Last Updated (Tuesday, 09 February 2010 16:05)
 
- Total Area:
129,494 sq km
- Land Area:
120,254 sq km
- Water Area:
9,240 sq km
Last Updated (Tuesday, 09 February 2010 16:00)
| |
Nicaragua |
 Canada |
| Population |
5,465,100 (July 2005 est.) |
32,805,041 (July 2005 est.) |
| Population by Age |
0-14 years: 37.2%
15-64 years: 59.7%
65 years and over: 3.1%
(2005 est.) |
0-14 years: 17.9%
15-64 years: 68.9%
65 years and over: 13.2%
(2005 est.) |
| Growth Rate |
1.92% (2005 est.) |
0.9% (2005 est) |
| Birth Rate |
24.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
10.84 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
| Death Rate |
4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
7.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
29.11 deaths/1,000 live births |
4.75 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life Expectancy |
70.33 years |
80.1 years |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2003 est.) |
0.3% (2003 est.) |
| Ethnic Groups |
- mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%
- white 17%,
- black 9%,
- Amerindian 5%
|
- British Isles origin 28%,
- French origin 23%,
- other European 15%,
- Amerindian 2%,
- other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%,
- mixed background 26%
|
| Religion |
- Roman Catholic 72.9%,
- Evangelical 15.1%,
- Moravian 1.5%,
- Episcopal 0.1%,
- other 1.9%,
- none 8.5% (1995 census)
|
- Roman Catholic 42.6%,
- Protestant 16.5%
- Anglican 6.8%
- other Christian 4.4%,
- Muslim 1.9%,
- other and unspecified 11.8%,
- none 16% (2001 census)
|
| Language |
- Spanish 97.5% (official),
- Miskito 1.7%,
- other 0.8% (1995 census)
- English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
|
- English (official) 59.3%,
- French (official) 23.2%,
- other 17.5%
|
| Literacy: (age 15 and over can read and write) |
67.5% |
97% |
Last Updated (Tuesday, 09 February 2010 15:59)
 Most of us know very few families that deprive themselves of the comfort and convenience of an automobile. As we drive along our modern state-of-the-art highways we see car after car with one or two people riding in comfort.
Contrast that with the people of Nicaragua.
In the picture we see a family of nine journeying through the streets of Managua. Look for the baby almost completely hidden in its mother's arms.
Individually our small contributions to the family of 3Fold missions in Nicaragua can make a difference to a single Nicaraguan and collectively we will make a huge difference. Last Updated (Tuesday, 09 February 2010 16:06)
Municipal services are not widely available and in many areas families are foced to buy water. It is often distributed and sold by private individuals who take advantage of the situation. The water contained in the 55 gallon, sub-standard drums seen on this truck sells for as much as $2.35 US per gallon. While this does not seem like much purchasing power parity means that it would be $275.19 CDN. At this rate an 18l litre cooler jug that sells for around $4 in Ontario would retail at almost $24!
Residents just a few kilometers from the Skylark Centre line up with their pails for precious water. A prolonged dry season is causing a severe shortage of in the area. What a blessing our well will be.
Threefold Ministries is developing a Ministry Training and Retreat Centre south of Managua. As part of this project we drilled deep well with an 8 inch casing. This provides adequate water to service the Skylark Centre. Originally we planned to also provide water to our neighbours but the well does not have enough capacity to allow us to do that. Last Updated (Tuesday, 09 February 2010 16:06)
Nicaragua
Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per capita income, widespread underemployment, and a heavy external debt burden. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe. While the country has progressed toward macroeconomic stability in the past few years, GDP annual growth has been far too low to meet the country's needs, forcing the country to rely on international economic assistance to meet fiscal and debt financing obligations.
Canada
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, in the trillion dollar class, Canada enjoys affluent living standards. Given its great natural resources, skilled labour force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Solid fiscal management has produced a balanced budget, although public debate continues over how to manage the rising cost of the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the United States, which absorbs more than 85% of Canadian exports.
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Nicaragua
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Canada
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GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $2,800 (2005 est.)
|
purchasing power parity - $32,800 (2005 est.)
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Labour Force
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- agriculture 30.5%,
- industry 17.3%,
- services 52.2% (2003 est.)
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- agriculture 2%,
- manufacturing 14%,
- construction 5%,
- services 75%,
- other 3% (2004)
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Unemployment Rate
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6.4% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2005 est.)
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6.8% (2005 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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50% (2001 est.)
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15.9% (2003)
|
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National Budget
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- revenues: $1.134 billion
- expenditures: $1.358 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
- (2005 est.)
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- revenues: $159.6 billion
- expenditures: $152.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
- (2004 est.)
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Last Updated (Tuesday, 09 February 2010 15:59)
| Past |
Present |
- still largely undereducated
- 67% of population is literate
- takes an average of 10.3 years to complete the mandatory six years of schooling
- only 29% of children complete six years of education
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- 65% primary aged children enrolled in school
- 22% of these finished grade six
- rural schools offered one to two years only
- 24% of rural population was literate
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Last Updated (Tuesday, 09 February 2010 16:00)
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Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America and contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua. It is just a little bit bigger than the province of Newfoundland. The following chart draws comparisons between Nicaragua and Canada.
