Country Guide • Nicaragua
Nicaragua borders Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. To the east lies the Caribbean, and to the west the Pacific. In the north are the Isabella Mountains, while the country’s main feature in the south west is Lake Nicaragua, 92 miles long and about 34 miles at its widest. The island of Ometepe is the largest of the 310 islands on the lake.
| Official Name | Republic of Nicaragua |
|---|---|
| Area | 148,000km² (57,143mile²) |
| Population | 5,128,000 |
| Continent | Central America/North America |
| Population per mile² | 103 |
| Capital City | Managua |
| Religions | 85% Roman Catholic, 10% Protestant, while the remainder are mostly Baptist, Moravian and Pentecostal |
| Language | Spanish (official) although English and indigenous languages are spoken on Atlantic coast |
| Government | Republic |
| Currency | Gold Cordoba |
| GDP | $12.8 billion |
| GDP per Head | $2,500 |
| Natural Resources | Lead, gold, silver, copper, tungsten, zinc, timber and fish |
| Land Use | Arable Land 20% |
| Agriculture | Bananas, coffee, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry and dairy products |
| Industry | Agriculture, Beverages, Cement, Chemicals, Food Processing, Forestry, Mining, Petroleum, Textiles |
| Tourism | The British and Foreign Commonwealth Office advise against all holiday and other non-essential travel to the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) where the security situation is poor and several armed gangs operate. Most other parts of the country are safe to travel in. Nicaragua consists of over 300 islands. These islands have a reputation for great beauty and are one of the country’s main tourist attractions |
| Natural Hazards | Earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides the country is extremely susceptible to hurricanes |
| Health Risks | Cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, rabies, typhoid |
| Climate | Nicaragua has a tropical climate for most of the country. The dry season is from December to May, and the rainy season is from June to November. The northern mountain regions have a much cooler climate. Average annual rainfall is 35 inches and average temperature ranges are from 20 to 44°C all year |
| Time | GMT/UTC-6 hours |
| National Days | July 19 Liberation Day,August 1 Fiesta Day, September 14 Battle of San Jacinto, September 15 Independence Day |
| Visas | Entry into Nicaragua may be refused and airlines may not carry you if you hold a passport with less than six months validity. British nationals can visit Nicaragua for up to three months without first obtaining a visa. There is a 5 American Dollars entry fee and 32 American Dollars departure tax |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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