Nicaragua Economy

Economic growth:

The economy recorded average annual growth of 3.3% in the decade to 2022. To read more about GDP growth in Nicaragua, go to our dedicated page.

Fiscal policy:

Nicaragua's fiscal deficit averaged 1.6% of GDP in the decade to 2022. Find out more on our dedicated page.

Unemployment:

The unemployment rate averaged 5.1% in the decade to 2022. For more information on Nicaragua's unemployment click here.

Inflation:

Inflation averaged 5.6% in the decade to 2022. Go to our Nicaragua inflation page for extra insight.

Exchange Rate:

From end-2012 to end-2022 the córdoba weakened by 34% vs the U.S. dollar. For more info on the córdoba, click here.

Annual economic growth accelerated in Q3 from Q2, chiefly due to a stronger rise in private consumption. That said, fixed investment rose less sharply, and exports contracted more steeply. Heading into Q4, data suggests that momentum then faded. Economic activity growth eased year on year in October–November compared to Q3 on the back of weaker expansions in the agricultural and construction sectors. Remittances inflows growth also softened in October–November relative to the prior quarter, which likely dented households’ purchasing power. In other news, the government recently detained and expelled several Catholic priests. This prompted U.S. Republican legislators to present a bill to toughen economic sanctions on Nicaragua. While such a law is unlikely to be passed in 2024, rising tensions with the U.S. bode poorly for foreign trade and investment.

Projections out to 2033.

42 indicators covered including both annual and quarterly frequencies.

Consensus Forecasts based on a panel of 13 expert analysts.

Want to get insight on the economic outlook for Nicaragua in the coming years? FocusEconomics collects projections out to 2033 on 42 economic indicators for Nicaragua from a panel of 13 analysts at the leading national, regional and global forecast institutions. These projections are then validated by our in-house team of economists and data analysts, and averaged to provide one Consensus Forecast you can rely on for each indicator. This means you avoid the risk of relying on out of date, biased or outlier forecasts. Our Consensus Forecasts can be visualized in whichever way best suits your needs, including via interactive online dashboards , direct data delivery and executive-style reports which combine analysts' projections with timely written analysis from our in-house team of economists on the latest developments in the Nicaragua economy. To download a sample report on the Nicaragua's economy, click here . To get in touch with our team for more information, fill in the form at the bottom of this page .