Photo: Neil Palmer (CIAT) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 07 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Nicaragua: Environment & Sustainability
How much pressure does a country put on the natural world?
Nicaragua is placed joint 15th of 186 countries on environment & sustainability in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: CO₂ Emissions per Capita 0.814 (2024); Water Stress 2.22 (2023).
Share
Environment & Sustainability
joint15th
of 186 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Nicaragua on environment & sustainability — 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.
0.814
Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)
Lower is better
Nicaragua: 0.814. Across the 210 countries in this edition, values run from 0.054 (DR Congo) to 41.27 (Qatar); the world median is 3.21.
- World median
- 3.21
- Best in Central America
- 0.814 Nicaragua
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 1.708 · Honduras 1.187
Key 2 of 4
Water Stress
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
2.22
Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%)
Lower is better
Nicaragua: 2.22. Across the 177 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Republic of the Congo) to 3,851 (Kuwait); the world median is 10.
- World median
- 10
- Best in Central America
- 0.12 Belize
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 5.88 · Honduras 4.62
Key 3 of 4
Organic Agricultural Area
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Organic share of agricultural land (%)
Higher is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Nicaragua, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 156 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Afghanistan) to 86.38 (Samoa); the world median is 0.725.
- World median
- 0.725
- Best in Central America
- 7.44 Guatemala
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 0.68 · Honduras 2.13
No reading
Ecological Footprint (global hectares per person)
Lower is better
Global Footprint Network publishes no 2025 figure for Nicaragua, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 0.514 (Yemen) to 11.73 (Qatar); the world median is 2.296.
- World median
- 2.296
- Best in Central America
- 2.154 El Salvador
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 2.615
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.
CO₂ Emissions per Capita
Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person) · lower is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua rose from 0.739 in 2000 to 0.814 in 2024; the world median went from 2.662 to 3.21.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2024 0.8141 3.210 2023 0.7955 3.145 2022 0.7624 3.162 2021 0.7724 3.087 2020 0.7069 2.903 2019 0.8033 3.273 2018 0.8090 3.036 2017 0.8614 3.049 2016 0.8630 2.894 2015 0.8795 2.846 2014 0.7780 2.919 2013 0.7663 2.779 2012 0.7683 2.770 2011 0.8229 2.748 2010 0.7761 2.812 2009 0.7835 2.799 2008 0.7806 2.979 2007 0.8258 2.593 2006 0.8132 2.865 2005 0.7962 2.885 2004 0.8273 2.802 2003 0.8272 2.918 2002 0.7720 2.785 2001 0.7684 2.726 2000 0.7386 2.662 Water Stress
Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%) · lower is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua fell from 2.42 in 2000 to 2.22 in 2023; the world median went from 10.07 to 10.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2023 2.22 10.000 2022 2.22 10.190 2021 2.22 10.460 2020 2.22 10.460 2019 2.22 10.890 2018 2.27 10.460 2017 2.32 10.460 2016 2.37 10.460 2015 2.42 10.190 2014 2.47 10.460 2013 2.51 10.460 2012 2.56 10.460 2011 2.61 10.460 2010 2.64 10.710 2009 2.66 10.960 2008 2.69 10.815 2007 2.67 11.180 2006 2.65 10.430 2005 2.63 10.250 2004 2.60 10.715 2003 2.57 10.370 2002 2.54 10.180 2001 2.51 10.130 2000 2.42 10.070 Organic Agricultural Area
Organic share of agricultural land (%) · higher is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua fell from 0.97 in 2005 to 0.61 in 2022; the world median went from 0.345 to 0.74.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2024 — 0.725 2023 — 0.780 2022 0.61 0.740 2021 0.73 0.710 2020 0.77 0.665 2019 0.84 0.550 2018 0.68 0.490 2017 0.66 0.630 2016 0.66 0.545 2015 0.66 0.540 2014 0.66 0.470 2013 0.66 0.440 2012 0.66 0.480 2011 0.66 0.460 2010 0.66 0.330 2009 0.66 0.335 2008 1.38 0.290 2007 1.37 0.370 2006 1.15 0.305 2005 0.97 0.345
03In context
Nicaragua beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 186 countries on environment & sustainability, never a place within the region.
Nicaragua and the countries it borders
Standing among all 186; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | CO₂ Emissions per CapitaFossil CO₂ (tonnes per person) | Water StressFreshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%) | Organic Agricultural AreaOrganic share of agricultural land (%) | Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint (global hectares per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicaragua | =15th | 0.814 | 2.22 | — | — |
 Honduras | 37th | 1.187 | 4.62 | 2.13 | — |
 Costa Rica | 84th | 1.708 | 5.88 | 0.68 | 2.615 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 186.
