Trade & investment · Latin America & Caribbean · Lower-middle income
Nicaragua: trade and investment
Exports is 41.6% (2025), 75th of 184 in the world and 9th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean. Imports is 54.9% (2025), 63rd of 184 in the world and 7th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean. Trade openness is 96.4% (2025), 68th of 184 in the world and 7th of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean.
12 indicators
Trade & investment: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 41.6%2025 | 75/184 | 9/27 | 20.1% | 40.5% | 41.7% | +1.5 ppsince 2015 | 26.1% | 23.2% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 54.9%2025 | 63/184 | 7/27 | 41.2% | 59.9% | 46.9% | −3.3 ppsince 2015 | 26.4% | 26.3% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 96.4%2025 | 68/184 | 7/27 | 61.3% | 100.4% | 88.6% | −1.7 ppsince 2015 | 49.1% | 46.6% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | 4.2%2024 | 43/185 | 6/35 | -18.3% | -8.9% | 3.8% | +12.2 ppsince 2014 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $8.9bn2025 | 109/206 | 17/39 | $881m | $3.3bn | $5.1bn | +84%since 2015 | $1.7tn | $1.1tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 0.6%2024 | 154/170 | 28/32 | · | 5.4% | 0.5% | +0.1 ppsince 2014 | 13.1% | 14.7% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.7%2024 | 126/172 | 21/32 | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.4% | +0.4 ppsince 2014 | 8.8% | 24.8% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 42.6%2024 | 37/172 | 15/32 | 84.9% | 77.6% | 48.6% | −4.9 ppsince 2014 | 23.6% | 13.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 2.0%2022 | 129/184 | 31/35 | 2.9% | 2.1% | 1.8% | −0.8 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 6.8%2025 | 31/197 | 9/38 | 5.2% | 5.6% | 5.9% | −0.8 ppsince 2015 | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 26.6%2024 | 7/178 | 3/35 | 6.3% | 9.4% | 14.6% | +17.0 ppsince 2014 | 2.4% | 5.8% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 474,0002020 | 128/196 | 28/41 | 581,000 | 1.1m | 474,000 | −56%since 2010 | 202m | 208m | 2.4bn |
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 41.6%2025 | 15.0%2025 | 35.0%2025 | 38.8%2025 |
| Imports | 54.9%2025 | 20.4%2025 | 56.5%2025 | 32.6%2025 |
| Trade openness | 96.4%2025 | 35.4%2025 | 91.5%2025 | 71.5%2025 |
| Current account | 4.2%2024 | -2.4%2025 | 2.5%2025 | -0.5%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $8.9bn2025 | $50.1bn2025 | $12.0bn2025 | $26.4bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 0.6%2024 | 9.0%2024 | 3.9%2024 | 22.9%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 0.7%2024 | 34.9%2025 | 0.0%2024 | 0.0%2024 |
| Food exports | 42.6%2024 | 25.4%2025 | 53.5%2024 | 32.3%2024 |
| Average tariff | 2.0%2022 | 2.8%2022 | 2.1%2022 | 1.3%2022 |