Estelí Population 2026

Estelí has a population of 96,422, making it the #6 biggest city in 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, located in Estelí Department. Roughly 1.4% of Nicaragua's population lives here. It is about 10× smaller than Managua, the country's biggest city.

Location of Estelí (capital Managua shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

96,422

Rank in Nicaragua

Coordinates

13.09°N, 86.36°W

~833 m elevation · America/Managua

Distance to capital (Managua)

107 km

66 miles, straight line

Cities near Estelí

Jinotega55,000 people · ~38 km away
Somoto20,316 people · ~50 km away
Matagalpa109,089 people · ~51 km away
Somotillo15,385 people · ~60 km away
Ocotal33,928 people · ~61 km away
La Paz Centro23,481 people · ~91 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Estelí?

Estelí has a population of 96,422 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #6 biggest city in Nicaragua.

What region is Estelí in?

Estelí is located in Estelí Department, Nicaragua.

Is Estelí the capital of Nicaragua?

No, the capital of Nicaragua is Managua, about 107 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

← All biggest cities in Nicaragua · Nicaragua population by year