History of Nicaragua in Timeline
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America by land area, covering 130,370 km2. As of 2024, its population is approximately 7,142,529, making it the third-most populous nation in the region, after Guatemala and Honduras.
2 hours ago : Nicaraguan Bishop Báez Condemns Political Systems Forcing Exile as Enemies of Peace.
Bishop Báez criticizes political systems that force exile, calling them enemies of peace. He believes the people's wounds will become historical scars of oppression. Exile is a weapon against peace.
November 1909: U.S. Warships Sent to Nicaragua in November 1909
On 18 November 1909, U.S. warships were sent to Nicaragua after 500 revolutionaries were executed by order of President Zelaya.
1909: José Santos Zelaya Presidency Ends in 1909
José Santos Zelaya, President of Nicaragua negotiated the integration of the Mosquito Coast into Nicaragua. His presidency ended in 1909.
August 1912: Luis Mena leads insurrection in August 1912
In August 1912, General Luis Mena, requested to resign by President Adolfo Díaz, fled Managua to start an insurrection and U.S. delegation asked President Díaz to ensure the safety of American citizens and property.
1914: Bryan-Chamorro Treaty Signed in 1914
In 1914, the Bryan–Chamorro Treaty was signed, giving the U.S. control over a proposed canal through Nicaragua and leases for canal defenses.
1927: U.S.-engineered Pact in 1927
In 1927, the Somoza family came to power partly as a result of a U.S.-engineered pact in 1927 that stipulated the formation of the Guardia Nacional.
1933: Americans Leave Nicaragua in 1933
When the Americans left in 1933, they set up the Guardia Nacional, a combined military and police force trained and equipped by the Americans and designed to be loyal to U.S. interests.
February 1934: Assassination of Sandino in February 1934
On the night of 21 February 1934, Augusto César Sandino was assassinated by National Guard soldiers after being kidnapped following a dinner at the Presidential House.
January 1937: Somoza García Becomes President in January 1937
On 1 January 1937, Somoza García became president of Nicaragua in a rigged election after deposing Sacasa.
1939: Guarantee of Religious Freedom
Religious freedom, which has been guaranteed in Nicaragua since 1939, and religious tolerance are officially promoted by the government.
1939: Catholic Church Status
Until 1939, the Catholic Church was the established faith in Nicaragua, having arrived with the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.
1942: Publication of El Güegüense
After centuries of popular performance, the theatrical play El Güegüense was first published in a book in 1942.
1945: Nicaragua Ratifies the United Nations Charter in 1945
In 1945, Nicaragua was among the first countries to ratify the United Nations Charter.
September 1956: Somoza García Assassinated in September 1956
On 29 September 1956, Somoza García was shot to death by Rigoberto López Pérez, a Nicaraguan poet.
1961: Founding of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) in 1961
In 1961, Carlos Fonseca, along with others, founded the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).
1967: Anastasio Somoza Debayle becomes president in 1967
Anastasio Somoza Debayle became president in 1967.
December 1972: Earthquake Devastates Managua in December 1972
In December 1972, an earthquake destroyed nearly 90% of Managua and Somoza Debayle siphoned off relief money.
1972: Sandanista ranks grow after 1972 earthquake
After the 1972 earthquake and Somoza's apparent corruption, the ranks of the Sandinistas were flooded with young disaffected Nicaraguans who no longer had anything to lose.
December 1974: FSLN Group Takes Hostages in December 1974
In December 1974, a group of the FSLN took partygoers hostage until the Somoza government met their demands.
January 1978: Assassination of Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal in January 1978
On 10 January 1978, Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal, editor of La Prensa, was assassinated.
July 1979: Creoles Rally to the Sandinista Cause
In July 1979, Black English-speaking Creoles, mainly residing on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, initially supported the Sandinista cause but later rejected the revolution due to a new phase of "westernization" and the imposition of central rule from Managua.
July 1979: Sandinistas Take Power in July 1979
In July 1979, the Sandinistas forcefully took power, ousting Somoza.
1979: Poor education system in Latin America
As of 1979, the educational system was one of the poorest in Latin America.
1979: Somoza Deposed by Sandinistas in 1979
In 1979, Somoza was deposed by the Sandinistas.
1979: Miguel D'Escoto Brockman's Role in Government
In 1979, when the Sandinistas came to power, Miguel D'Escoto Brockman, a priest who had embraced Liberation Theology, served in the government as foreign minister.
September 1980: Somoza Assassinated in September 1980
In September 1980, Somoza was assassinated in Paraguay, allegedly by members of the Argentinian Revolutionary Workers' Party.
September 1980: UNESCO Award
In September 1980, UNESCO awarded Nicaragua the Soviet Union sponsored Nadezhda Krupskaya award for the literacy campaign.
1980: US aid to Nicaragua suspended in 1980
In 1980, the Carter administration provided aid to Nicaragua, but the aid was suspended when the administration obtained evidence of Nicaraguan shipment of arms to El Salvadoran rebels.
December 1981: Execution of Miskitos in December 1981
In December 1981, Sandinista forces executed 35 to 40 Miskitos.
1983: U.S. Congress Prohibits Funding of the Contras
In 1983, the U.S. Congress prohibited federal funding of the Contras, marking a shift in official U.S. policy toward the Nicaraguan conflict.
November 1984: Execution of 75 people in November 1984
In November 1984, Sandinista forces executed 75 people.
1984: Nicaraguan general elections of 1984
In the Nicaraguan general elections of 1984, the Sandinistas won the parliamentary election and their leader Daniel Ortega won the presidential election.
1985: Government Study on Poverty
In 1985, a government study in Nicaragua classified 69.4% of the population as poor based on their inability to satisfy basic needs in housing, sanitary services, education, and employment.
1985: Decline in cotton yields and exports
Since 1985, Nicaragua experienced declining yields and exports in the cotton district due to soil erosion and pollution from heavy pesticide use.
1986: International Court of Justice Rules Against the United States
In 1986, the International Court of Justice ruled in the case of Nicaragua v. United States that the United States was obligated to provide reparations to Nicaragua for damages caused by breaches of international law and treaty law.
1990: Removal of Leftist Ideology from Curriculum
After 1990, the leftist ideological content that the Sandinistas added to the curriculum was removed.
1990: Violeta Chamorro Defeats the Sandinistas in General Election
In the 1990 Nicaraguan general election, Violeta Chamorro, leading a coalition of anti-Sandinista parties, defeated the Sandinistas, marking a significant turning point in Nicaraguan politics.
1991: Dennis Martínez Throws Perfect Game
In 1991, Dennis Martínez became the first Latin-born pitcher to throw a perfect game, and the 13th in major league history, while playing with the Montreal Expos against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
1995: Immigration Levels
Before 1995, the number of immigrants in Nicaragua never surpassed 1% of the total population.
1996: Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas Lose the General Election
In the 1996 general election, Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas of the FSLN were defeated by Arnoldo Alemán of the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC).
2000: Discovery of Córdoba's Tomb and Remains in 2000
In 2000, Córdoba's tomb and remains were discovered in the ruins of León Viejo.
2001: PLC Defeats FSLN in Elections
In the 2001 elections, the PLC defeated the FSLN, with Enrique Bolaños succeeding Alemán as president.
2002: Discovery about the Name of Cacique in 2002
In 2002, it was discovered that the real name of the cacique was Macuilmiquiztli and not Nicarao, debunking a previous theory about the origin of the country's name.
2003: Arnoldo Alemán Sentenced to Prison
In 2003, Alemán was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for embezzlement, money laundering, and corruption.
2005: Adult Literacy Rate
In 2005, Nicaragua's adult literacy rate was 78.0%, the lowest in Central America.
2005: UNESCO Recognition of El Güegüense
In 2005, UNESCO recognized El Güegüense, a satirical drama and literary work of post-Columbian Nicaragua, as "a patrimony of humanity".
2005: Population Distribution
In 2005, over 5 million people lived in the Pacific, Central, and North regions of Nicaragua, and 700,000 lived in the Caribbean region.
2005: Foreign-Born Population
The 2005 census in Nicaragua showed the foreign-born population at 1.2%, a mere 0.06% increase in 10 years.
November 2006: Ortega Returns to the Presidency
In November 2006, Daniel Ortega returned to the presidency with 37.99% of the vote due to a change in electoral law.
November 2006: Nicaragua Further Restricts Abortion
In November 2006, the National Assembly passed a bill further restricting abortion in Nicaragua, making it one of the few countries where abortion is illegal with no exceptions.
2006: Military Budget
As of 2006, the military budget was roughly 0.7% of Nicaragua's expenditures.
2006: Tourism Becomes Second-Largest Industry
By 2006, tourism became the second-largest industry in Nicaragua, growing significantly over the preceding 7 years.
2006: Deterioration of Democratic Norms
Since Daniel Ortega's election in 2006, liberal democratic norms and individual rights in practice have deteriorated in Nicaragua, a process known as democratic backsliding.
