Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required was 38.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Nicaragua, 2004–2022
Source: Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of people at risk.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Nicaragua is 38.3%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Nicaragua peaked at 50.5% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 31.8%, in 2016.
That places Nicaragua 35th out of 134 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of people at risk | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 45.8% | — |
| 2005 | 45.3% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 50.5% | +11.5% |
| 2007 | 50.0% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 48.7% | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 38.5% | -20.9% |
| 2010 | 45.5% | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 45.5% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 44.6% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 44.4% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 34.5% | -22.3% |
| 2015 | 33.4% | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 31.8% | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 38.9% | +22.3% |
| 2018 | 40.0% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 40.9% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 40.6% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 39.5% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 38.3% | -3.0% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 38.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.2%, 1.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 38.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 14.3%, 2.7× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 46.5% | 38.5% | 50.5% | 6 |
| 2010s | 40.0% | 31.8% | 45.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.5% | 38.3% | 40.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More population data for Nicaragua
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3894 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,095 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.15 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7708 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Population density 71.56 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 394,954 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Nicaragua?
- Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required in Nicaragua was 38.3% in 2022, according to Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 50.5% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.8% in 2016.
- How does Nicaragua rank for share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required?
- Nicaragua ranks 35th out of 134 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
- The figures come from Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population at risk of catastrophic spending when surgical care is required. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Catastrophic expenditure is defined as direct out-of-pocket payments for surgical and anaesthesia care exceeding 10% of total income.