Population:
5,995,928 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
[see also: Population country ranks ]

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,013,866/female 976,430)
[see also: Age structure - 0-14 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,847,756/female 1,857,264)
[see also: Age structure - 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 85,782/female 110,101) (2010 est.)
[see also: Age structure - 65 years and over country ranks ]

Median age:
total: 22.5 years
[see also: Median age - total country ranks ]
male: 22.1 years
[see also: Median age - male country ranks ]
female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)
[see also: Median age - female country ranks ]

Population growth rate:
1.74% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
[see also: Population growth rate country ranks ]

Birth rate:
22.77 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
[see also: Birth rate country ranks ]

Death rate:
4.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
[see also: Death rate country ranks ]

Net migration rate:
-1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
[see also: Net migration rate country ranks ]

Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
[see also: Urbanization - urban population country ranks ]
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
[see also: Urbanization - rate of urbanization country ranks ]

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - at birth country ranks ]
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - under 15 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 65 years and over country ranks ]
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
[see also: Sex ratio - total population country ranks ]

Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 87
[see also: Infant mortality rate - total country ranks ]
male: 27.14 deaths/1,000 live births
[see also: Infant mortality rate - male country ranks ]
female: 21.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
[see also: Infant mortality rate - female country ranks ]

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.78 years
country comparison to the world: 129
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - total population country ranks ]
male: 69.61 years
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - male country ranks ]
female: 74.05 years (2010 est.)
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - female country ranks ]

Total fertility rate:
2.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
[see also: Total fertility rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
[see also: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
[see also: HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
[see also: HIV/AIDS - deaths country ranks ]

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)

Languages:
Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
[see also: Literacy - total population country ranks ]
male: 67.2%
[see also: Literacy - male country ranks ]
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
[see also: Literacy - female country ranks ]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2003)

Education expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 146
[see also: Education expenditures country ranks ]