🇳🇮 Nicaragua Population 2026
As of 2026, the population of Nicaragua is 7,097,329, ranking #108 in the world (0.09% of the global population), based on UN World Population Prospects 2024. The population is growing at 1.25% per year. The biggest city is Managua with 973,087 inhabitants.
Live estimate
7,098,866
Growth rate
1.25%
Density
59
people / km² (153 / mi²)
Median age
26.3
Fertility rate
2.16
births per woman
Life expectancy
75.4
years
Nicaragua population 1950–2100
By 2050, the population of Nicaragua is projected to reach 8,756,430, and 8,611,722 by 2100. The population is expected to peak in 2071 at 9,236,798, then decline.
Nicaragua population by year
| Year | Population | Growth | Density /km² | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7,097,329 | 1.25% | 59.0 | 26.3 |
| 2025 | 7,007,502 | 1.29% | 58.2 | 26.0 |
| 2024 | 6,916,140 | 1.33% | 57.5 | 25.6 |
| 2023 | 6,823,613 | 1.36% | 56.7 | 25.3 |
| 2022 | 6,730,654 | 1.38% | 55.9 | 24.9 |
| 2021 | 6,644,741 | 1.19% | 55.2 | 24.6 |
| 2020 | 6,565,267 | 1.22% | 54.6 | 24.3 |
| 2019 | 6,483,657 | 1.28% | 53.9 | 24.0 |
| 2018 | 6,400,080 | 1.31% | 53.2 | 23.6 |
| 2017 | 6,316,232 | 1.32% | 52.5 | 23.3 |
| 2016 | 6,232,666 | 1.34% | 51.8 | 23.0 |
| 2015 | 6,149,417 | 1.35% | 51.1 | 22.7 |
| 2014 | 6,066,492 | 1.37% | 50.4 | 22.4 |
| 2013 | 5,983,844 | 1.38% | 49.7 | 22.0 |
| 2012 | 5,901,286 | 1.40% | 49.0 | 21.7 |
| 2011 | 5,819,051 | 1.41% | 48.4 | 21.4 |
| 2010 | 5,737,450 | 1.42% | 47.7 | 21.2 |
| 2009 | 5,656,601 | 1.42% | 47.0 | 20.9 |
| 2008 | 5,576,593 | 1.43% | 46.3 | 20.6 |
| 2007 | 5,497,243 | 1.44% | 45.7 | 20.3 |
| 2006 | 5,418,856 | 1.44% | 45.0 | 20.1 |
| 2005 | 5,342,106 | 1.42% | 44.4 | 19.8 |
| 2004 | 5,272,912 | 1.19% | 43.8 | 19.4 |
| 2003 | 5,210,964 | 1.18% | 43.3 | 19.1 |
| 2002 | 5,149,910 | 1.18% | 42.8 | 18.7 |
| 2001 | 5,087,825 | 1.24% | 42.3 | 18.4 |
| 2000 | 5,022,634 | 1.34% | 41.7 | 18.0 |
| 1999 | 4,954,018 | 1.42% | 41.2 | 17.7 |
| 1998 | 4,883,656 | 1.45% | 40.6 | 17.4 |
| 1997 | 4,809,573 | 1.61% | 40.0 | 17.1 |
| 1996 | 4,729,974 | 1.73% | 39.3 | 16.8 |
| 1995 | 4,642,931 | 1.99% | 38.6 | 16.5 |
| 1994 | 4,549,316 | 2.08% | 37.8 | 16.3 |
| 1993 | 4,453,732 | 2.16% | 37.0 | 16.1 |
| 1992 | 4,357,026 | 2.23% | 36.2 | 15.9 |
| 1991 | 4,259,637 | 2.29% | 35.4 | 15.7 |
| 1990 | 4,162,559 | 2.32% | 34.6 | 15.6 |
| 1989 | 4,066,476 | 2.35% | 33.8 | 15.4 |
| 1988 | 3,972,320 | 2.33% | 33.0 | 15.3 |
