MigrantoMigration trends in Nicaragua
Latin America
Nicaragua loses more people than it takes in: 905.3K emigrants against 41.7K immigrants. Net balance −863.6K — 12% of the country's population
6.9M
Population
41.7K
Immigrants
905.3K
Emigrants
−863.6K
Outflow
1 in 166 residents of Nicaragua was born abroad — and 1 in 9 people born in Nicaragua lives abroad
#73 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Nicaragua
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
40.1K immigrants · 445.8K emigrants
1995
- Honduras overtook El Salvador as the largest source of new arrivals
- Immigration contracted — the foreign-born population fell 36%
2000
- Costa Rica replaced USA as the main destination for those leaving
2005
- The diaspora passed 500K people
Today
- Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and 459.5K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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