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Nicaragua vs Trinidad and Tobago
Side-by-side comparison of Nicaragua and Trinidad and Tobago from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Nicaragua
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
Trinidad and Tobago
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 50 years
In short
Nicaragua scores 42.8 in the NationsTree Index (117th in the world) and Trinidad and Tobago scores 41.3 (125th), a gap of 1.5 points. Their trees are 4.6 m and 4.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Nicaragua has 5.1 times the population of Trinidad and Tobago. Nicaragua is 25 times larger than Trinidad and Tobago by land area. The economy of Nicaragua is 28% larger than that of Trinidad and Tobago (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Nicaragua 7.0 million and Trinidad and Tobago 1.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $37,121 in Trinidad and Tobago and $9,284 in Nicaragua (2025, international dollars). People in Nicaragua live on average 1.5 years longer (75.1 vs 73.6 years).
Of 31 indicators reported by both countries, Nicaragua ranks higher in the world on 11 and Trinidad and Tobago on 20. Nicaragua is clearly stronger in trade and land & people. Trinidad and Tobago is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, infrastructure & digital and military.
As a nation, Nicaragua is the older of the two (statehood since 1821, 205 years), compared with Trinidad and Tobago (since 1976). Over the last five years Nicaragua improved faster (direction score 93 vs 15 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Nicaragua and Trinidad and Tobago.
Nicaragua
88.7%
165th of 215
Trinidad and Tobagobetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Government budget balanceEconomy
Nicaraguabetter
3.5%
13th of 192
Trinidad and Tobago
-5.4%
157th of 192
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Nicaraguabetter
50.4%
47th of 212
Trinidad and Tobago
0.5%
198th of 212
CO₂ emissions per personEnvironment & energy
Nicaraguabetter
0.83
58th of 203
Trinidad and Tobago
19.58
198th of 203
GDP growthEconomy
Nicaraguabetter
4.9%
55th of 210
Trinidad and Tobago
-0.8%
199th of 210
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Nicaragua overtook Trinidad and Tobago in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Nicaragua overtook Trinidad and Tobago in life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Nicaragua overtook Trinidad and Tobago in GDP (PPP) in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Trinidad and Tobago has been ahead of Nicaragua in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Nicaragua has been ahead of Trinidad and Tobago 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
NicaraguaTrinidad and Tobago 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 | Nicaragua | Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 130,37098th/216 · 2023 | 5,128169th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 120,34099th/216 · 2023 | 5,128168th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 7.0 m108th/217 · 2025 | 1.4 m156th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.31%80th/217 · 2025 | -0.04%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 56.7148th/216 · 2023 | 266.847th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 59.4%128th/217 · 2025 | 54.0%146th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 28.3%80th/217 · 2025 | 17.5%149th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 5.7%141st/217 · 2025 | 12.9%76th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $22.24 bn129th/210 · 2025 | $25.94 bn122nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $65.06 bn122nd/199 · 2025 | $50.77 bn134th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $55.59 bn121st/199 · 2025 | $43.39 bn134th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $3,173157th/210 · 2025 | $18,96780th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $9,284143rd/199 · 2025 | $37,12169th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,850152nd/201 · 2025 | $18,55071st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.9%55th/210 · 2025 | -0.8%199th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.1%61st/180 · 2025 | 1.0%36th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 5.0%88th/187 · 2025 | 3.3%54th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 15.9%2007 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 34.6%46th/189 · 2025 | 84.0%151st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 3.5%13th/192 · 2025 | -5.4%157th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 14.5%55th/197 · 2025 | 0.8%174th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 29.3%56th/200 · 2025 | 34.6%34th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 12.6%71st/192 · 2025 | 14.4%50th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 45.2%168th/200 · 2025 | 59.2%92nd/200 · 2024 |
| 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 | 0.7%124th/170 · 2024 | 32.6%30th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 37.0%81st/171 · 2024 | 58.5%58th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 42.6%37th/171 · 2024 | 7.9%124th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.1%131st/171 · 2024 | 0.7%143rd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.6%153rd/168 · 2024 | 0.2%158th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 9.5%21st/191 · 2025 | 5.0%35th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 6.8%31st/196 · 2025 | -3.1%191st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.8%82nd/209 · 2021 | 7.9%55th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.02%96th/197 · 2021 | 2.71%34th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 5.09%14th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 2.68%33rd/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.14%49th/209 · 2021 | 0.05%127th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 12.5%84th/206 · 2022 | 5.8%129th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 23,20928th/183 · 2022 | 2,81287th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 474,000127th/194 · 2020 | 141,000159th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $128.0 m1999 | $151.0 m135th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 15.2%1999 | 2.3%122nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 325,00086th/107 · 2020 | 273,0002010 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 75.1106th/217 · 2024 | 73.6121st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 11.281st/196 · 2024 | 18.8121st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.682018 | 4.1627th/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.0121st/145 · 2022 | 2.479th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 89%110th/193 · 2023 | 92%86th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 35.5%2014 | 71.9%81st/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 70.2%140th/173 · 2023 | 95.7%78th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 68.2%2014 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 8.6%140th/217 · 2025 | 18.6%80th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 8.3%57th/193 · 2023 | 7.5%74th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 87.3%2014 | 96.9%1990 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 30.4%106th/150 · 2023 | 23.8%113th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.706123rd/193 · 2023 | 0.80772nd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 46.22014 | 40.21992 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 6.6%2014 | 3.2%1992 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 88.7%165th/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 69.4%88th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 38.0%99th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 61.4%137th/186 · 2024 | 82.2%94th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 106131st/210 · 2024 | 11993rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 5.8136th/208 · 2024 | 27.071st/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.90154th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 61,0312000 | 2.0 m81st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.8358th/203 · 2024 | 19.58198th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 50.4%47th/212 · 2021 | 0.5%198th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 20.4123rd/200 · 2023 | 13.873rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 25.8%117th/214 · 2023 | 44.2%68th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 613112th/149 · 2024 | 10,5063rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 34.0176th/205 · 2025 | 57.184th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 20.2192nd/207 · 2025 | 41.2120th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 32.5194th/207 · 2025 | 52.9122nd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 65.4117th/207 · 2025 | 73.881st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 39.3175th/205 · 2025 | 52.4111th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 25.4197th/205 · 2025 | 67.768th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 11.3119th/145 · 2021 | 40.4138th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $116.4 m137th/156 · 2025 | $229.9 m122nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.6%140th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%118th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.0%142nd/154 · 2025 | 2.5%129th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 12,000124th/170 · 2020 | 5,000147th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.41%128th/168 · 2020 | 0.77%89th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 13.0 m2019 | 32.0 m75th/163 · 2021 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 18.0 m1993 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.11%2015 | 0.05%106th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 12014 | 3118th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 41158th/197 · 2023 | 246121st/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Nicaragua or Trinidad and Tobago?
Nicaragua has the larger population: 7.0 m (2025) compared with 1.4 m for Trinidad and Tobago (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Nicaragua or Trinidad and Tobago?
Nicaragua is larger: 130,370 km² (2023) compared with 5,128 km² for Trinidad and Tobago (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Nicaragua or Trinidad and Tobago?
Nicaragua has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $65.06 bn intl. (2025) compared with $50.77 bn intl. for Trinidad and Tobago (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Nicaragua or Trinidad and Tobago?
Trinidad and Tobago has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $37,121 intl. (2025) compared with $9,284 intl. for Nicaragua (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Nicaragua or Trinidad and Tobago?
Nicaragua has the higher life expectancy at birth: 75.1 years (2024) compared with 73.6 years for Trinidad and Tobago (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Nicaragua or Trinidad and Tobago?
Trinidad and Tobago spends more on the military: $229.9 m (2025) compared with $116.4 m for Nicaragua (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Nicaragua or Trinidad and Tobago?
Nicaragua: 42.8 points (117th in the world); Trinidad and Tobago: 41.3 points (125th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
El Salvador
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
JamaicaSources
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). Nicaragua vs Trinidad and Tobago — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/nicaragua-vs-trinidad-and-tobago. Data as of 26 October 2026.