Placed either side on environment & sustainability
The countries immediately above and below Nicaragua in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Nicaragua is ahead of the world, and behind
44 more statistics filed under environment & sustainability, 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 median11
Statistics on which Nicaragua does better than the middle country measured.
Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per CapitaFAO · 2022 · world median 2,52823,2092,528No real change since 2012
Nicaragua: 23,209 · world median 2,528 · Renewable internal freshwater (cubic metres per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 445,023; higher is better.
Position 28th of 181 · derived.
Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 1.6630.2141.663No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 0.214 · world median 1.663 · Baseline water stress score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; lower is better.
Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 32.0662.3932.06No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 62.39 · world median 32.06 · Renewables (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 47th of 162 · derived.
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.
Municipal Solid Waste GenerationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 0.9660.630.966No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 0.63 · world median 0.966 · Municipal solid waste generated (kg per person per day). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.058 to 4.176; lower is better.
Position 142nd of 201 · derived, 1st = worst.
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.
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 2021 · world median 8.38912.068.389▼ Worsened since 2011
Nicaragua: 12.06 · world median 8.389 · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from -81.62 to 32.18; higher is better.
Position 43rd of 118 · derived.
Carbon Intensity of ElectricityEmber · 2024 · world median 433.75300.44433.75▼ Worsened since 2014
Nicaragua: 300.44 · world median 433.75 · Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 23.73 to 1,306; lower is better.
Position 106th of 165 · derived, 1st = worst.
Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.450.4230.45No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 0.423 · world median 0.45 · ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.263 to 0.655; lower is better.
Ranked 75th of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Children's Climate Risk IndexUNICEF · 2020 · world median 54.65No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 4.6 · world median 5 · Children's Climate Risk Index (0–10, higher is more risk). UNICEF, 2021 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 8.7; lower is better.
Ranked 90th of 163 by UNICEF (1st = worst).
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Nicaragua does worse than the middle country measured.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.6680.678▲ Improved since 2013
Nicaragua: 0.668 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 156 · derived.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4516.814.45▼ Worsened since 2013
Nicaragua: 16.8 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 91st of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
ND-GAIN Country IndexNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 47.4444.1147.44No real change since 2014
Nicaragua: 44.11 · world median 47.44 · ND-GAIN Index (0–100, where 100 is best placed to adapt). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.42 to 71.85; higher is better.
Ranked 115th of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Water-Use EfficiencyFAO · 2023 · world median 16.19.0416.1▲ Improved since 2013
Nicaragua: 9.04 · world median 16.1 · Value added per cubic metre of freshwater withdrawn (constant US$ per m³). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 1,378; higher is better.
Forest Area within Legally Established Protected AreasFAO · 2025 · world median 18.189.3518.18No real change since 2020
Nicaragua: 9.35 · world median 18.18 · Forest within legally established protected areas, as a share of the country's 2015 forest area (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
World Energy Trilemma IndexWorld Energy Council · 2023 · world median 63.852.963.8No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 52.9 · world median 63.8 · Trilemma score (0–100). World Energy Council, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.7 to 83.2; higher is better.
Ranked 75th of 99 by World Energy Council.
Annual Forest Area Change RateFAO · 2025 · world median 0-0.450▲ Improved since 2015
Nicaragua: -0.45 · world median 0 · Compound annual change in forest area over the interval ending that year (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.29 to 12.3; higher is better.
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 2023 · world median 1.5654.031.565No real change since 2013
Nicaragua: 4.03 · world median 1.565 · Greenhouse gases from farming per value of agricultural output (kg CO₂eq per international dollar). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 28.2; lower is better.
Position 28th of 190 · derived, 1st = worst.
World Risk IndexInstitute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum · 2025 · world median 4.1723.64.17No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 23.6 · world median 4.17 · WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk). Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.18 to 46.56; lower is better.
Position 20th of 193 · derived, 1st = worst.
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 end23
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Tree Cover LossWorld Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland) · 2025 · world median 3,77559,1563,775Moved since 2015
Nicaragua: 59,156 · world median 3,775 · Tree cover loss (hectares, where canopy cover exceeded 30% in 2000). World Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 6,225,187.
Water Withdrawal by SectorFAO · 2022 · world median 62.1485.0462.14Moved since 2012
Nicaragua: 85.04 · world median 62.14 · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.48.
Position 40th of 171 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 0.1090.220.109No real change since 2013
Nicaragua: 0.22 · world median 0.109 · Arable land (hectares per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1.459.
Position 53rd of 206 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Mangrove AreaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy) · 2025 · world median 8,92766,4478,927No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 66,447 · world median 8,927 · Mangrove forest area (hectares). Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.524 to 3,146,544.
