Photo: Neil Palmer (CIAT) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Nicaragua: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
Nicaragua is placed 73rd of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 300.44 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 62.39 (2024).
Share
Energy
73rd
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Nicaragua on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
300.44
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Nicaragua: 300.44. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.
- World median
- 433.75
- Best in Central America
- 25.82 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 25.82 · Honduras 321.95
62.39
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Nicaragua: 62.39. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.
- World median
- 32.06
- Best in Central America
- 99.91 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 99.91 · Honduras 55.45
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
52.9
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 75th of 99 by World Energy Council
Nicaragua: 52.9. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.
- World median
- 63.8
- Best in Central America
- 69.7 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 69.7 · Honduras 52.3
02Over time
Which way Nicaragua is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua fell from 535.09 in 2000 to 300.44 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2024 300.4 433.7 2023 300.4 452.7 2022 291.2 476.3 2021 260.3 469.0 2020 252.2 482.0 2019 331.9 488.2 2018 314.4 500.4 2017 331.6 506.3 2016 348.1 521.9 2015 358.4 524.8 2014 336.8 522.3 2013 348.7 508.8 2012 409.2 525.4 2011 461.9 521.4 2010 445.8 515.5 2009 483.8 533.6 2008 454.2 517.2 2007 499.7 535.3 2006 488.5 537.5 2005 454.5 521.4 2004 496.1 523.1 2003 498.5 543.1 2002 509.8 551.3 2001 540.5 559.3 2000 535.1 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua rose from 21.49 in 2000 to 62.39 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2024 62.39 32.062 2023 62.39 28.000 2022 64.12 28.881 2021 69.12 28.286 2020 69.92 27.125 2019 56.99 26.296 2018 58.71 25.505 2017 55.97 24.023 2016 52.29 22.218 2015 50.11 21.915 2014 53.81 21.151 2013 52.28 21.593 2012 42.68 19.869 2011 33.86 18.584 2010 36.71 18.572 2009 30.73 17.886 2008 35.42 15.923 2007 28.75 15.586 2006 30.03 15.392 2005 35.66 16.438 2004 28.11 16.445 2003 27.41 16.339 2002 25.10 13.826 2001 19.84 14.023 2000 21.49 15.612
03In context
Nicaragua beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.
Nicaragua and the countries it borders
Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Costa Rica | 12th | 25.82 | 99.91 | 69.7 |
| Nicaragua | 73rd | 300.44 | 62.39 | 52.9 |
 Honduras | 77th | 321.95 | 55.45 | 52.3 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below Nicaragua in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Nicaragua is ahead of the world, and behind
25 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Nicaragua does better than the middle country measured.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.210.8143.21▲ Improved since 2014
Nicaragua: 0.814 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.
Position 162nd of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7382.0772.738▲ Improved since 2014
Nicaragua: 2.077 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.27913.055.279▼ Worsened since 2014
Nicaragua: 13.05 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3262.3937.32No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 62.39 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 56th of 162 · derived.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8517.7824.85No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 17.78 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2635.8833.26▼ Worsened since 2013
Nicaragua: 35.88 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7725.1325.77No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 25.13 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.
Position 94th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which Nicaragua does worse than the middle country measured.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2334.7248.23▼ Worsened since 2013
Nicaragua: 34.72 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.
RISE Electricity Access Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 65.675565.67▼ Worsened since 2013
Nicaragua: 55 · world median 65.67 · Electricity access policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 9.471 to 90.47; higher is better.
Position 37th of 56 · derived.
RISE Clean Cooking Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 29.7218.0629.72▼ Worsened since 2013
Nicaragua: 18.06 · world median 29.72 · Clean cooking policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 80.69; higher is better.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10088.7100▼ Worsened since 2014
Nicaragua: 88.7 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10072.2100▼ Worsened since 2014
Nicaragua: 72.2 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 0 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.
No better end12
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 019.910Moved since 2014
Nicaragua: 19.91 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 100189100No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 189 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8514.3812.85Moved since 2014
Nicaragua: 14.38 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2734.1094.273No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 4.109 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.0360.144Moved since 2014
Nicaragua: 0.036 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.0140.077No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 0.014 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0490.6643.049Moved since 2014
Nicaragua: 0.664 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 0 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.513.0449.5No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 13.04 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 0 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58502.585Moved since 2014
Nicaragua: 0 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.
No current reading for Nicaragua
Operating Coal Power Capacity and Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Energy among Nicaragua’s 15 topics
Energy is Nicaragua’s 3rd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 15th of 1862/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 78th of 1824/4 keys
- Energy73rd of 1653/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 90th of 2002/4 keys
- Gender & Equality87th of 1834/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 116th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation119th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital135th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge146th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 132nd of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 150th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade147th of 1774/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 138th of 1592/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions181st of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties193rd of 1984/4 keys
No standing on Food & Agriculture: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Nicaragua can most readily be measured against.
1
BhutanSouthern Asia
1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
UgandaEastern Africa
3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Venezuela=8th2/3 keysHighest in Central America
Costa Rica12th3/3 keysThis page
Nicaragua73rd3/3 keys
Positions out of 165 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Nicaragua on energy: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Nicaragua rank on energy?
Nicaragua is placed 73rd of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Nicaragua?
300.44 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.
What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Nicaragua?
62.39 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How does Nicaragua compare with Honduras on energy?
Honduras is placed 77th of 165, and Nicaragua 73rd. Carbon Intensity of Electricity: Honduras 321.95, Nicaragua 300.44; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation: Honduras 55.45, Nicaragua 62.39; World Energy Trilemma Index: Honduras 52.3, Nicaragua 52.9.
How have Nicaragua’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 535.09 in 2000 to 300.44 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 21.49 in 2000 to 62.39 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for Nicaragua?
No current reading is published for Nicaragua on Operating Coal Power Capacity and Primary Schools with Electricity. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.
How the Energy standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
The other 25 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Nicaragua’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Nicaragua (banner) — Neil Palmer (CIAT), CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Nicaragua: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nicaragua/energy