Urban and rural population in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Urban and rural population was 4.17 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.17 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
112th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.17 million
in 2025
All-time low
465,382
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Nicaragua, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 4.17 million for urban and rural population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Nicaragua peaked at 4.17 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 465,382, in 1950.
Nicaragua ranks 112th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 465,382 | — |
| 1951 | 481,982 | +3.6% |
| 1952 | 499,916 | +3.7% |
| 1953 | 519,287 | +3.9% |
| 1954 | 540,103 | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 562,442 | +4.1% |
| 1956 | 586,360 | +4.3% |
| 1957 | 611,886 | +4.4% |
| 1958 | 639,040 | +4.4% |
| 1959 | 667,831 | +4.5% |
| 1960 | 698,174 | +4.5% |
| 1961 | 730,053 | +4.6% |
| 1962 | 763,578 | +4.6% |
| 1963 | 799,015 | +4.6% |
| 1964 | 838,541 | +4.9% |
| 1965 | 883,322 | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 932,337 | +5.5% |
| 1967 | 984,481 | +5.6% |
| 1968 | 1.04 million | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 1.09 million | +5.2% |
| 1970 | 1.15 million | +4.8% |
| 1971 | 1.20 million | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 1.24 million | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 1.29 million | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 1.34 million | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 1.39 million | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 1.45 million | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 1.50 million | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 1.56 million | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 1.61 million | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 1.66 million | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 1.72 million | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 1.78 million | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 1.83 million | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 1.89 million | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 1.94 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 2.00 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 2.05 million | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 2.11 million | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 2.17 million | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 2.23 million | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 2.29 million | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 2.35 million | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 2.41 million | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 2.47 million | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 2.53 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 2.58 million | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 2.63 million | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 2.68 million | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 2.73 million | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 2.77 million | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 2.82 million | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 2.86 million | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 2.90 million | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 2.94 million | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 2.99 million | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 3.04 million | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 3.09 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 3.15 million | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 3.20 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 3.26 million | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 3.32 million | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 3.38 million | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 3.44 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 3.50 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 3.56 million | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 3.62 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 3.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 3.74 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 3.80 million | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 3.85 million | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 3.91 million | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.97 million | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 4.03 million | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 4.10 million | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 4.17 million | +1.6% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 4.17 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 4.17 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2.35 million, 1.8× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 557,423 | 465,382 | 667,831 | 10 |
| 1960s | 876,073 | 698,174 | 1.09 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.37 million | 1.15 million | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.92 million | 1.66 million | 2.17 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.49 million | 2.23 million | 2.73 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.98 million | 2.77 million | 3.20 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.53 million | 3.26 million | 3.80 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.01 million | 3.85 million | 4.17 million | 6 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.43 (2100)
- Population density 71.56 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 394,954 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Nicaragua?
- Urban and rural population in Nicaragua was 4.17 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 4.17 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 465,382 in 1950.
- How does Nicaragua rank for urban and rural population?
- Nicaragua ranks 112th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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