Demographics of Nicaragua Facts for Kids

Nicaragua is a country in Central America with a very interesting mix of people! Most Nicaraguans, about 86 out of every 100, have ancestors from Europe, especially Spain. Many also have a mix of European and native ancestry. In the 1800s, people also came to Nicaragua from other European countries, like Germany. You'll find most of these people living in the western and central parts of the country, especially in big cities like Managua, Leon, and Granada.

About 9 out of every 100 people in Nicaragua are black or Afro-Nicaraguan. They mostly live on the country's Caribbean coast. Their ancestors were often brought from Jamaica and Haiti a long time ago, when that area was controlled by the British. There are also some Garifuna people, who have a unique mix of African, Caribbean, and Arawak heritage.

Only about 5 out of every 100 Nicaraguans are of pure native descent. Long ago, before Europeans arrived, the western part of Nicaragua was home to the Nahuatl-speaking Nicarao people. In the Caribbean region, there were groups like the Miskitos, Ramas, and Sumos. While very few pure-blooded Nicarao people remain, the Caribbean native groups have kept their distinct cultures. In the mid-1980s, the government gave these African and indigenous people in the eastern half of the country some limited self-rule.

Nicaragua also has smaller communities from other parts of the world. About 30,000 people have roots in the Middle East, coming from countries like Syria, Armenia, Palestine, and Lebanon. There's also an East Asian community of almost 8,000 people from Japan, Taiwan, and China. These groups speak Spanish, but they also work to keep their original languages alive.

Languages Spoken in Nicaragua
Religions in Nicaragua
Where People Live
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Languages Spoken in Nicaragua

Most Nicaraguans, about 90%, speak Spanish. The Spanish spoken in Nicaragua is quite unique! It has some similarities to the Galician language from Spain. It's also like the Spanish spoken in Argentina because people often use "vos" instead of "tu" for "you," along with a special way of changing verbs to match "vos."

On the east coast, where many Afro-Nicaraguans live, English is often the first language. Some of the native groups in the east also continue to use their traditional languages.

Religions in Nicaragua

The main religion in Nicaragua is Roman Catholicism. However, in recent years, many evangelical Protestant groups have grown. On the Caribbean coast, there are also strong Anglican and Moravian communities. A small but growing number of people, about 0.1%, practice Buddhism.

Where People Live

Most Nicaraguans, about 90%, live in the lowlands near the Pacific Ocean and in the central highlands. More than half of the population, about 54%, lives in cities.