2007: Political Parties Discuss a Parliamentary System
Between 2007 and 2009, Nicaragua's major political parties discussed the possibility of going from a presidential system to a parliamentary system.
2007: Increase in foreign direct investment
From 2007 to 2009, Nicaragua saw its foreign direct investment increase by 79.1% as a result of increased tourism.
2007: Economy Labelled 62.7% Free
In 2007, Nicaragua's economy was labelled "62.7% free" by the Heritage Foundation.
2007: Democratic Backsliding Under Daniel Ortega's Presidency
Since 2007, under the presidency of Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua has experienced significant democratic backsliding.
2009: Political Parties Discuss a Parliamentary System
Between 2007 and 2009, Nicaragua's major political parties discussed the possibility of going from a presidential system to a parliamentary system.
2009: Increase in foreign direct investment
From 2007 to 2009, Nicaragua saw its foreign direct investment increase by 79.1% as a result of increased tourism.
2009: Creation of Special Ombudsman for Sexual Diversity
In 2009, Nicaragua created a Special Ombudsman for Sexual Diversity position within its Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman.
2010: One Million Tourists Visit Nicaragua
In 2010, Nicaragua welcomed one million tourists in a calendar year for the first time in its history.
2011: Economy Grew at 4%
In 2011, the Nicaragua's economy grew at a rate of about 4%.
2011: Completion of Nicaragua National Football Stadium
In 2011, the first ever national football-only stadium in Managua, the Nicaragua National Football Stadium, was completed.
2011: Ortega Re-elected in General Election
In Nicaragua's 2011 general election, Ortega was re-elected with a landslide 62.46% of the vote.
January 2012: End of Ortega's Second Government Period
January 2012 marked the expected end of President Ortega's second and last government period, before discussions of changing the system to allow him to stay in power.
2013: Population Growth Rate
As of 2013, Nicaragua had a population growth rate of 1.5%.
2013: Urban population percentage
As of 2013, the urban population in Nicaragua was 58%.
December 2014: Scheduled Start of Nicaragua Canal Construction
In December 2014, Nicaragua was scheduled to begin construction of a canal linking the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, but the project did not commence.
2014: Research on Nicaraguan Ancestry
In 2014, research published in the journal Genetics and Molecular Biology indicated that European ancestry predominates in 69% of Nicaraguans, followed by African ancestry in 20%, and indigenous ancestry in 11%.
2014: Health Ministry Ban on Discrimination
In 2014, the Health Ministry in Nicaragua banned discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
2014: Constitutional Changes Allow Ortega to Run for Third Term
In 2014, the National Assembly approved changes to the constitution, enabling Ortega to run for a third successive term.
2015: Recognition as Fine Cocoa Origin
In 2015, Nicaragua was recognized as 100% fine cocoa origin by the International Cocoa Organization.
2015: World Economic Forum Gender Equality Ranking
In 2015, the World Economic Forum ranked Nicaragua at number twelve in global rankings regarding gender equality.
November 2016: Ortega Elected for Third Consecutive Term
In November 2016, Daniel Ortega was elected for his third consecutive term amid disputes over the validity of the elections.
November 2016: Ortega Re-elected to a Third Term
In November 2016, Ortega was re-elected to a third term amid reports of fraud, voter intimidation, and arrests of opposition leaders.
2016: CIA World Factbook on Nicaragua's Population
According to the CIA World Factbook, in 2016, Nicaragua's population was 5,966,798, with approximately 69% being mestizo, 17% white, 5% Native Nicaraguan, and 9% black and other races.
2016: Population of Managua
In 2016, the capital city of Managua had an estimated population of 1,042,641.
October 2017: Nicaragua Decides to Join the Paris Climate Accord
In October 2017, Nicaragua decided to join the Paris Climate Accord, reversing its initial decision.
November 2017: Nicaragua Ratifies the Paris Climate Accord
In November 2017, Nicaragua ratified the Paris Climate Accord, formalizing its commitment to the agreement.
2017: Birth and Death Rates
In 2017, Nicaragua's birth rate was 17.7 per 1,000, and the death rate was 4.7 per 1,000, according to the United Nations.
2017: Silver Medal at Central American Games
In 2017, Nicaragua's national basketball team won the silver medal at the Central American Games.
2017: Gender Inequality Index Ranking
In 2017, the Human Development Report ranked Nicaragua 106 out of 160 countries in the Gender Inequality Index (GII).
2017: Jewish Population
In 2017, the Jewish population in Nicaragua was small, numbering less than 200 people. Of these, 112 were recent converts claiming Sephardic Jewish ancestry.
