Imports of goods and services in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Imports of goods and services was 11.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Nicaragua, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in annual % growth.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in Nicaragua is 11.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 10.0% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Nicaragua peaked at 81.6% in 1980 and was at its lowest, -27.1%, in 1982.
Nicaragua ranks 34th of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | annual % growth | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 8.6% | — |
| 1962 | 30.2% | +252.2% |
| 1963 | 11.9% | -60.5% |
| 1964 | 21.9% | +84.1% |
| 1965 | 15.5% | -29.2% |
| 1966 | 3.2% | -79.6% |
| 1967 | 17.4% | +450.0% |
| 1968 | -15.0% | -185.9% |
| 1969 | -7.8% | -47.7% |
| 1970 | 6.5% | -183.6% |
| 1971 | -0.7% | -110.9% |
| 1972 | 5.3% | -843.5% |
| 1973 | 41.3% | +680.6% |
| 1974 | 3.8% | -90.7% |
| 1975 | -15.0% | -493.4% |
| 1976 | 1.9% | -112.6% |
| 1977 | 35.8% | +1783.8% |
| 1978 | -24.5% | -168.5% |
| 1979 | -18.8% | -23.4% |
| 1980 | 81.6% | -534.5% |
| 1981 | -4.4% | -105.4% |
| 1982 | -27.1% | +516.3% |
| 1983 | 16.8% | -161.9% |
| 1984 | -1.5% | -109.1% |
| 1985 | 0.6% | -138.0% |
| 1986 | -14.3% | -2575.1% |
| 1987 | 3.5% | -124.4% |
| 1988 | 19.4% | +453.0% |
| 1989 | -18.2% | -194.2% |
| 1990 | -0.2% | -99.1% |
| 1991 | 17.9% | -11008.7% |
| 1992 | 10.9% | -39.1% |
| 1993 | -9.6% | -188.4% |
| 1994 | 12.3% | -227.8% |
| 1995 | 14.4% | +16.9% |
| 1996 | 13.6% | -5.3% |
| 1997 | 22.3% | +63.6% |
| 1998 | 7.6% | -65.8% |
| 1999 | 19.5% | +155.3% |
| 2000 | -4.7% | -124.4% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -114.7% |
| 2002 | -0.1% | -119.7% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | -2641.0% |
| 2004 | 8.2% | +134.7% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | -48.4% |
| 2007 | 12.1% | +173.6% |
| 2008 | 10.2% | -16.3% |
| 2009 | -9.1% | -189.9% |
| 2010 | 12.1% | -232.1% |
| 2011 | 11.5% | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 6.8% | -41.0% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | -65.4% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | +31.5% |
| 2015 | 12.0% | +288.1% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -66.1% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | -18.9% |
| 2018 | -15.1% | -557.4% |
| 2019 | -3.8% | -74.6% |
| 2020 | 1.0% | -124.9% |
| 2021 | 21.1% | +2104.0% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | -76.3% |
| 2023 | 9.0% | +81.0% |
| 2024 | 12.3% | +36.5% |
| 2025 | 11.1% | -10.0% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 11.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 2.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 11.1% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 4.7%, 2.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imports of goods and services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +11008.7% | -0.2% | 17.9% |
| 2003 | +2641.0% | -0.1% | 3.5% |
| 1986 | -2575.1% | 0.6% | -14.3% |
| 2021 | +2104.0% | 1.0% | 21.1% |
| 1977 | +1783.8% | 1.9% | 35.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.5% | -15.0% | 30.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.6% | -24.5% | 41.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.6% | -27.1% | 81.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.9% | -9.6% | 22.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | -9.1% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | -15.1% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.9% | 1.0% | 21.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 31 Uganda 11.7% compare
- 32 Hong Kong, China 11.6% compare
- 33 El Salvador 11.2% compare
- 35 Cameroon 11.1% compare
- 36 Sri Lanka 10.8% compare
- 37 Marshall Islands 10.7% compare
More economy & growth data for Nicaragua
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 73.80 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0037 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 10.67 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 21.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0687 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 195.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 36.36 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Nicaragua?
- Imports of goods and services in Nicaragua was 11.1% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 81.6% in 1980.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was -27.1% in 1982.
- How does Nicaragua rank for imports of goods and services?
- Nicaragua ranks 34th out of 178 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (annual % growth). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.