Nicaragua » Introduction

Basic Economic Facts

GDP composition by Sector

As of 2006, Nicaragua is ranked 158 over Honduras, and Haiti, with a per capita GDP of around $3,000. Unemployment is officially 3.8% (2006 est.), and another 46.5% (2006 est.) are underemployed. Nicaragua suffers from persistent trade and budget deficits and a high debt-service burden, leaving it highly dependent on foreign assistance--as much as 25% of GDP in 2001.

Agriculture employs about 45% of the workforce and accounts for about one fourth of the gross national product. The chief commercial crops are coffee, cotton, and sugarcane; these, together with meat, are the largest exports. Timber, gold, and seafood are also exported. The principal manufactured goods are chemicals, textiles, and processed foods.

There are copper mines in northeastern Nicaragua.

The U.S is the country's largest trading partner, providing 25% of Nicaragua's imports and receiving about 60% of its exports. About 25 wholly or partly owned subsidiaries of U.S. companies operate in Nicaragua. The largest of those investments are in the energy, communications, manufacturing, fisheries, and shrimp farming sectors. Good opportunities exist for further investments in those same sectors, as well as in tourism, mining, franchising, and the distribution of imported consumer, manufacturing, and agricultural goods.