| 1987 | 3,882,164 | 2.26% | 32.3 | 15.3 |
| 1986 | 3,794,156 | 2.33% | 31.5 | 15.2 |
| 1985 | 3,706,479 | 2.35% | 30.8 | 15.2 |
| 1984 | 3,619,104 | 2.42% | 30.1 | 15.2 |
| 1983 | 3,530,282 | 2.55% | 29.3 | 15.2 |
| 1982 | 3,438,745 | 2.71% | 28.6 | 15.2 |
| 1981 | 3,345,674 | 2.78% | 27.8 | 15.1 |
| 1980 | 3,252,403 | 2.87% | 27.0 | 15.1 |
| 1979 | 3,164,525 | 2.60% | 26.3 | 15.1 |
| 1978 | 3,080,314 | 2.80% | 25.6 | 15.2 |
| 1977 | 2,992,534 | 2.99% | 24.9 | 15.2 |
| 1976 | 2,903,851 | 3.03% | 24.1 | 15.2 |
| 1975 | 2,816,943 | 3.05% | 23.4 | 15.1 |
| 1974 | 2,732,075 | 3.07% | 22.7 | 15.1 |
| 1973 | 2,649,278 | 3.08% | 22.0 | 15.1 |
| 1972 | 2,573,578 | 2.71% | 21.4 | 15.1 |
| 1971 | 2,499,826 | 3.11% | 20.8 | 15.1 |
| 1970 | 2,423,065 | 3.12% | 20.1 | 15.0 |
| 1969 | 2,348,398 | 3.14% | 19.5 | 15.0 |
| 1968 | 2,275,836 | 3.14% | 18.9 | 15.0 |
| 1967 | 2,205,567 | 3.13% | 18.3 | 14.9 |
| 1966 | 2,137,820 | 3.11% | 17.8 | 14.9 |
| 1965 | 2,072,681 | 3.08% | 17.2 | 14.8 |
| 1964 | 2,010,176 | 3.04% | 16.7 | 14.8 |
| 1963 | 1,950,159 | 3.02% | 16.2 | 14.8 |
| 1962 | 1,892,320 | 3.00% | 15.7 | 14.9 |
| 1961 | 1,836,451 | 2.99% | 15.3 | 15.0 |
| 1960 | 1,782,370 | 2.99% | 14.8 | 15.1 |
| 1959 | 1,729,787 | 3.00% | 14.4 | 15.3 |
| 1958 | 1,678,739 | 2.99% | 13.9 | 15.4 |
| 1957 | 1,629,465 | 2.97% | 13.5 | 15.5 |
| 1956 | 1,581,973 | 2.95% | 13.1 | 15.7 |
| 1955 | 1,536,246 | 2.92% | 12.8 | 15.8 |
| 1954 | 1,492,256 | 2.89% | 12.4 | 15.9 |
| 1953 | 1,449,900 | 2.87% | 12.0 | 16.0 |
| 1952 | 1,409,021 | 2.85% | 11.7 | 16.2 |
| 1951 | 1,369,650 | 2.81% | 11.4 | 16.3 |
| 1950 | 1,331,439 | 2.84% | 11.1 | 16.5 |
| Year | Population | Growth | Density /km² | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 7,185,722 | 1.22% | 59.7 | 26.7 |
| 2028 | 7,272,686 | 1.19% | 60.4 | 27.0 |
| 2029 | 7,358,004 | 1.15% | 61.1 | 27.4 |
| 2030 | 7,441,603 | 1.11% | 61.8 | 27.7 |
| 2031 | 7,523,768 | 1.08% | 62.5 | 28.1 |
| 2032 | 7,604,395 | 1.05% | 63.2 | 28.4 |
| 2033 | 7,683,393 | 1.02% | 63.8 | 28.8 |
| 2034 | 7,760,891 | 0.99% | 64.5 | 29.1 |
| 2035 | 7,836,703 | 0.96% | 65.1 | 29.5 |
| 2036 | 7,910,786 | 0.93% | 65.7 | 29.8 |
| 2037 | 7,983,288 | 0.90% | 66.3 | 30.2 |
| 2038 | 8,054,135 | 0.87% | 66.9 | 30.6 |
| 2039 | 8,122,957 | 0.83% | 67.5 | 30.9 |
| 2040 | 8,189,914 | 0.81% | 68.1 | 31.3 |
| 2041 | 8,255,158 | 0.78% | 68.6 | 31.6 |
| 2042 | 8,318,520 | 0.75% | 69.1 | 32.0 |
| 2043 | 8,380,006 | 0.72% | 69.6 | 32.4 |
