however, the Embassy has been informed that Hospital Metropolitano in Managua accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield and Tricare.

Tap water is not considered potable in Nicaragua.

All persons should drink only bottled water.

Individuals traveling to Nicaragua should ensure that all their routine vaccinations are up to date.

Vaccinations against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, rabies, and typhoid are strongly recommended.

A yellow fever vaccination is not required to enter Nicaragua unless the traveler has recently visited a country where yellow fever is endemic.

Travelers taking prescription medications should bring an adequate supply with them when coming to Nicaragua.

Many newer combination medications are not available in local pharmacies.

In July 2013, the Nicaraguan government declared an alert based on an increase in cases of Dengue Fever, H1N1 flu, and leptospirosis.

We advise U.S. citizens to take appropriate precautions and consult with your medical professional for advice before you visit Nicaragua.

Traffic Safety

While in Nicaragua, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Driving in Nicaragua poses many difficulties and risks, including mandatory arrest for drivers involved in accidents that result in death or serious injury until police are able to determine who is at fault.

Driving is on the right side of the road in Nicaragua.

Motorists driving to Nicaragua should use the principal highways and official border crossings at Guasaule, El Espino, and Las Manos between Nicaragua and Honduras and Penas Blancas between Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Although some of the principal highways connecting the major cities are in generally good condition, drivers should be aware that seasonal torrential rains take a heavy toll on road beds.

With few exceptions, secondary roads are in poor repair, potholed, poorly lit, frequently narrow, and lack shoulders.

Road travel after dark is especially hazardous in all areas of the country.

Motorists are encouraged to prepare accordingly and to carry a cellular phone in case of an emergency.

In general, road signs are poor to non-existent.

Bicycles, oxcarts, dogs, horses, and vehicles without lights are encountered at times even on main thoroughfares in Nicaragua.

Motorcycles, often carrying passengers, dart in and out of traffic with little or no warning.

Many vehicles are in poor condition, travel very slowly, and break down without warning.

Drivers should be especially careful on curves and hills, as many drivers will pass or park on blind corners.

Speed limits vary depending on the type of road, but due to a lack of government resources, traffic rules are rarely enforced.

Due to the age and disrepair of many vehicles, many drivers will not use their turn signals.

Rather, it is common for a vehicle operator to stick his hand out the window to signal a turn.

If you do drive in Nicaragua, you need to exercise the utmost caution, drive defensively, and make sure you have auto insurance.

Nicaraguan law requires that a driver be taken into custody for driving under the influence or being involved in an accident that causes serious injury or death, even if the driver is insured and appears not to have been at fault.

The minimum detention period is 48 hours; however, detentions frequently last until a judicial decision is reached (often weeks or months), or until a waiver is signed by the injured party (usually as the result of a cash settlement).

In accidents that result in death, drivers are usually detained until they reach an agreement with the family of the victim even if they are not at fault.

Visitors to Nicaragua might want to consider hiring a professional driver during their stay.

Licensed drivers who are familiar with local roads can be hired through local car rental agencies.

In case of accident, only the driver will be taken into custody.

The

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Airports - total

147

Airports with Paved Runways

12

Roadways- total

14,849 Miles 23,897 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

2,039 Miles 3,282 Kilometers

Waterways

1,379 Miles 2,220 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur

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Pipelines: Gas

34 Miles 54 Kilometers

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Telephones

255,000

Cell Phones

2,123,000

Internet Users

155,000

Internet Country Code

.ni

Internet Hosts

157,162

Broadcast Media

• multiple privately owned terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas
• of more than 100 radio stations, nearly all are privately owned
• Radio Nicaragua is government-owned and Radio Sandino is controlled by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)

Telephone System

• assessment: system being upgraded by foreign investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company
• domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 5 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to roughly 85 per 100 persons
• international: country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

6 facts — expand for details.

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

2,569,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

63,950,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

3,286,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

30,690

Oil Imports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

12,910

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

14,300

Anthem History

Salve a ti, Nicaragua (Hail to thee, Nicaragua) is the Nicaraguan national anthem. It was approved October 20, 1939, and officially adopted August 25, 1971. Lyrics by Salomon Ibarra Mayorga, musical arrangement by Luis A. Delgadillo

Anthem Lyrics

Salve a ti ¡Salve a ti, Nicaragua! En tu suelo ya no ruge la voz del cañón, ni se tiñe con sangre de hermanos tu glorioso pendón bicolor. Brille hermosa la paz en tu cielo, nada empañe tu gloria inmortal, ¡que el trabajo es tu digno laurel y el honor es tu enseña triunfal!

Anthem Lyrics English

Hail to thee Hail to thee, Nicaragua! the voice of the cannon no longer roars on your soil, nor does the blood of brothers stain your glorious bicolor flag.

Peace shines beautiful in your sky, nothing dims your immortal glory, ¡for work is what earns your laurels and honor is your triumphal ensign!