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Country analysis

Nicaragua

Political tensions between the Government and the opposition have increased since 2018, resulting in different episodes of large-scale civil unrest and arbitrary detentions. Both sides to the conflict use political and criminal violence, motivating the migration of Nicaraguans to Costa Rica and towards the US. By 2022, approximately 10% of the total population (680,000 people) had emigrated to Costa Rica in the south and to the US in the north. Since 2010, other nationalities, such as Colombians, Haitians, and Venezuelans, have also used the country as a transit zone towards the US.

Since 2018, the Government has increased control over national and international NGOs, restricting humanitarian access. From 2018 to the end of 2022, the Nicaraguan Government closed 3,000 organisations, including 100 NGOs and several social, religious, and political groups. Nicaragua experienced an economic recession in 2018–2019, followed by the COVID-19 crisis beginning in 2020. The current sociopolitical crisis is limiting any economic recovery.

Nicaragua is also prone to flooding, tropical storms, hurricanes, and landslides, especially in the May–November rainy season. The effects of natural disasters generally result in power and internet outages, mobility restrictions, and the destruction of roads.

(CIDH 21/06/2018, IACHR 18/03/2022, Diario Libre 23/11/2022, WB accessed 04/10/2022, COH 15/10/2022)

Political tensions between the Government and the opposition have increased since 2018, resulting in different episodes of large-scale civil unrest and arbitrary detentions. Both sides to the conflict use political and criminal violence, motivating the migration of Nicaraguans to Costa Rica and towards the US. By 2022, approximately 10% of the total population (680,000 people) had emigrated to Costa Rica in the south and to the US in the north. Since 2010, other nationalities, such as Colombians, Haitians, and Venezuelans, have also used the country as a transit zone towards the US.

Since 2018, the Government has increased control over national and international NGOs, restricting humanitarian access. From 2018 to the end of 2022, the Nicaraguan Government closed 3,000 organisations, including 100 NGOs and several social, religious, and political groups. Nicaragua experienced an economic recession in 2018–2019, followed by the COVID-19 crisis beginning in 2020. The current sociopolitical crisis is limiting any economic recovery.

Nicaragua is also prone to flooding, tropical storms, hurricanes, and landslides, especially in the May–November rainy season. The effects of natural disasters generally result in power and internet outages, mobility restrictions, and the destruction of roads.

(CIDH 21/06/2018, IACHR 18/03/2022, Diario Libre 23/11/2022, WB accessed 04/10/2022, COH 15/10/2022)

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current crises
in Nicaragua

These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

NIC001 - Socioeconomic crisis

Last updated 21/08/2023

Drivers

Socio-political

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

Access constraints

3.0

Analysis products
on Nicaragua

Central America: Complex crises and migration

05 January 2023

Central America: Complex crises and migration

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This report presents the key drivers of migration and highlights the risks faced while in transit in four countries of Central America: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Although there are commonalities in the four countries, the report highlights and provides some outlook into each country’s specific situation in terms of humanitarian constraints and needs.

Mixed migration

Attached resources

AudioLISTEN TO THIS REPORT
Honduras and Nicaragua: Hurricane Eta

11 November 2020

Honduras and Nicaragua: Hurricane Eta

DOCUMENT / PDF / 330 KB

On Tuesday 3 November, Hurricane Eta made landfall on the North Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. As the hurricane moved further inland and was downgraded to a tropical storm, it exposed Honduras and other Central American countries to heavy rains that have resulted in widespread flooding and deadly landslides.

Natual hazards
Nicaragua: Dry spell in the north

24 July 2019

Nicaragua: Dry spell in the north

DOCUMENT / PDF / 502 KB

An El Niño phenomenon, although weak, has developed since February affecting several Central American countries, in particular Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, known as the Dry Corridor. The most vulnerable households are likely to face Crisis (IPC-3) outcomes and are likely to resort to negative coping strategies, including reduced food consumption and sale of productive assets. Needs are likely to include food assistance, livelihood support and WASH.

Natual hazards
Nicaragua: Political and socioeconomic deterioration

18 December 2018

Nicaragua: Political and socioeconomic deterioration

DOCUMENT / PDF / 194 KB

Protests against the reform of the social security system that began in April 2018 were instantly met by violent repression from Nicaraguan authorities, prompting a period of large-scale civil unrest characterised by protests, demonstrations, and strikes. Reports of violence, arbitrary detentions, harassment tactics, intimidation campaigns, and incidents of torture against opposition protesters and human rights defenders have increased and are likely to continue.

Economy
Central America: Drought in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

18 March 2016

Central America: Drought in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

DOCUMENT / PDF / 626 KB

500,000 people in the Central American “Dry Corridor”, covering El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, are estimated to be facing severe food insecurity, while around 1.3 million are facing moderate food insecurity. An El Niñorelated dry spell has resulted in significant crop losses during the primera season in all four affected countries for the second consecutive year, severely limiting food reserves in affected areas.

Natual hazards
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