EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Haiti vs Nicaragua
Side-by-side comparison of Haiti and Nicaragua from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Haiti
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 222 years
Nicaragua
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
In short
Nicaragua scores 42.8 in the NationsTree Index (117th in the world) and Haiti scores 15.5 (195th), a gap of 27.3 points. Their trees are 3.0 m and 4.6 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Haiti has 70% more people than Nicaragua. Nicaragua is 4.7 times larger than Haiti by land area. The economy of Nicaragua is 74% larger than that of Haiti (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Haiti 11.9 million and Nicaragua 7.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $9,284 in Nicaragua and $3,134 in Haiti (2025, international dollars). People in Nicaragua live on average 10.0 years longer (75.1 vs 65.1 years).
Of 28 indicators reported by both countries, Haiti ranks higher in the world on 6 and Nicaragua on 22. Haiti is clearly stronger in tourism and main industries. Nicaragua is clearly stronger in trade, economy and society & health.
As a nation, Haiti is the older of the two (statehood since 1804, 222 years), compared with Nicaragua (since 1821). Over the last five years Nicaragua improved faster (direction score 93 vs 13 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Haiti and Nicaragua.
Haiti
-2.7%
206th of 210
Nicaraguabetter
4.9%
55th of 210
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Haitibetter
4.9
25th of 145
Nicaragua
1.0
121st of 145
InflationEconomy
Haiti
28.6%
173rd of 180
Nicaraguabetter
2.1%
61st of 180
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Haiti
1,131
124th of 183
Nicaraguabetter
23,209
28th of 183
Under-5 mortalitySociety & health
Haiti
52.8
170th of 196
Nicaraguabetter
11.2
81st of 196
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Nicaragua overtook Haiti in GDP (PPP) in 2015 and has stayed ahead since.
Nicaragua overtook Haiti in GDP per person (PPP) in 1994 and has stayed ahead since.
Nicaragua has been ahead of Haiti in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Nicaragua has been ahead of Haiti in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Haiti has been ahead of Nicaragua in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
HaitiNicaragua All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Haiti | Nicaragua |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 27,750144th/216 · 2024 | 130,37098th/216 · 2023 |
| Land area km² | 27,560142nd/216 · 2024 | 120,34099th/216 · 2023 |
| Population people | 11.9 m82nd/217 · 2025 | 7.0 m108th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.13%94th/217 · 2025 | 1.31%80th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 427.228th/216 · 2024 | 56.7148th/216 · 2023 |
| Urban population % | 55.6%143rd/217 · 2025 | 59.4%128th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 30.8%68th/217 · 2025 | 28.3%80th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.8%154th/217 · 2025 | 5.7%141st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $32.08 bn112th/210 · 2025 | $22.24 bn129th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $37.31 bn143rd/199 · 2025 | $65.06 bn122nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $31.88 bn143rd/199 · 2025 | $55.59 bn121st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,694167th/210 · 2025 | $3,173157th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,134185th/199 · 2025 | $9,284143rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,010166th/201 · 2025 | $2,850152nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -2.7%206th/210 · 2025 | 4.9%55th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 28.6%173rd/180 · 2025 | 2.1%61st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 14.9%171st/187 · 2025 | 5.0%88th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 12.3%12th/189 · 2025 | 34.6%46th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.3%42nd/192 · 2025 | 3.5%13th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 15.8%52nd/197 · 2025 | 14.5%55th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.5%66th/200 · 2025 | 29.3%56th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 20.2%18th/192 · 2025 | 12.6%71st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 54.2%127th/200 · 2025 | 45.2%168th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $500.4 m167th/182 · 2025 | $9.25 bn113th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $4.60 bn141st/182 · 2025 | $12.20 bn114th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 1.6%182nd/183 · 2025 | 41.6%74th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 14.3%178th/183 · 2025 | 54.9%63rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 15.9%182nd/183 · 2025 | 96.4%67th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 2.2%2017 | 0.7%124th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 64.3%2017 | 37.0%81st/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 23.3%2017 | 42.6%37th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 9.5%2017 | 1.1%131st/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | — | 0.6%153rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.4%65th/191 · 2025 | 9.5%21st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.0%174th/196 · 2025 | 6.8%31st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.3%143rd/209 · 2021 | 3.8%82nd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.02%96th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 2.68%33rd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.33%78th/209 · 2021 | 1.14%49th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 36.5%18th/206 · 2024 | 12.5%84th/206 · 2022 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,131124th/183 · 2022 | 23,20928th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 938,000100th/194 · 2019 | 474,000127th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $620.0 m89th/175 · 2018 | $128.0 m1999 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 34.8%23rd/168 · 2018 | 15.2%1999 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 325,00086th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 65.1190th/217 · 2024 | 75.1106th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 52.8170th/196 · 2024 | 11.281st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.29134th/174 · 2022 | 0.682018 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 4.925th/145 · 2023 | 1.0121st/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 60%184th/193 · 2024 | 89%110th/193 · 2023 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 31.0%2017 | 35.5%2014 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | — | 70.2%140th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 19.5%2012 | 68.2%2014 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 7.4%153rd/217 · 2025 | 8.6%140th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.2%174th/193 · 2023 | 8.3%57th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 68.0%2017 | 87.3%2014 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | — | 30.4%106th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.554166th/193 · 2023 | 0.706123rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 41.12012 | 46.22014 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 40.4%2012 | 6.6%2014 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 53.9%195th/215 · 2024 | 88.7%165th/215 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 47.9%149th/186 · 2024 | 61.4%137th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 65185th/210 · 2022 | 106131st/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.3184th/208 · 2022 | 5.8136th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.80161st/164 · 2022 | 1.90154th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 74,542139th/161 · 2023 | 61,0312000 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3030th/203 · 2024 | 0.8358th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 76.7%22nd/212 · 2021 | 50.4%47th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 15.890th/200 · 2023 | 20.4123rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 13.5%150th/214 · 2024 | 25.8%117th/214 · 2023 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 325140th/149 · 2024 | 613112th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 10.6204th/205 · 2025 | 34.0176th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 17.0199th/207 · 2025 | 20.2192nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 32.0195th/207 · 2025 | 32.5194th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 41.4184th/207 · 2025 | 65.4117th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 29.5194th/205 · 2025 | 39.3175th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 35.1166th/205 · 2025 | 25.4197th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 41.2139th/145 · 2023 | 11.3119th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $39.1 m146th/156 · 2025 | $116.4 m137th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.1%153rd/156 · 2025 | 0.6%140th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.4%135th/154 · 2025 | 2.0%142nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 1,000161st/170 · 2020 | 12,000124th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.02%165th/168 · 2020 | 0.41%128th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2025 | 13.0 m2019 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 18.0 m1993 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.11%2015 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 22014 | 12014 |
| Scientific articles articles | 38160th/197 · 2023 | 41158th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Haiti or Nicaragua?
Haiti has the larger population: 11.9 m (2025) compared with 7.0 m for Nicaragua (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Haiti or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua is larger: 130,370 km² (2023) compared with 27,750 km² for Haiti (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Haiti or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $65.06 bn intl. (2025) compared with $37.31 bn intl. for Haiti (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Haiti or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $9,284 intl. (2025) compared with $3,134 intl. for Haiti (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Haiti or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has the higher life expectancy at birth: 75.1 years (2024) compared with 65.1 years for Haiti (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Haiti or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua spends more on the military: $116.4 m (2025) compared with $39.1 m for Haiti (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Haiti or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua: 42.8 points (117th in the world); Haiti: 15.5 points (195th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bahamas
Guyana
Jamaica
Trinidad and Tobago
El Salvador
HondurasSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Haiti vs Nicaragua — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/haiti-vs-nicaragua. Data as of 26 October 2026.