Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:
European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 19 years
male: 19 years
female: 20 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 38
Government ::New Zealand
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones - New Zealand standard time (12 hours in advance of UTC), and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time)
Administrative divisions:
16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury,Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui,Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
26 September 1907 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
Constitution:
consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987
Legal system:
based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister John KEY (since 19 November 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Bill ENGLISH (since 19 November 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (usually 120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists; serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2008 (next to be held not later than 27 November 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NP 44.9%, NZLP 34%, Green Party 6.7%, NZ First 4%, ACT New Zealand 3.7%, Maori 2.4%, Progressive 0.9%, UF 0.9%, other 6.6%; seats by party - NP 58, NZLP 43, Green Party 9, ACT New Zealand 5, Maori 5, Progressive 1, UF 1
note: results of 2008 election saw the total number of seats increase to 122
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - judges appointed by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Women's Electoral Lobby or WEL
other: apartheid groups; civil rights groups; farmers groups; Maori; nuclear weapons groups; women's rights groups
International organization participation:
ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF,Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT,UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
consulate(s) general: New York, Santa Monica
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034
telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
Government - note:
while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand
Economy ::New Zealand
Economy - overview:
Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes - but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income has risen for nine consecutive years and reached $27,900 in 2008 in purchasing power parity terms. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, helping fuel a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for economic managers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007-08; international capital inflows attracted to the high rates further strengthened the currency and housing market, however, aggravating the current account deficit. The economy fell into recession in 2008. In line with global peers, the central bank has cut interest rates aggressively; the new government is responding with plans to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$116.6 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $116.6 billion (2007 est.)
$113 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$128.4 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 3.2% (2007 est.)
1.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$27,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $28,200 (2007 est.)
$27,600 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 25.7%
services: 69.9% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.25 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 19%
services: 74% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 3.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: %NA
highest 10%: %NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.2 (1997) country comparison to the world: 83
Investment (gross fixed):
22.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Budget:
revenues: $54.41 billion
expenditures: $55.93 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
24.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 22.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 2.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 51 8.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.06% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 64 12.83% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$13.7 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 42 $17.85 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$99.91 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 22 $117.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$164.4 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 32 $200.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 57 $47.45 billion (31 December 2007)
$44.94 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
dairy products, lamb and mutton; wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef; fish
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:
-2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - production:
42.4 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - consumption:
39.24 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
65,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - consumption:
154,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - exports:
34,260 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - imports:
147,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - proved reserves:
60 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - production:
4.275 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - consumption:
4.276 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - proved reserves:
33.98 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Current account balance:
-$11.34 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 -$10.63 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$31.19 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $27.29 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:
Australia 23.1%, US 10.1%, Japan 8.4%, China 5.8% (2008)
Imports:
$32.76 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $29.05 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:
Australia 18.1%, China 13.2%, US 9.5%, Japan 8.3%, Singapore 4.7%,Malaysia 4.4%, Germany 4.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $17.25 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$59.08 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $51.44 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$72.92 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $70.94 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Communications ::New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.75 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 62
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.62 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 91
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
41 (plus about 700 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.nz
Internet hosts:
2.007 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 32
Internet users:
3.047 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 58
Transportation ::New Zealand
Airports:
120 (2009) country comparison to the world: 50
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 79
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 45 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 331 km; gas 1,838 km; liquid petroleum gas 172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 198 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 4,128 km country comparison to the world: 39 narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 93,576 km country comparison to the world: 49 paved: 61,564 km (includes 172 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,012 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 13 country comparison to the world: 108 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Germany 1, South Africa 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Cook Islands 1, France 1, UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Auckland, Lyttelton, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei
Military ::New Zealand
Military branches:
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal NewZealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,009,298
females age 16-49: 997,134 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 837,553
females age 16-49: 825,981 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 31,461
female: 29,809 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Transnational Issues ::New Zealand
Disputes - international:
asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Illicit drugs:
significant consumer of amphetamines
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Nicaragua (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Nicaragua
Background:
The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, saw the Sandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006 announced the return of former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. The 2008 municipal elections were characterized by widespread irregularities. Nicaragua's infrastructure and economy - hard hit by the earlier civil war and by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being rebuilt, but democratic institutions face new challenges under the ORTEGA administration.