| 2044 | 8,439,716 | 0.70% | 70.1 | 32.7 |
| 2045 | 8,497,615 | 0.67% | 70.6 | 33.1 |
| 2046 | 8,553,411 | 0.64% | 71.1 | 33.5 |
| 2047 | 8,607,278 | 0.62% | 71.5 | 33.8 |
| 2048 | 8,659,284 | 0.59% | 72.0 | 34.2 |
| 2049 | 8,708,924 | 0.56% | 72.4 | 34.6 |
| 2050 | 8,756,430 | 0.53% | 72.8 | 34.9 |
| 2051 | 8,801,962 | 0.50% | 73.1 | 35.3 |
| 2052 | 8,844,972 | 0.47% | 73.5 | 35.6 |
| 2053 | 8,885,363 | 0.44% | 73.8 | 36.0 |
| 2054 | 8,923,486 | 0.42% | 74.2 | 36.3 |
| 2055 | 8,959,459 | 0.39% | 74.5 | 36.6 |
| 2056 | 8,993,116 | 0.36% | 74.7 | 37.0 |
| 2057 | 9,024,586 | 0.34% | 75.0 | 37.3 |
| 2058 | 9,054,244 | 0.32% | 75.2 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 9,081,922 | 0.29% | 75.5 | 37.9 |
| 2060 | 9,107,126 | 0.26% | 75.7 | 38.2 |
| 2061 | 9,129,737 | 0.23% | 75.9 | 38.6 |
| 2062 | 9,150,115 | 0.21% | 76.0 | 38.9 |
| 2063 | 9,168,374 | 0.19% | 76.2 | 39.1 |
| 2064 | 9,184,317 | 0.16% | 76.3 | 39.4 |
| 2065 | 9,198,030 | 0.14% | 76.4 | 39.7 |
| 2066 | 9,209,808 | 0.12% | 76.5 | 40.0 |
| 2067 | 9,219,472 | 0.09% | 76.6 | 40.3 |
| 2068 | 9,227,008 | 0.07% | 76.7 | 40.6 |
| 2069 | 9,232,482 | 0.05% | 76.7 | 40.8 |
| 2070 | 9,235,612 | 0.02% | 76.7 | 41.1 |
| 2071 | 9,236,798 | 0.00% | 76.8 | 41.4 |
| 2072 | 9,236,138 | -0.02% | 76.8 | 41.6 |
| 2073 | 9,233,361 | -0.04% | 76.7 | 41.9 |
| 2074 | 9,228,417 | -0.07% | 76.7 | 42.1 |
| 2075 | 9,221,968 | -0.07% | 76.6 | 42.3 |
| 2076 | 9,214,038 | -0.10% | 76.6 | 42.6 |
| 2077 | 9,204,062 | -0.12% | 76.5 | 42.8 |
| 2078 | 9,192,488 | -0.13% | 76.4 | 43.0 |
| 2079 | 9,179,281 | -0.15% | 76.3 | 43.2 |
| 2080 | 9,164,172 | -0.17% | 76.2 | 43.4 |
| 2081 | 9,147,266 | -0.20% | 76.0 | 43.6 |
| 2082 | 9,128,844 | -0.21% | 75.9 | 43.9 |
| 2083 | 9,109,258 | -0.22% | 75.7 | 44.1 |
| 2084 | 9,088,339 | -0.24% | 75.5 | 44.3 |
| 2085 | 9,066,054 | -0.25% | 75.3 | 44.4 |
| 2086 | 9,042,502 | -0.27% | 75.1 | 44.6 |
| 2087 | 9,017,930 | -0.28% | 74.9 | 44.8 |
| 2088 | 8,992,484 | -0.29% | 74.7 | 45.0 |
| 2089 | 8,965,769 | -0.31% | 74.5 | 45.2 |
| 2090 | 8,938,113 | -0.31% | 74.3 | 45.4 |
| 2091 | 8,909,512 | -0.33% | 74.0 | 45.5 |
| 2092 | 8,879,841 | -0.34% | 73.8 | 45.7 |
| 2093 | 8,849,180 | -0.35% | 73.5 | 45.9 |
| 2094 | 8,817,825 | -0.36% | 73.3 | 46.0 |
| 2095 | 8,785,878 | -0.37% | 73.0 | 46.2 |
| 2096 | 8,752,898 | -0.38% | 72.7 | 46.3 |
| 2097 | 8,719,026 | -0.39% | 72.5 | 46.5 |
| 2098 | 8,684,150 | -0.41% | 72.2 | 46.6 |
| 2099 | 8,648,332 | -0.42% | 71.9 | 46.8 |
| 2100 | 8,611,722 | -0.43% | 71.6 | 46.9 |
States & provinces of Nicaragua by population
| # | State / province | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Managua | 1,559,774 | 22.0% |
| 2 | Matagalpa | 600,057 | 8.5% |
| 3 | Atlántico Norte | 541,189 | 7.6% |
| 4 | Jinotega | 483,404 | 6.8% |
| 5 | Chinandega | 441,897 | 6.2% |
| 6 | León | 423,012 | 6.0% |
| 7 | Atlántico Sur | 420,935 | 5.9% |
| 8 | Masaya | 397,632 | 5.6% |
| 9 | Nueva Segovia | 275,291 | 3.9% |
| 10 | Estelí | 230,953 | 3.3% |
| 11 | Granada | 215,965 | 3.0% |
| 12 | Carazo | 198,395 | 2.8% |
| 13 | Chontales | 191,856 | 2.7% |
| 14 | Boaco | 186,284 | 2.6% |
| 15 | Rivas | 183,611 | 2.6% |
| 16 | Madriz | 176,920 | 2.5% |
| 17 | Rio San Juan | 137,189 | 1.9% |
State populations: GeoNames (latest official figures, reference dates vary by country).
Biggest cities in Nicaragua
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Managua capital | Managua Department | 973,087 |
| 2 | León | León Department | 144,538 |
| 3 | Masaya | Masaya Department | 130,113 |
| 4 | Chinandega | Chinandega Department | 126,387 |
| 5 | Matagalpa | Matagalpa Department | 109,089 |
| 6 | Estelí | Estelí Department | 96,422 |
| 7 | Granada | Granada Department | 89,409 |
| 8 | Mateare | Managua Department | 61,234 |
| 9 | Jinotega | Jinotega Department | 55,000 |
| 10 | El Viejo | Chinandega Department | 53,504 |
| 11 | Nueva Guinea | South Caribbean Coast | 52,929 |
| 12 | Tipitapa | Managua Department | 50,000 |
| 13 | Juigalpa | Chontales Department | 50,000 |
| 14 | Ciudad Sandino | Managua Department | 50,000 |
| 15 | Bluefields | South Caribbean Coast | 44,373 |
FAQ
What is the population of Nicaragua in 2026?
The population of Nicaragua is 7,097,329 in 2026, according to UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant).
What is the biggest city in Nicaragua?
Managua is the biggest city in Nicaragua with 973,087 inhabitants and it is also the capital.
Is the population of Nicaragua growing or shrinking?
The population of Nicaragua is growing at 1.25% per year, and is projected to peak in 2071 at 9,236,798.
Neighboring countries
Sources
- Country data: United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- City and state data: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Retrieved 2026-07-06.
Explore more: countries by population · by density · by median age · world population