Population: 3,503,103 (July 1989), growth rate 2.9% (1989)

Birth rate: 39 births/1,000 population (1989)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: - 2 migrants/1,000 population (1989)

Infant mortality rate: 65 deaths/1,000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 63 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1989)

Nationality: noun--Nicaraguan(s); adjective--Nicaraguan

Ethnic divisions: 69% mestizo, 17% white, 9% black, 5% Indian

Religion: 95% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant

Language: Spanish (official); English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

Literacy: 88% (1981)

Labor force: 1,086,000; 43% service, 44% agriculture, 13% industry (1986)

Organized labor: 35% of Nicaragua's labor force is organized; of the 10 major confederations, four are Sandinista-oriented--the government-sponsored Sandinista Workers' Central (CST), 150,000 members claimed, including state and municipal employees; Labor Coordinator of Nicaragua (CSN), 150,000 members; Association of Campesino Workers (ATC), 70,000 members; Health Workers Federation (FETSALUD), 15,000 members; three unions are Marxist but criticize the regime--General Confederation of Independent Workers (CGT-I), about 31,000 members; Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS), 1,900 members; Workers Front (FO), with a very small membership; the other three unions are the Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN), 55,000 members; Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS), 25,000-35,000 members; Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A), 25,000 members; in November 1987 the CUS, CTN-A, CGT-I, and CAUS joined to form the Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT)

NOTE: The information regarding Nicaragua on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Nicaragua People 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Nicaragua People 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.