Central America
Nicaragua
EU Compliance · Geopolitical Risk · Sourcing Attractiveness
Why these scores
EU Compliance, by dimension
1 = lowest risk · methodology & sources
Geopolitical Risk, by dimension
1 = lowest risk · methodology & sources
Attractiveness, by dimension
9 = most attractive · methodology & sources
Analyst scores, last reviewed June 2026; each dimension's sources and cadence are on its methodology page.
Data layers
The EU is Nicaragua's #7 import source (world lens). Nicaragua is the EU's #122 goods supplier.
Nicaragua on the world stage
Total imports
$11.5bn
2024 annual
Total exports
$7.5bn
159 partners
#1 import source
USA
24.1%
#1 export dest.
USA
48.4%
2024 annual, UN Comtrade (HS TOTAL, all partners). Line colour: coverage (exports/imports per partner).
Nicaragua and the EU
EU imports from
€560m
0.0% of extra-EU
EU exports to
€272m
0.0% of extra-EU
EU supplier rank
EU's #122 supplier
EU trade balance
one-sided
coverage 0.49
2025 annual totals, Eurostat COMEXT. EU trade board →
Electricity & grid
National sources · carbon from Ember · estimated
Industrial
196
EUR/MWh
Consumer
163
EUR/MWh, all-in
Grid carbon
288
gCO₂e/kWh
Renewables
–
of generation
regulated market
Power market
● Subsidised fuel monocultureMarket model
Single buyer (state-directed)
Direct PPA
Limited
grid access: closed
Reserve margin
–
Regulator
Not independent
INE (Instituto Nicaraguense de Energia)
Political risk, subsidised tariffs, and oil dependence despite decent renewable resources (geothermal, wind). ENATREL (state) controls transmission, and the market operates under strong government direction.
Tracked infrastructure
Operating assets tracked by Global Energy Monitor (CC BY 4.0); counts are tracked facilities, not exhaustive totals. Energy overview →
Metal mining
Tagged mines
27
none in the merged layer
Acid-drainage prone
1
high water-risk ore class
Main commodities
Gold, Zinc, Iron
Water risk is inferred from the ore class, not site measurements. Global mines: full layer →
Demographics
UN World Population Prospects 2024 · medium variant
Median age
25.6
→ 34.9 by 2050
Fertility
2.21
above replacement
Working-age
65.7%
aged 15–64
Old-age dep.
8.4
→ 19.2 by 2050
Median age 1990–2050
Population 6.92M · peaks 2071
By 2050: +27% (8.76M)