, New York, San
Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 266-6010
FAX: [505] 266-9074

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with
the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of
arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE
NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to
the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by
the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in
the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five
blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Economy Nicaragua

Economy - overview:
Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per
capita income, massive unemployment, and huge external debt.
Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe.
While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic stability
over the past few years, GDP annual growth of 1.5% - 2.5% has been
far too low to meet the country's need. Nicaragua will continue to
be dependent on international aid and debt relief under the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Nicaragua has undertaken
significant economic reforms that are expected to help the country
qualify for more than $4 billion in debt relief under HIPC in early
2004. Donors have made aid conditional on the openness of government
financial operation, poverty alleviation, and human rights. A
three-year poverty reduction and growth plan, agreed to with the IMF
in December 2002, guides economic policy.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 25.4%
services: 45.7% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
28.1% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
50% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 48.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income -