Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Nicaragua, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 0.2% for armed forces personnel as a share of total population in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Nicaragua peaked at 1.7% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2020.
Nicaragua ranks 131st of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 128 Cape Verde 0.2% compare
- 129 Mali 0.2% compare
- 130 Canada 0.2% compare
- 133 China 0.2% compare
- 134 Tajikistan 0.2% compare
More reference data data for Nicaragua
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.334 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.09 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.2273 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.7081 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.5762 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 226.4 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Nicaragua?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in Nicaragua was 0.2% in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 1.7% in 1985.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2020.
- How does Nicaragua rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- Nicaragua ranks 131st out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.