Population in largest city in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Population in largest city was 1.12 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1.12 million
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
122nd
of 153 countries
All-time high
1.12 million
in 2025
All-time low
198,594
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Nicaragua, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 1.12 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Nicaragua peaked at 1.12 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 198,594, in 1960.
That places Nicaragua 122nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population in largest city in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 198,594 | — |
| 1961 | 210,680 | +6.1% |
| 1962 | 223,519 | +6.1% |
| 1963 | 237,265 | +6.1% |
| 1964 | 252,464 | +6.4% |
| 1965 | 268,591 | +6.4% |
| 1966 | 285,773 | +6.4% |
| 1967 | 304,053 | +6.4% |
| 1968 | 323,530 | +6.4% |
| 1969 | 344,197 | +6.4% |
| 1970 | 366,215 | +6.4% |
| 1971 | 387,470 | +5.8% |
| 1972 | 400,761 | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 414,470 | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 428,668 | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 443,352 | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 458,560 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 474,246 | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 490,491 | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 507,293 | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 524,694 | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 542,642 | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 561,230 | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 580,455 | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 600,367 | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 620,903 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 642,172 | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 664,170 | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 686,953 | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 710,451 | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 734,788 | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 759,958 | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 786,027 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 812,914 | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 840,760 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 864,993 | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 869,323 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 873,664 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 878,032 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 882,422 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 886,840 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 891,268 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 895,725 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 900,203 | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 904,710 | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 910,222 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 928,401 | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 946,942 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 965,880 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 985,143 | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 991,925 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 998,755 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 1.01 million | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 1.01 million | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 1.02 million | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 1.03 million | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 1.03 million | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 1.04 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 1.05 million | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.06 million | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 1.06 million | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 1.07 million | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 1.08 million | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 1.09 million | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 1.11 million | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 1.12 million | +1.2% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 1.12 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 43% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 1.12 million is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.02 million, 37% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 264,867 | 198,594 | 344,197 | 10 |
| 1970s | 437,153 | 366,215 | 507,293 | 10 |
| 1980s | 613,404 | 524,694 | 710,451 | 10 |
| 1990s | 830,288 | 734,788 | 882,422 | 10 |
| 2000s | 921,533 | 886,840 | 985,143 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.02 million | 991,925 | 1.06 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.09 million | 1.06 million | 1.12 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More urban development data for Nicaragua
- Population in the largest city 26.9% (2025)
- Population density 56.7 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 20.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.16 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.12 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 9.1 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 21.61 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 99.9% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Nicaragua?
- Population in largest city in Nicaragua was 1.12 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 1.12 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 198,594 in 1960.
- How does Nicaragua rank for population in largest city?
- Nicaragua ranks 122nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.