Country Summary - Nicaragua

Mexico

Nicaragua

Country Profile



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Country Index		General
	Picture source: www.cia.gov	Education
Vitamin A		Health
Iron		Food & Diet
Iodine		Indicators

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General

The Republic of Nicaragua is located in the Central American isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is bordered by Honduras is to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is subdivided into 16 departments, two autonomous regions and 145 rural or semiurban municipos or municipalities. Nicaragua has a population of approximately five million inhabitants, at an annual growth rate of 2.1% (2002 estimate). The countries national language is Spanish; however English is widely spoken among the indigenous Indians living on the Caribbean coast. Christianity is widely practiced, with the greater majority following Roman Catholicism.

According to the World Bank, gross national product (GNP) prices in 1996-98 were measured at an average of U.S. $1,756 million, which is equivalent to $370 per head (or $1,896 per head on an international purchasing parity power). Between 1990 and 1999, the gross domestic product (GDP) increased in real terms by an average of 3.2% per year. In 1999, agriculture contributed approximately 28% of GDP and engaged an estimated 42% of the employed workforce. The countries principal cash crops are coffee, sugar cane, bananas and cotton. Meat and meal preparations accounted for 7% of export earnings in 1998.

Education

Since 1979, the Nicaraguan government has provided free education to primary and secondary schools. Primary education is considered compulsory and begins at the age of seven and continues for a period of 6 years. Secondary education on the other hand is five years long. There are four universities in the country, along with numerous commercial schools. In 1998, the total enrolment at primary and secondary school was equivalent to 82% of the school age population (boys 79%; girls 85%). Secondary enrolment for the same year was equivalent to 57% of children in the relevant age group (boys 52%; girls 62%). According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the adult illiteracy rate averaged 32% in 1998, with males and females constituting 34% and 31%, respectively. In 1997, the government spent 9% of its total government expenditure on education.

Health

In Nicaragua, as in many other countries, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is the main provider of health services. It has 873 primary health care units, with potential coverage of approximately 3 million people. Despite the progress made in enhancing the organization of the public health services system, problems persist, namely shortages of medical and nonmedical supplies, lack of infrastructure and equipments, unplanned growth of the units, lack of technical-administrative guidelines, low productivity and inadequate distribution of human resources.

Infant mortality constituted 28.7%, 30.8% and 24.1% of all deaths in 1988, 1990 and 1991 respectively. The trend has been downward with 1996 statistics estimating that the proportion decreased to about 21%. The leading causes of death among children in this category are intestinal infectious diseases, certain conditions originating in the perinatal period, acute respiratory infections, congenital anomalies, and malnutrition.

In 1995, children under the age of five accounted for 5% of all deaths. In the same year, the 5-14 age groups constituted approximately 30% of the total population and accounted for 3.5% of all registered deaths. Several communicable diseases that are associated with poverty and unmet basic needs continue to account for a significant proportion of mortality (31.3%), while the proportion of deaths due to accidents and violence (30.2%) and degenerative diseases (10%) is increasing.

The Nicaraguan Institute of Water Supply and Sewerage Systems (INAA) administers 19 sewerage systems, of which only 7 have their own treatment facilities (stabilization ponds). Lack of treatment and improper final disposal of wastewater pose a serious risk to the environment and to human health. In the city of Managua, for example, domestic and industrial wastewater is discharged on the banks of Xolotlán Lake without any treatment.

Food & Diet

According to the National Survey on Micronutrient Deficiencies carried out in Nicaragua in 1993, the caloric intake of Nicaraguan children was only 89% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA). The survey found that approximately 33% of children suffer from vitamin A deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA); two thirds of preschool children suffer from, or are at risk for, vitamin A deficiency; and one out of every three adult women suffers from IDA. High rates of morbidity, especially from infectious diseases (diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections), also contribute to the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in Nicaraguan children.

Indicators

Population
	1991	1995		1999		2002
Total (millions)	3,816,873	4,274,394		4,706,032		5,023,818
% < 5 years	16.3	15.3		14.0		13.1
% 5-14 years	31.7	27.7		26.3		25.3
% > 14 years	52.0	57.0		59.7		61.6

Population Growth Rate (%)	1980-1990			1990-2000
	2.7			2.8
TFR (Total Fertility Rate)	1980			1998
	6.1			4.4
Under- five Mortality Rate	1980			1999
	143			42
IMR (Infant Mortality Rate)	1980			1998
	84			36
MMR (deaths per 100,000 live births)	150
% Pregnant Women Immunized against Tetanus	1998

DPT Immunization (% < 12 mths)	1990		1995		2000
	N/A		N/A		N/A
Measles Immunization (% < 12mths)	N/A		N/A		99

*Economic*

GNP (US $ billions)	1999
	3.2
GNP per capita at PPP	2000
	2,154
GNP annual growth rate	1998-99
	8.0

% Below Poverty Line ($1/day)	N/A
% Government expenditure on Health	1992-2000
	4.4
%Government expenditure on Education	1992-2000
	3.9

*Education*
	1980	1990		1995		2000
Literacy pop. over 15
Females	59	63		65		66
Males	59	63		65		67
Gross Primary School Enrollment (% of age group)
Females	97	96		104		N/A
Males	92	91		101		N/A
Gross Secondary School Enrollment (% of age group)
Females	44	47		53		N/A
Males	38	34		45		N/A

*Health and Nutrition*
	1995-2000
% of Births Attended	65
% Pop. Access Adequate Sanitation	2000
	31
% Pop. Access Improved Water	2000
	81
% Pop. living with HIV/AIDS, (age 15 -49)	2001
	0.2
Weight/Age (% less than –2 z-score)	12
Height/Age (% less than –2 z-score)	25
Exclusively Breastfed (0-3 months)%	12.2
Food and Dietary Indices	1980	1990		1995		2000
Total Calories Consumed (kcals/day)	2257	2227		2144		2256
Animal Sources of food (% of total kcal)	256	220		167		171

Sources

1. http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbpyr.html

2. http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/wdrpoverty/report/

3. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

4. http://www.measuredhs.com/data/indicators

5. http://apps.fao.org/page/collections?subset=nutrition

6. http://genderstats.worldbank.org

7. http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/indicator/

8. http://www.state.gov

9. http://www.childinfo.org/

10. Europa World Year Book 2001, 42nd edition, 2nd volume

Population

Population Growth Rate (%)

GNP per capita at PPP