Net migration in Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Net migration was -8,371 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
-8,371
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
149th
of 218 countries
All-time high
-2,418
in 1960
All-time low
-44,931
in 2003
Years of data
66
1960–2025

Net migration in Nicaragua, 1960–2025

-40.0k-30.0k-20.0k-10.0k0196019922025

Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Analysis

In 2025, net migration in Nicaragua stood at -8,371.

The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 65.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, net migration in Nicaragua peaked at -2,418 in 1960 and was at its lowest, -44,931, in 2003.

Nicaragua ranks 149th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Net migration in Nicaragua, year by year

Annual values for Net migration in Nicaragua, 1960 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1960 -2,418
1961 -2,579 +6.7%
1962 -2,727 +5.7%
1963 -2,881 +5.6%
1964 -3,043 +5.6%
1965 -3,231 +6.2%
1966 -3,443 +6.6%
1967 -3,666 +6.5%
1968 -3,979 +8.5%
1969 -4,592 +15.4%
1970 -5,423 +18.1%
1971 -6,328 +16.7%
1972 -7,219 +14.1%
1973 -7,947 +10.1%
1974 -8,639 +8.7%
1975 -9,349 +8.2%
1976 -10,155 +8.6%
1977 -11,082 +9.1%
1978 -12,273 +10.7%
1979 -14,152 +15.3%
1980 -15,130 +6.9%
1981 -17,353 +14.7%
1982 -19,395 +11.8%
1983 -20,620 +6.3%
1984 -22,493 +9.1%
1985 -23,840 +6.0%
1986 -24,805 +4.0%
1987 -25,127 +1.3%
1988 -24,753 -1.5%
1989 -24,364 -1.6%
1990 -24,280 -0.3%
1991 -24,028 -1.0%
1992 -24,171 +0.6%
1993 -24,091 -0.3%
1994 -24,773 +2.8%
1995 -25,889 +4.5%
1996 -35,208 +36.0%
1997 -36,851 +4.7%
1998 -38,260 +3.8%
1999 -40,095 +4.8%
2000 -42,087 +5.0%
2001 -43,837 +4.2%
2002 -44,906 +2.4%
2003 -44,931 +0.1%
2004 -44,222 -1.6%
2005 -33,280 -24.7%
2006 -32,274 -3.0%
2007 -31,357 -2.8%
2008 -30,675 -2.2%
2009 -29,913 -2.5%
2010 -29,081 -2.8%
2011 -28,221 -3.0%
2012 -27,389 -2.9%
2013 -26,587 -2.9%
2014 -25,570 -3.8%
2015 -24,353 -4.8%
2016 -23,076 -5.2%
2017 -21,849 -5.3%
2018 -20,742 -5.1%
2019 -19,730 -4.9%
2020 -10,383 -47.4%
2021 -10,383 -0.0%
2022 -7,996 -23.0%
2023 -7,996 -0.0%
2024 -8,189 +2.4%
2025 -8,371 +2.2%

Nicaragua compared with similar countries

  • Nicaragua's -8,371 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 82% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Nicaragua's -8,371 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is -213.5, 39.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Net migration in Nicaragua changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2020 +47.4% -19,730 -10,383

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s -3,256 -4,592 -2,418 10
1970s -9,257 -14,152 -5,423 10
1980s -21,788 -25,127 -15,130 10
1990s -29,765 -40,095 -24,028 10
2000s -37,748 -44,931 -29,913 10
2010s -24,660 -29,081 -19,730 10
2020s -8,886 -10,383 -7,996 6

Countries ranked near Nicaragua

  1. 146 Niger -7,704 compare
  2. 147 Benin -7,847 compare
  3. 148 Guatemala -7,959 compare
  4. 150 Kazakhstan -8,834 compare
  5. 151 Montenegro -9,279 compare
  6. 152 Liberia -9,870 compare

See the full ranking of 266 places →

More financial sector data for Nicaragua

All data for Nicaragua →

Frequently asked questions

What is net migration in Nicaragua?
Net migration in Nicaragua was -8,371 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
What is the highest net migration recorded in Nicaragua?
The highest recorded value was -2,418 in 1960.
What is the lowest net migration recorded in Nicaragua?
The lowest recorded value was -44,931 in 2003.
How does Nicaragua rank for net migration?
Nicaragua ranks 149th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
Is net migration rising or falling in Nicaragua?
Over the last ten years it is up 65.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Net migration in Nicaragua. Statizoid, drawing on World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://financial-sector.statizoid.com/stat/net-migration/nicaragua/

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About this data

Indicator
Net migration
Source
World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
266 places, 17,556 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.