World Factbook
Nicaragua
República de Nicaragua
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has a triangle with the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA in an arc over it and AMERICA CENTRAL in an arc underneath meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and white for the land between the two bodies of water history: the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America
note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which has a round emblem; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars in an "X" pattern centered on the white band
Capital
name
Managua
etymology
the name comes from Lake Managua, whose name is composed of the Guaraní words ama (rain) and nagua (spirit) and refers to a local deity
time difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
12 08 N, 86 15 W
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist
residency requirement for naturalization
4 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987
amendment process
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
Country name
etymology
16th-century Spanish explorer Gil GONZALEZ Davila is said to have combined the name of a local chieftain, Nicarao, with the Spanish word agua (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua)
local long form
República de Nicaragua
local short form
Nicaragua
conventional long form
Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form
Nicaragua
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Legal system
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers)
subordinate courts
Appeals Court; first instance civil, criminal, and labor courts; military courts are independent of the Supreme Court
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly to serve 5-year staggered terms
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
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%
head of government
President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
most recent election date
7 November 2021
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
expected date of next election
1 November 2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
National color(s)
blue, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Ruins of León Viejo; León Cathedral
Political parties
Alliance for the Republic or APRE Alternative for Change or AC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Autonomous Liberal Party or PAL Caribbean Unity Movement or PAMUC Christian Unity Party or PUC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Independent Liberal Party or PLI Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC Moskitia Indigenous Progressive Movement or MOSKITIA PAWANKA (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Multiethnic Indigenous Party or PIM (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Nationalist Liberal Party or PLN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or CCN Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN Sons of Mother Earth or YATAMA The New Sons of Mother Earth Movement or MYATAMARAN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
91 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/7/2021
expected date of next election
November 2026
percentage of women in chamber
54.9%
parties elected and seats per party
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) (75); Liberal and Constitutionalist Party (PLC) (9); Other (6)
National anthem(s)
title
"Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)
history
music was approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939
lyrics/music
Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO
National symbol(s)
turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
Administrative divisions
15 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ) and 2 autonomous regions* ( regiones autonomistas , singular - region autonoma ); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 939-6545
chancery
1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 939-6570
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Sammia Alicia HODGSON MCKENZIE (since 3 June 2025)
consulate(s) general
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
email address and website
mperalta@cancilleria.gob.ni United States of America | ConsuladoDeNicaragua.com
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[505] 2252-7250
embassy
Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
telephone
[505] 2252-7100,
mailing address
3240 Managua Place, Washington DC 20521-3240
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Elias BAUMANN (since December 2025)
email address and website
ACS.Managua@state.gov https://ni.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACS, 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, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt