NICARAGUA - General Information

Full country name: Republic of Nicaragua

Area: 129,494 sq km (50,503 sq mi)

Population: 4.9 million (growth rate 1.90% average, 1997-2001)

Capital city: Managua (pop 1 million)

People: 69% mestizo, 17 % European descent, 9% African descent, 5% indigenous peoples

Language: Spanish, English Creole, Miskito

Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 10%

Government: Republic

President: Enrique Bolaños Geyer

GDP: US$12,574 (millions of 1995 dollars U.S.)

GDP per head: US$2556 (2001 data estimated in 1995 dollars U.S.)

Inflation: 8.30% (2001 average)

Major industries: Coffee, seafood, sugar, meat and bananas, food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear

Major trading partners: Belgium, Luxembourg, CIS, Japan, Germany, Venezuela, USA

Visas: Citizens of the UK, USA, the Scandinavian countries, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and most European countries do not need visas and are issued a tourist card ($5) valid for 90 days on arrival. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Europeans countries that do not have reciprocal agreements with Nicaragua do require visas, which allow a 30-day stay.

Health risks: cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, rabies, typhoid

Time: GMT/UTC minus 6 hours

Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz

Weights & measures: metric but the gallon is used for petrol

Read more about Nicaragua's economic situation at country watch. Also, similar information at Yahoo! Finance