Urban area over the long-term in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Urban area over the long-term was 500.71 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
500.71 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
123rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
500.71 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.001 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Nicaragua, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 500.71 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Nicaragua peaked at 500.71 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.001 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Nicaragua ranks 123rd of 202 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.
Urban area over the long-term in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.001 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0033 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1200 | 0.0109 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1300 | 0.0355 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1400 | 0.1162 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1500 | 0.3804 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1600 | 0.5707 km² per grid cell | +50.0% |
| 1700 | 0.856 km² per grid cell | +50.0% |
| 1710 | 1.03 km² per grid cell | +20.7% |
| 1720 | 1.21 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1730 | 1.42 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1740 | 1.67 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1750 | 1.96 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1760 | 2.3 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1770 | 2.7 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1780 | 3.17 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1790 | 3.72 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1800 | 4.36 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1810 | 5.12 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1820 | 6 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1830 | 7.79 km² per grid cell | +29.8% |
| 1840 | 9.96 km² per grid cell | +27.8% |
| 1850 | 12.72 km² per grid cell | +27.8% |
| 1860 | 14.79 km² per grid cell | +16.3% |
| 1870 | 17.14 km² per grid cell | +15.9% |
| 1880 | 21.39 km² per grid cell | +24.8% |
| 1890 | 26.73 km² per grid cell | +25.0% |
| 1900 | 33.18 km² per grid cell | +24.1% |
| 1910 | 40.21 km² per grid cell | +21.2% |
| 1920 | 45.78 km² per grid cell | +13.9% |
| 1930 | 51.77 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1940 | 51.77 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 54.56 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1951 | 55.33 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 56.24 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 57.29 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 58.47 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 59.79 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 61.23 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 62.78 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 64.44 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1959 | 66.19 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 68.04 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 69.97 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 72 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 74.29 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 77.34 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 80.63 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1966 | 84.17 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1967 | 87.98 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 92.09 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 96.53 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 101.31 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 105.94 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 109.76 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 113.86 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 118.27 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1975 | 122.99 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 127.55 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 132.4 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 137.49 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 142.77 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 148.2 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 153.7 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 159.35 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 165.07 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 170.77 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 176.41 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 182.2 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 187.9 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 193.69 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 199.85 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 206.58 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 213.04 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 220.04 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 227.38 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 234.75 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 241.9 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 249.63 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 257.13 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 264.38 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 271.37 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 278.13 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 285.22 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 292.26 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 299.33 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 306.49 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 313.83 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 321.35 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 329.05 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 336.9 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 344.84 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 352.84 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 362.65 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 372.63 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 382.78 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 393.09 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 403.56 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 414.19 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 424.96 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 435.89 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 446.95 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 458.16 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 466.57 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 475.04 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 483.56 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 492.11 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 500.71 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 500.71 km² per grid cell is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 60% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 500.71 km² per grid cell is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 613.64 km² per grid cell, 82% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +227.3% | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.0033 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +227.3% | 0.0033 km² per grid cell | 0.0109 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +227.3% | 0.0109 km² per grid cell | 0.0355 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +227.3% | 0.0355 km² per grid cell | 0.1162 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +227.3% | 0.1162 km² per grid cell | 0.3804 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +50.0% | 0.3804 km² per grid cell | 0.5707 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0033 km² per grid cell | 0.0033 km² per grid cell | 0.0033 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0109 km² per grid cell | 0.0109 km² per grid cell | 0.0109 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0355 km² per grid cell | 0.0355 km² per grid cell | 0.0355 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1162 km² per grid cell | 0.1162 km² per grid cell | 0.1162 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.3804 km² per grid cell | 0.3804 km² per grid cell | 0.3804 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.5707 km² per grid cell | 0.5707 km² per grid cell | 0.5707 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.856 km² per grid cell | 0.856 km² per grid cell | 0.856 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.03 km² per grid cell | 1.03 km² per grid cell | 1.03 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.21 km² per grid cell | 1.21 km² per grid cell | 1.21 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.42 km² per grid cell | 1.42 km² per grid cell | 1.42 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.67 km² per grid cell | 1.67 km² per grid cell | 1.67 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.96 km² per grid cell | 1.96 km² per grid cell | 1.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.3 km² per grid cell | 2.3 km² per grid cell | 2.3 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 2.7 km² per grid cell | 2.7 km² per grid cell | 2.7 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.72 km² per grid cell | 3.72 km² per grid cell | 3.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 4.36 km² per grid cell | 4.36 km² per grid cell | 4.36 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.12 km² per grid cell | 5.12 km² per grid cell | 5.12 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 6 km² per grid cell | 6 km² per grid cell | 6 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 7.79 km² per grid cell | 7.79 km² per grid cell | 7.79 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 9.96 km² per grid cell | 9.96 km² per grid cell | 9.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 12.72 km² per grid cell | 12.72 km² per grid cell | 12.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 14.79 km² per grid cell | 14.79 km² per grid cell | 14.79 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 17.14 km² per grid cell | 17.14 km² per grid cell | 17.14 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 21.39 km² per grid cell | 21.39 km² per grid cell | 21.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 26.73 km² per grid cell | 26.73 km² per grid cell | 26.73 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 33.18 km² per grid cell | 33.18 km² per grid cell | 33.18 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 40.21 km² per grid cell | 40.21 km² per grid cell | 40.21 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 45.78 km² per grid cell | 45.78 km² per grid cell | 45.78 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 51.77 km² per grid cell | 51.77 km² per grid cell | 51.77 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 51.77 km² per grid cell | 51.77 km² per grid cell | 51.77 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 59.63 km² per grid cell | 54.56 km² per grid cell | 66.19 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 80.3 km² per grid cell | 68.04 km² per grid cell | 96.53 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 121.24 km² per grid cell | 101.31 km² per grid cell | 142.77 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 173.72 km² per grid cell | 148.2 km² per grid cell | 199.85 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 238.62 km² per grid cell | 206.58 km² per grid cell | 271.37 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 310.74 km² per grid cell | 278.13 km² per grid cell | 344.84 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 398.95 km² per grid cell | 352.84 km² per grid cell | 446.95 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 479.36 km² per grid cell | 458.16 km² per grid cell | 500.71 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More reference data data for Nicaragua
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4575 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0819 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.4557 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4457 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Nicaragua?
- Urban area over the long-term in Nicaragua was 500.71 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 500.71 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.001 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Nicaragua rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Nicaragua ranks 123rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.