Country data

Location: Central America

Time zone: CET – 7 (during summer time: CET – 8)

Total area: 130,370 km²

Land area: 119,990 km²

Water area: 10,380 km²

Length of the state border: 1,231 km

including:
Costa Rica: 309 km
Honduras: 922 km

Coastline: 910 km

Capital: Managua

Departments: 17
Atlantico Norte, Atlantico Sur, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Electric current: 110, 220 V / 60 Hz

Telephone code: 00 505 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Population

Population: approx. 5.8 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 44

Life expectancy: 71 (male), 75 (female)

Official language: Spanish

Religions:

• 58% Roman Catholic
• 23% Protestants
• 19% other

Climate

The tropical climate zone has very high humidity all year round with an average daytime temperature of 30 ° C. In the months of March and April this can also rise to over 40 ° C.

Especially in the early morning hours (humidity mostly over 80%), the climate is difficult for Europeans to endure. At lunchtime, the humidity decreases slightly (then by 70%).

Rainfalls must be expected all year round, but most rainfall occurs in the months from mid-May to the end of September.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Cordoba Oro (NIO)

Classification: 1 Córdoba Oro = 100 Centavos

ATMs: Available in León, Managua, Masaya and Matagalpa.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts. The export of foreign currencies is allowed in the amount of the declared import.

Since currencies other than the US dollar are almost never exchanged, you should only take this with you as a foreign currency, if possible in smaller denominations.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 500 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

There is an import ban for meat and dairy products, fruit and leather goods and fresh food.

Ancient objects and gold are not allowed to be exported.

Travel advice

The six active volcanoes are currently showing increased activity. Earthquakes and the following restrictions in public life must be expected.

Due to the civil war there are still many minefields that have not been cleared. Therefore, unpaved roads should not be used.

Behavioral advice

You shouldn’t be out after dark.

There are more and more attacks on tourists. Most of the time, the police cannot help.

Economy

Persistent political unrest and mismanagement have severely damaged the country’s productivity.

Most of the agricultural products are exported.

Industries: building materials, chemistry, wood processing, food production, mechanical engineering, textiles

Natural resources: lead, fish, gold, wood, copper, silver, zinc

Land use:

• Usable land: 9%
• Grain cultivation: 1%
• Pasture area: 46%
• Forests: 27%
• other: 17%

Plants

The original rainforest was largely cut down. The overexploitation was carried out for many decades, both for the export of wood and wood products and for the extraction of agricultural land.

Pine and oak trees are the most common across the country.

Animals

In addition to the flora, large parts of the fauna were also destroyed.

Some wild species of monkeys and pigs can still be found in the forest areas.

The bird world is particularly diverse.