Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and sharing borders with Honduras and Costa Rica. The capital and largest city is Managua. The country’s population, roughly 6.9 million, is predominantly mestizo.

Spanish is the official language, with some English and Indigenous languages spoken in the Caribbean region. Nicaragua features extensive forests, lakes, and volcanoes, and is vulnerable to earthquakes. The country has faced political turmoil, most notably during the long rule of the Somoza family and later the Sandinista revolution.

The economy depends on agriculture, light industries, and increasing remittances from abroad, but it remains one of the poorest in the region.