Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Republic of Nicaragua

Population: 6.28 million (2018); Indigenous, European, African, and Asian

Languages: Spanish (spoken by 90% of the population), Garífuna, Miskito, Nicaragua Creole English, Rama, Sumo-Mayangna, Nicaraguan Sign Language 

Land: 130,967 km2 (50,567 sq mi); roughly the size of Alabama, 99/193.

3 Geographical regions: the Pacific lowlands, the Amerrisque Mountains (North-central highlands), and the Mosquito Coast (Atlantic lowlands/Caribbean lowlands).

Major Places: Managua (Capital of Nicaragua), Leon, Masaya

Political System: Presidential Representative Democratic Republic (whereby the President of Nicaragua is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system).

Gross Domestic Product: 13.81 billion US dollars in 2017; 0.02 percent of the world economy. 

Agriculture is responsible for 17% of Nicaragua's GDP, the highest in Central America (http://nationfacts.net/nicaragua-facts/).

Top Production Items: The top exports of Nicaragua are Insulated Wire ($1.1B), Knit T-Shirts ($604M), Coffee ($429M), Gold ($409M) and Knit Sweaters ($375M). 

3 Interesting Facts:

1. Over 50% of the population cite their religion as Roman Catholic
2. Out of a total of 88 constellations found in the night sky, 86 of them can be seen clearly in Nicaragua.
3. The oldest city in Central America is Ruins of Leon Viejo, Nicaragua which is over 1500 years old.

Catholic Dioceses in Nicaragua:

1 Archdiocese:

Archdiocese of Managua

9 Dioceses:

Diocese of Bluefields
Diocese of Estelí
Diocese of Granada
Diocese of Jinotega
Diocese of Juigalpa
Diocese of León en Nicaragua
Diocese of Matagalpa
Diocese of Siuna

Mission Organizations in Nicaragua:

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur: 
Jesuits: The University of Central Nicaragua; nonprofit organization. The University of Scranton in PA offers a yearly service trip to Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, to offer faculty and staff the opportunity to interact directly with the poor to build a home and offer structured time for children.
Cross-Catholic Outreach
Catholic Relief Services

Mission Activities in Nicaragua: