Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines was 24.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Nicaragua, 1998–2016
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Nicaragua is 24.9%, measured in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.9% on the previous year and down 48.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Nicaragua peaked at 48.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 24.9%, in 2016.
Nicaragua ranks 16th of 70 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 47.9% | — |
| 2001 | 45.8% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 48.3% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 42.5% | -12.0% |
| 2014 | 29.6% | -30.4% |
| 2016 | 24.9% | -15.9% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 24.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.1%, 1.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 24.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 24.9%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.9% | 47.9% | 47.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 45.5% | 42.5% | 48.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 27.2% | 24.9% | 29.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More poverty & inequality data for Nicaragua
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 0 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,515 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 6.63 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 27.78 (2022)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 27.8% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Nicaragua?
- Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Nicaragua was 24.9% in 2016, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W.
- What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 48.3% in 2005.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.9% in 2016.
- How does Nicaragua rank for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines?
- Nicaragua ranks 16th out of 70 countries with data for 2016.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line(s). National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. For economies for which the data are from EU-SILC, the reported year is the income reference year, which is the year before the survey year.