April 2018: Greatest March in Opposition of Sandinista Party
April 24, 2018 marked the day of the greatest march in opposition of the Sandinista party.
April 2018: Demonstrations Held Against Pension System Changes
In April 2018, demonstrations were held to oppose a decree increasing taxes and reducing benefits in the country's pension system.
April 2018: Open Suppression of Political Dissent and Militarized Policing Began
Open suppression of political dissent and more militarized policing began in April 2018, but the onset of repression was gradual.
May 2018: University Student Leaders Demand Dialogue with Government
On May 2, 2018, university student leaders gave the government seven days to set a date and time for a dialogue, alongside scheduling another peaceful protest march.
2018: Large Protests and Crackdown in Nicaragua in 2018
In 2018, Nicaragua experienced large protests followed by a subsequent crackdown by the government.
2018: NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup
Nicaragua's national beach volleyball teams competed at the 2018–2020 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in both the women's and men's sections.
2019: Negative Annual Growth Rate
By 2019, Nicaragua recorded a negative annual growth rate of −3.9%.
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking
In 2019, Nicaragua had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.63/10, ranking it 146th globally out of 172 countries.
2019: Completion of New Road Between Nueva Guinea and Bluefields
In 2019, a new road between Nueva Guinea and Bluefields in Nicaragua was completed, enabling regular bus service to the capital.
2019: Human Rights Rated Not Free
Since 2019, human rights in Nicaragua have been rated as not free.
December 2020: Managua population as of December 2020
As of December 2020, Managua, Nicaragua's largest city and national capital, had a population of 1,055,247, making it the fourth-largest city in Central America.
2020: Nicaragua Aims for 90% Renewable Energy
By 2020, Nicaragua expects to acquire 90% of its energy from renewable resources, demonstrating efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
2020: Agriculture in Nicaragua
In 2020, agriculture employed 29% of Nicaragua's workforce and constituted 60% of its total exports, yielding approximately US$300 million annually. Coffee and tobacco were significant cash crops.
2020: Agriculture Represented 15.5% of GDP
In 2020, agriculture represented 15.5% of GDP, the highest percentage in Central America.
2020: World Economic Forum Gender Equality Ranking
In its 2020 report, the World Economic Forum ranked Nicaragua number five in gender equality, behind only northern European countries.
2020: NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup
Nicaragua's national beach volleyball teams competed at the 2018–2020 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in both the women's and men's sections.
June 2021: Nicaragua Launches Volcanic Supersite Research
On 9 June 2021, Nicaragua launched a new volcanic supersite research program to strengthen the monitoring and surveillance of the country's 21 active volcanoes.
2021: Homicide Rate
According to the United Nations Development Program, Nicaragua has one of the lowest intentional homicide rates in Central America, with a rate of 11 per 100,000 inhabitants as of 2021.
2021: Nicaragua widely described as authoritarian dictatorship following 2021 election
Following the 2021 election, Nicaragua has been widely described as an authoritarian dictatorship.
2021: Ortega Re-elected Amid Controversy
In 2021, Ortega was re-elected to a fourth term in elections described as a "sham" by international observers due to reports of fraud and intimidation.
2023: Estimated GDP
In 2023, Nicaragua's gross domestic product (GDP) in purchasing power parity (PPP) was estimated at US$56.7 billion.
October 2024: Nicaragua Breaks Ties with Israel
On 12 October 2024, Nicaragua severed ties with Israel in response to the ongoing Gaza war, condemning Israel's leaders as "fascist" and "genocidal".
November 2024: Government Presents Partial Constitutional Reform
In November 2024, the government presented a partial constitutional reform that established sweeping government changes, defining Nicaragua as a revolutionary socialist state and increasing presidential powers.
November 2024: Partial Constitutional Reform Passed in First Hearing
In November 2024, the partial constitutional reform was passed in the first hearing.
2024: Nicaragua population as of 2024
As of 2024, Nicaragua's population is 7,142,529, making it the third-most populous country in Central America.
January 2025: Partial Constitutional Reform Discussed and Ratified
In January 2025, the legislature discussed and ratified the partial constitutional reform on an article-by-article basis, completing its passage by the end of the month.
2025: Nicaragua Ranked Second-Most Corrupt Country in Latin America in 2025
In 2025, Nicaragua was ranked as the second-most corrupt country in Latin America, after Venezuela, by the Corruption Perceptions Index.
2025: FIBA AmeriCup Hosting
Nicaragua is scheduled to host the FIBA AmeriCup for the first time in 2025.
2025: Global Innovation Index Ranking
Nicaragua was ranked 130th in the Global Innovation Index in 2025.
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