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Jamaica vs Nicaragua
Side-by-side comparison of Jamaica and Nicaragua from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Jamaica
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 64 years
Nicaragua
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
In short
Nicaragua scores 42.8 in the NationsTree Index (117th in the world) and Jamaica scores 41.3 (123rd), a gap of 1.5 points. Their trees are 3.5 m and 4.6 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Nicaragua has 2.5 times the population of Jamaica. Nicaragua is 12 times larger than Jamaica by land area. The economy of Nicaragua is 73% larger than that of Jamaica (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Jamaica 2.8 million and Nicaragua 7.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $13,291 in Jamaica and $9,284 in Nicaragua (2025, international dollars). People in Nicaragua live on average 3.5 years longer (75.1 vs 71.6 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Jamaica ranks higher in the world on 19 and Nicaragua on 11. Jamaica is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, tourism and infrastructure & digital. Nicaragua is clearly stronger in economy, main industries and natural resources.
As a nation, Nicaragua is the older of the two (statehood since 1821, 205 years), compared with Jamaica (since 1962). Over the last five years Nicaragua improved faster (direction score 93 vs 28 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Jamaica and Nicaragua.
Jamaica
0.1%
194th of 210
Nicaraguabetter
4.9%
55th of 210
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
Jamaicabetter
68.6
64th of 205
Nicaragua
25.4
197th of 205
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Jamaicabetter
99%
1st of 193
Nicaragua
89%
110th of 193
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Jamaicabetter
46.2
95th of 207
Nicaragua
20.2
192nd of 207
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Jamaica
10.5%
144th of 212
Nicaraguabetter
50.4%
47th of 212
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Nicaragua overtook Jamaica in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Nicaragua overtook Jamaica in life expectancy in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Nicaragua overtook Jamaica in GDP (PPP) in 2011 and has stayed ahead since.
Jamaica has been ahead of Nicaragua in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Nicaragua has been ahead of Jamaica 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
JamaicaNicaragua 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 | Jamaica | Nicaragua |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 10,991163rd/216 · 2024 | 130,37098th/216 · 2023 |
| Land area km² | 10,830160th/216 · 2024 | 120,34099th/216 · 2023 |
| Population people | 2.8 m140th/217 · 2025 | 7.0 m108th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.07%177th/217 · 2025 | 1.31%80th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 262.250th/216 · 2024 | 56.7148th/216 · 2023 |
| Urban population % | 59.4%129th/217 · 2025 | 59.4%128th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 18.3%137th/217 · 2025 | 28.3%80th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.6%111th/217 · 2025 | 5.7%141st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $22.70 bn126th/210 · 2025 | $22.24 bn129th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $37.71 bn142nd/199 · 2025 | $65.06 bn122nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $32.22 bn142nd/199 · 2025 | $55.59 bn121st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $8,003113th/210 · 2025 | $3,173157th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $13,291128th/199 · 2025 | $9,284143rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $7,790104th/201 · 2025 | $2,850152nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.1%194th/210 · 2025 | 4.9%55th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.0%123rd/180 · 2025 | 2.1%61st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.3%50th/187 · 2025 | 5.0%88th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 97.9%47th/55 · 2020 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 66.0%129th/189 · 2025 | 34.6%46th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.5%92nd/192 · 2025 | 3.5%13th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.7%79th/197 · 2025 | 14.5%55th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 16.3%154th/200 · 2025 | 29.3%56th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.7%127th/192 · 2025 | 12.6%71st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 59.8%85th/200 · 2025 | 45.2%168th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | — | $9.25 bn113th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | — | $12.20 bn114th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | — | 41.6%74th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | — | 54.9%63rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | — | 96.4%67th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 23.9%34th/170 · 2025 | 0.7%124th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 3.9%156th/171 · 2025 | 37.0%81st/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 29.5%50th/171 · 2025 | 42.6%37th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 42.4%10th/171 · 2025 | 1.1%131st/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.6%126th/168 · 2023 | 0.6%153rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.5%63rd/191 · 2025 | 9.5%21st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.2%133rd/196 · 2025 | 6.8%31st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.5%133rd/209 · 2021 | 3.8%82nd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.29%63rd/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 | 0.16%100th/209 · 2021 | 1.14%49th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.5%89th/206 · 2024 | 12.5%84th/206 · 2022 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,81272nd/183 · 2022 | 23,20928th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.3 m85th/194 · 2020 | 474,000127th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $2.06 bn2011 | $128.0 m1999 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 48.1%2011 | 15.2%1999 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 325,00086th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 71.6142nd/217 · 2024 | 75.1106th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 17.8116th/196 · 2024 | 11.281st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.46127th/174 · 2023 | 0.682018 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.797th/145 · 2023 | 1.0121st/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 89%110th/193 · 2023 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 77.4%76th/153 · 2022 | 35.5%2014 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 84.5%122nd/173 · 2024 | 70.2%140th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 52.8%2017 | 68.2%2014 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 11.7%119th/217 · 2025 | 8.6%140th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 7.6%71st/193 · 2023 | 8.3%57th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 79.9%1999 | 87.3%2014 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 26.2%2015 | 30.4%106th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.720117th/193 · 2023 | 0.706123rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 39.986th/108 · 2021 | 46.22014 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.4%55th/108 · 2021 | 6.6%2014 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 97.7%143rd/215 · 2024 | 88.7%165th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 73.6%61st/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 90.1%55th/186 · 2024 | 61.4%137th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 11898th/210 · 2024 | 106131st/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 16.098th/208 · 2024 | 5.8136th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 1.90154th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 180,9512018 | 61,0312000 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.84108th/203 · 2024 | 0.8358th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 10.5%144th/212 · 2021 | 50.4%47th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 21.7125th/200 · 2023 | 20.4123rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 56.5%42nd/214 · 2024 | 25.8%117th/214 · 2023 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 837101st/149 · 2024 | 613112th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 56.291st/205 · 2025 | 34.0176th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 46.295th/207 · 2025 | 20.2192nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 58.199th/207 · 2025 | 32.5194th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 75.177th/207 · 2025 | 65.4117th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 55.892nd/205 · 2025 | 39.3175th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 68.664th/205 · 2025 | 25.4197th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 49.4142nd/145 · 2023 | 11.3119th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $286.6 m116th/156 · 2025 | $116.4 m137th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.4%95th/156 · 2025 | 0.6%140th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.1%107th/154 · 2025 | 2.0%142nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 6,000145th/170 · 2020 | 12,000124th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.41%126th/168 · 2020 | 0.41%128th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 10.0 m109th/163 · 2024 | 13.0 m2019 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 18.0 m1993 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.06%2002 | 0.11%2015 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 3118th/137 · 2024 | 12014 |
| Scientific articles articles | 161131st/197 · 2023 | 41158th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Jamaica or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has the larger population: 7.0 m (2025) compared with 2.8 m for Jamaica (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Jamaica or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua is larger: 130,370 km² (2023) compared with 10,991 km² for Jamaica (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Jamaica or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $65.06 bn intl. (2025) compared with $37.71 bn intl. for Jamaica (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Jamaica or Nicaragua?
Jamaica has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $13,291 intl. (2025) compared with $9,284 intl. for Nicaragua (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Jamaica or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has the higher life expectancy at birth: 75.1 years (2024) compared with 71.6 years for Jamaica (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Jamaica or Nicaragua?
Jamaica spends more on the military: $286.6 m (2025) compared with $116.4 m for Nicaragua (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Jamaica or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua: 42.8 points (117th in the world); Jamaica: 41.3 points (123rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bahamas
Guyana
Haiti
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). Jamaica vs Nicaragua — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/jamaica-vs-nicaragua. Data as of 26 October 2026.