Environment · Latin America & Caribbean · Lower-middle income
Nicaragua: environment and emissions
CO₂ per person is 0.83 t (2024), 146th of 203 in the world and 37th of 39 in Latin America & Caribbean. GHG per person is 2.77 t (2024), 129th of 203 in the world and 28th of 39 in Latin America & Caribbean. GHG emissions is 19.2 Mt (2024), 121st of 203 in the world and 18th of 39 in Latin America & Caribbean.
CO₂ per person
NicaraguaLatin America & CaribbeanLower-middle incomeWorld
GHG per person
NicaraguaLatin America & CaribbeanLower-middle incomeWorld
15 indicators
Environment: Nicaragua in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per personCO₂ emissions per capita, tonnes | 0.83 t2024 | 146/203 | 37/39 | 0.75 t | 0.81 t | 0.72 t | +2.5%since 2014 | 2.68 t | 1.60 t | 4.69 t | |
| GHG per personGreenhouse gas emissions per person, t CO₂e | 2.77 t2024 | 129/203 | 28/39 | 2.35 t | 2.48 t | 2.71 t | +2.0%since 2014 | 5.30 t | 2.58 t | 6.36 t | |
| GHG emissionsTotal greenhouse gas emissions excl. land use, Mt CO₂e | 19.2 Mt2024 | 121/203 | 18/39 | 11.8 Mt | 14.2 Mt | 17.8 Mt | +16%since 2014 | 3,510.6 Mt | 7,482.1 Mt | 53,206.4 Mt | |
| CO₂ emissionsCO₂ emissions, total excl. land use, Mt | 5.7 Mt2024 | 131/203 | 22/39 | 3.8 Mt | 4.7 Mt | 4.7 Mt | +17%since 2014 | 1,771.5 Mt | 4,634.0 Mt | 39,632.7 Mt | |
| MethaneMethane emissions, Mt CO₂e | 10.5 Mt2024 | 99/203 | 15/39 | 6.4 Mt | 7.5 Mt | 10.2 Mt | +14%since 2014 | 1,308.3 Mt | 2,116.0 Mt | 9,536.5 Mt | |
| Renewable energyRenewable energy, % of final energy consumption | 50.4%2021 | 47/212 | 5/41 | 58.4% | 54.4% | 52.2% | −2.9 ppsince 2011 | 34.2% | 43.3% | 19.7% | |
| Renewable powerRenewable electricity, % of output | 69.5%2021 | 39/206 | 9/41 | 17.6% | 37.0% | 70.2% | +35.5 ppsince 2011 | 56.7% | 24.8% | 27.8% | |
| PM2.5 exposurePM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, µg/m³ | 20.4 µg/m³2023 | 78/200 | 8/35 | 26.1 µg/m³ | 21.5 µg/m³ | 21.7 µg/m³ | −3.1%since 2013 | 17.4 µg/m³ | 49.6 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | |
| Forest coverForest area, % of land area | 25.8%2023 | 117/214 | 31/42 | 50.7% | 42.5% | 40.6% | −16.1 ppsince 2013 | 46.1% | 30.2% | 31.1% | |
| FarmlandAgricultural land, % of land area | 42.3%2023 | 89/210 | 9/39 | 42.7% | 42.2% | 42.3% | +0.1 ppsince 2013 | 32.9% | 43.0% | 36.9% | |
| Arable landArable land, % of land area | 12.5%2022 | 84/206 | 10/39 | 15.9% | 12.9% | 12.5% | ±0.0 ppsince 2012 | 7.5% | 18.3% | 10.7% | |
| Protected areasTerrestrial and marine protected areas, % of territory | 10.1%2025 | 116/213 | 17/42 | · | · | 10.0% | −5.4 ppsince 2015 | 23.4% | 12.4% | 17.0% | |
| Water withdrawalsFreshwater withdrawals, % of internal resources | 0.8%2022 | 158/177 | 29/33 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 0.8% | −0.1 ppsince 2012 | 2.6% | 16.3% | 9.0% | |
| Freshwater per personRenewable internal freshwater per person, m³ | 23,209 m³2022 | 28/183 | 13/34 | 31,101 m³ | 27,226 m³ | 23,793 m³ | −12%since 2012 | 21,253 m³ | 2,496 m³ | 5,393 m³ | |
| Cereal yieldCereal yield, kg per hectare | 2,515 kg/ha2023 | 104/179 | 22/32 | 1,688 kg/ha | 2,086 kg/ha | 2,224 kg/ha | +43%since 2013 | 4,828 kg/ha | 3,366 kg/ha | 4,229 kg/ha |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Renewable power+35.5 pp69.5% in 2021
- PM2.5 exposure−3.1%20.4 µg/m³ in 2023
- Water withdrawals−0.1 pp0.8% in 2022
- Cereal yield+43%2,515 kg/ha in 2023
Worse than ten years ago
- CO₂ per person+2.5%0.83 t in 2024
- GHG per person+2.0%2.77 t in 2024
- GHG emissions+16%19.2 Mt in 2024
- CO₂ emissions+17%5.7 Mt in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Nicaragua and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Nicaragua. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Nicaragua | Colombia | Honduras | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per person | 0.83 t2024 | 1.80 t2024 | 1.14 t2024 | 1.63 t2024 |
| GHG per person | 2.77 t2024 | 4.11 t2024 | 2.25 t2024 | 3.33 t2024 |
| GHG emissions | 19.2 Mt2024 | 217.6 Mt2024 | 24.4 Mt2024 | 17.1 Mt2024 |
| CO₂ emissions | 5.7 Mt2024 | 95.1 Mt2024 | 12.3 Mt2024 | 8.4 Mt2024 |
| Methane | 10.5 Mt2024 | 94.7 Mt2024 | 9.4 Mt2024 | 6.4 Mt2024 |
| Renewable energy | 50.4%2021 | 29.7%2021 | 45.9%2021 | 34.2%2021 |
| Renewable power | 69.5%2021 | 76.2%2021 | 64.9%2021 | 99.4%2021 |
| PM2.5 exposure | 20.4 µg/m³2023 | 18.4 µg/m³2023 | 30.7 µg/m³2023 | 17.7 µg/m³2023 |
| Forest cover | 25.8%2023 | 53.7%2024 | 52.8%2024 | 59.1%2024 |