MigrantoMigration trends in Nicaragua
Latin America
905.3K people from Nicaragua have built lives abroad. That's 13.1% of the country population, spread across 42 different countries
6.9M
Population
41.7K
Immigrants
905.3K
Emigrants
−863.6K
Outflow
Every 9th person born in Nicaragua now lives abroad
The #73 largest source of emigrants worldwide
Top corridors
The largest migration routes 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 abroad passed 500K people
Today
- Since 1990: roughly the same number of foreign-born residents and 459.5K more citizens living abroad
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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