Share of population living in cities in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Share of population living in cities was 34.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities in Nicaragua, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities in Nicaragua is 34.9%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities in Nicaragua peaked at 37.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 1950.
That places Nicaragua 121st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.7% | — |
| 1955 | 14.0% | +10.1% |
| 1960 | 15.3% | +9.6% |
| 1965 | 19.3% | +25.7% |
| 1970 | 25.5% | +32.4% |
| 1975 | 30.5% | +19.5% |
| 1980 | 30.4% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 30.2% | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 30.6% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 33.5% | +9.5% |
| 2000 | 33.0% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 37.1% | +12.2% |
| 2010 | 36.3% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 35.6% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 34.9% | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.3% | 12.7% | 14.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 17.3% | 15.3% | 19.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 28.0% | 25.5% | 30.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 30.3% | 30.2% | 30.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 32.1% | 30.6% | 33.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 35.0% | 33.0% | 37.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 35.9% | 35.6% | 36.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 34.9% | 34.9% | 34.9% | 1 |
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 population living in cities in Nicaragua?
- Share of population living in cities in Nicaragua was 34.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 37.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 1950.
- How does Nicaragua rank for share of population living in cities?
- Nicaragua ranks 121st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.