Geography ::Nicaragua
Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the NorthPacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 130,370 sq km country comparison to the world: 97 land: 119,990 sq km
water: 10,380 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New York state
Land boundaries:
total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:
910 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate:
tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:
extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources:
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land: 14.81%
permanent crops: 1.82%
other: 83.37% (2005)
Irrigated land:
610 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
196.7 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.3 cu km/yr (15%/2%/83%)
per capita: 237 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
People ::Nicaragua
Population:
5,891,199 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,013,866/female 976,430)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,847,756/female 1,857,264)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 85,782/female 110,101) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.1 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 22.5 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.784% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Birth rate:
23.25 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Death rate:
4.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Net migration rate:
-1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.02 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 88 male: 28.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.5 years country comparison to the world: 128 male: 69.35 years
female: 73.75 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.57 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%, Jehovah'sWitness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)
Languages:
Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 67.2%
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 143
Government ::Nicaragua
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Managua
geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
9 January 1987; revised in 1995, 2000, and 2005
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term so long as it is not consecutive); election last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)
election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra elected president - 38.07%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE 29%, Jose RIZO 26.21%, Edmundo JARQUIN 6.44%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; 90 members are elected by proportional representation and party lists to serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seat for the runner-up in previous presidential election)
elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidate Eduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election), MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS); note - as of 1 January 2009: seats by party - FSLN 38, PLC 25, BDN 15, ALN 6, MRS 3, APRE 1, Independent 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (16 judges elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Conservative Party or PC [Azalia AVILES Salmeron]; LiberalConstitutionalist Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; NicaraguanDemocratic Bloc or BDN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; Nicaraguan LiberalAlliance or ALN [Eliseo NUNEZ Sr.]; Sandinista National LiberationFront or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista RenovationMovement or MRS [Enrique SAENZ Navarrete]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Workers Front or FNT (a Sandinista umbrella group of eightlabor unions including: Farm Workers Association or ATC, HealthWorkers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation ofProfessional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association ofEducators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE,National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista WorkersCentral or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN);Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT (an umbrella group of fournon-Sandinista labor unions including: Autonomous Nicaraguan WorkersCentral or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS,Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and LaborAction and Unity Central or CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central orCTN (an independent labor union); Superior Council of PrivateEnterprise or COSEP (a confederation of business groups)
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charges d'Affaires Alcides J. MONTIEL Barillas
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, 6573
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. CALLAHAN
embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: American Embassy Managua, APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 252-7100, 252-7888; 252-7634 (after hours)
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 features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy ::Nicaragua
Economy - overview:
Nicaragua has widespread underemployment and the second lowest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many agricultural and manufactured goods. Textiles and apparel account for nearly 60% of Nicaragua's exports, but recent increases in the minimum wage will likely erode its comparative advantage in this industry. Nicaragua relies on international economic assistance to meet internal- and external-debt financing obligations. In early 2004, Nicaragua secured some $4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in October 2007, the IMF approved a new poverty reduction and growth facility (PRGF) program. However, severe budget shortfalls resulting from the suspension of large amounts of direct budget support from foreign donors concerned with recent political developments has caused a slowdown in PRGF disbursements. Similarly, private sector concerns surrounding ORTEGA's handling of economic issues have dampened investment. Economic growth has slowed in 2009, due to decreased export demand from the US and Central American markets, lower commodity prices for key agricultural exports, and low remittance growth - remittances are equivalent to almost 15% of GDP.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.83 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $16.31 billion (2007 est.)
$15.8 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.365 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 3.2% (2007 est.)
3.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $2,900 (2007 est.)
$2,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 16.9%
industry: 25.8%
services: 57.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.322 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 19%
services: 52% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 4.9% (2007 est.)
note: underemployment was 46.5% in 2008
Population below poverty line:
48% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 41.8% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
43.1 (2001) country comparison to the world: 51 60.3 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
34.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Budget:
revenues: $1.271 billion
expenditures: $1.594 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
74.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 69.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
19.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203 11.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.17% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 59 13.04% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$507.5 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 94 $465.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.81 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 84 $1.802 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.272 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $4.133 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp, lobsters
Industries:
food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Electricity - production:
3.286 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - consumption:
2.569 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
63.95 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Oil - consumption:
29,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Oil - exports:
212.5 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Oil - imports:
29,570 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Current account balance:
-$1.475 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 -$1.048 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$2.675 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $2.313 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Exports - partners:
US 32.3%, El Salvador 14.6%, Costa Rica 6.9%, Honduras 6.8%, Mexico 5.3%, Canada 5%, Guatemala 5% (2008)
Imports:
$4.848 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $4.117 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
US 21%, Venezuela 14.3%, Mexico 8.4%, Costa Rica 8%, China 7.8%,Guatemala 6.1%, El Salvador 5.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.141 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $1.103 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.596 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $3.341 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 19.374 (2008 est.), 18.457 (2007), 17.582 (2006), 16.733 (2005), 15.937 (2004)
Communications ::Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:
312,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 114
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.039 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 109
Telephone system:
general assessment: system being upgraded by foreign investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company
domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved but teledensity still lags behind other Central American countries; fixed-line teledensity roughly 5 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership increasing and now exceeds 50 per 100 persons; connected to Central American Microwave System
international: country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus 7 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.ni
Internet hosts:
88,742 (2009) country comparison to the world: 74
Internet users:
185,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 140
Transportation ::Nicaragua
Airports:
143 (2009) country comparison to the world: 40
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 132
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 115 (2009)
Pipelines:
oil 54 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 19,036 km country comparison to the world: 113 paved: 2,299 km
unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)
Waterways:
2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2008) country comparison to the world: 41
Ports and terminals:
Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff
Military ::Nicaragua
Military branches:
National Army of Nicaragua (ENN; includes Navy, Air Force) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; tour of duty 18-36 months (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,513,312
females age 16-49: 1,507,999 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,277,878