Proportion of population living below the national poverty line in Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line was 24.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
24.9%
Change on year
down 15.9%
World rank
16th
of 73 countries
All-time high
48.3%
in 2005
All-time low
24.9%
in 2016
Years of data
6
1998–2016

Proportion of population living below the national poverty line in Nicaragua, 1998–2016

010203040501998200720161998: 47.92001: 45.82005: 48.32009: 42.52014: 29.62016: 24.9

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population living below the national poverty line 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, proportion of population living below the national poverty line in Nicaragua peaked at 48.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 24.9%, in 2016.

That places Nicaragua 16th out of 73 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.

Proportion of population living below the national poverty line in Nicaragua, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population living below the national poverty line (%) in Nicaragua, 1998 to 2016.
Year Value 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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 13 Mexico 29.6%
  2. 14 Peru 27.6% compare
  3. 15 United Republic of Tanzania 26.4% compare
  4. 17 Ghana 23.4% compare
  5. 18 Ukraine 23.2%
  6. 19 Estonia 22.5% compare
  7. 19 Latvia 22.5% compare

See the full ranking of 73 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Nicaragua

All data for Nicaragua →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population living below the national poverty line in Nicaragua?
Proportion of population living below the national poverty line in Nicaragua was 24.9% in 2016, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of population living below the national poverty line recorded in Nicaragua?
The highest recorded value was 48.3% in 2005.
What is the lowest proportion of population living below the national poverty line recorded in Nicaragua?
The lowest recorded value was 24.9% in 2016.
How does Nicaragua rank for proportion of population living below the national poverty line?
Nicaragua ranks 16th out of 73 countries with data for 2016.
Is proportion of population living below the national poverty line 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 United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population living below the national poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population living below the national poverty line in Nicaragua. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-living-below-the-national-poverty-line-percent/nicaragua/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population living below the national poverty line (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
73 places, 1,043 data points, 1985–2025
Last refreshed