Central America and the Caribbean > Nicaragua > Economy

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Agriculture > products coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Aid as % of GDP	23.4%		[8th of 129]
Definition: Economy > Aid as % of GDP
Source: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005
Big Mac Index	$2.11		[41st of 65]
Definition: Economy > Big Mac Index
Source: calculated on the basis of data on ODA from OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), Development Assistance Committee. 2002. DAC Online. Database. Paris.; and data on GDP from World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Debt > External	$3,341,000,000.00		[106th of 136]
Definition: Economy > Debt > External
Source: The Economist.
Distribution of family income > Gini index	43.1		[8th of 43]
Definition: Economy > Distribution of family income > Gini index
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Economic freedom	2		[79th of 156]
Definition: Economy > Economic freedom
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Economy > Overview Nicaragua has widespread underemployment, one of the highest degrees of income inequality in the world, and the third lowest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere. While the country has progressed toward macroeconomic stability in the past few years, annual GDP growth has been far too low to meet the country's needs, forcing the country to rely on international economic assistance to meet fiscal and debt financing obligations. In early 2004, Nicaragua secured some $4.5 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in October 2007, the IMF approved a new poverty reduction and growth facility (PRGF) program that should create fiscal space for social spending and investment. The continuity of a relationship with the IMF reinforces donor confidence, despite private sector concerns surrounding ORTEGA, which has dampened investment. The US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many agricultural and manufactured goods. Energy shortages fueled by high oil prices, however, are a serious bottleneck to growth.
Definition: Economy > Economy > Overview
Source: The Heritage Foundation
Exports	$2,313,000,000.00		[118th of 189]
Definition: Economy > Exports
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
GDP	$5,369,219,000.00		[121st of 203]
Definition: Economy > GDP
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
GDP > PPP	$18,902,000,000.00		[100th of 163]
Definition: Economy > GDP > PPP
Source: World Development Indicators database and CIA World Factbook
GDP > Real growth rate	3.8%		[127th of 198]
Definition: Economy > GDP > Real growth rate
Source: World Bank. 2005. World Development Indicators 2005.
GINI index	43.11		[8th of 40]
Definition: Economy > GINI index
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Gross National Income	$1,782,680,000.00		[128th of 172]
Definition: Economy > Gross National Income
Source: World Development Indicators database
Human Development Index	0.69		[113rd of 178]
Definition: Economy > Human Development Index
Income category	Low income
Definition: Economy > Income category
Source: Human Development Report 2006, United Nations Development Programme
Income distribution > Poorest 10%	0.7%		[111st of 114]
Definition: Economy > Income distribution > Poorest 10%
Source:
Income distribution > Richest 10%	48.8%		[2nd of 114]
Definition: Economy > Income distribution > Richest 10%
Source: World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Population below poverty line	48%		[4th of 46]
Definition: Economy > Population below poverty line
Source: World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Public debt	62.9 % of GDP		[25th of 121]
Definition: Economy > Public debt
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Technological achievement	0.19		[60th of 68]
Definition: Economy > Technological achievement
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008

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