Tropical Moist Forest DeforestationJRC · 2025 · world median 0.0010.0050.001Moved since 2015
Nicaragua: 0.005 · world median 0.001 · Tropical moist forest deforested in the year (million hectares). European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.708.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5350.880.535Moved since 2013
Nicaragua: 0.88 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 57th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Burned AreaGWIS · 2025 · world median 13,82499,66613,824No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 99,666 · world median 13,824 · Burned area (hectares). European Commission Joint Research Centre — Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50,562,035.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7083.8411.708No real change since 2011
Nicaragua: 3.841 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 78th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 2023 · world median 8,63513,1528,635Moved since 2013
Nicaragua: 13,152 · world median 8,635 · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,044,508.
Position 81st of 193 · derived, counted from the highest value.
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.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.9642.3137.96No real change since 2013
Nicaragua: 42.31 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 90th of 209 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,37576,17052,375Moved since 2014
Nicaragua: 76,170 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 2023 · world median 37.6342.3637.63Moved since 2013
Nicaragua: 42.36 · world median 37.63 · Nitrogen surplus (+) or deficit (−) on cropland, kg per hectare. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -555.52 to 1,199.
Methane EmissionsEDGAR · 2025 · world median 325.69375.83325.69No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 375.83 · world median 325.69 · Methane emissions (gigagrams of CH₄). European Commission, Joint Research Centre (EDGAR), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.048 to 51,093.
Environmentally Related Tax RevenueOECD · 2024 · world median 1.0751.0751.075Moved since 2014
Nicaragua: 1.075 · world median 1.075 · Environmentally related tax revenue (% of GDP). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 3.346.
Forest AreaFAO · 2023 · world median 31.0825.8231.08Moved since 2013
Nicaragua: 25.82 · world median 31.08 · Forest area (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 94.45.
Position 116th of 210 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.3664.2287.36Moved since 2013
Nicaragua: 64.22 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 111th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 2023 · world median 689,278350,425689,278Moved since 2013
Nicaragua: 350,425 · world median 689,278 · Land under cereal production (hectares). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 103,715,108.
Position 107th of 179 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · 2015 · world median 2.9541.7972.954Moved since 1990
Nicaragua: 1.797 · world median 2.954 · Population living below 5 m elevation (% of total population). Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University, 2015 edition, data for 2015.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 78.48.
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.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8336.2657.83Moved since 2013
Nicaragua: 36.26 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
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.
Consumption-Based CO₂ EmissionsGlobal Carbon Project · 2023 · world median 12.791.95812.79Moved since 2013
Nicaragua: 1.958 · world median 12.79 · Consumption-based fossil CO₂ (million tonnes of carbon). Global Carbon Project, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.882 to 2,963.
No current reading for Nicaragua
Agricultural Irrigated Land, Ecological Footprint, Operating Coal Power Capacity, Organic Agricultural Area (last 2022), Pesticide Use per Hectare (last 2022), Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) (last 2023) and Temperature Change on Land (last 2024). 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
Environment & Sustainability among Nicaragua’s 15 topics
Environment & Sustainability is Nicaragua’s 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 environment & sustainability
The three countries placed highest of 186, and the leaders Nicaragua can most readily be measured against.
1
AngolaMiddle Africa
1st of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk · CC0, greyscale
- 2
São Tomé and PríncipeMiddle Africa
2nd of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
3
Sierra LeoneWestern Africa
3rd of 186 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Nicaragua=15th2/4 keys
Positions out of 186 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 environment & sustainability: 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 environment & sustainability?
Nicaragua is placed joint 15th of 186 countries on Environment & Sustainability in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (CO₂ Emissions per Capita and Water Stress). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest CO₂ Emissions per Capita figure for Nicaragua?
0.814 in 2024 (fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)), according to Global Carbon Project. The world median in the same edition was 3.21.
What is the latest Water Stress figure for Nicaragua?
2.22 in 2023 (freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%)), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 10.
How does Nicaragua compare with Honduras on environment & sustainability?
Honduras is placed 37th of 186, and Nicaragua joint 15th. CO₂ Emissions per Capita: Honduras 1.187, Nicaragua 0.814; Water Stress: Honduras 4.62, Nicaragua 2.22.
How have Nicaragua’s environment & sustainability figures changed?
CO₂ Emissions per Capita rose from 0.739 in 2000 to 0.814 in 2024; Water Stress fell from 2.42 in 2000 to 2.22 in 2023; Organic Agricultural Area fell from 0.97 in 2005 to 0.61 in 2022.
Which environment & sustainability statistics are missing for Nicaragua?
No current reading is published for Nicaragua on Agricultural Irrigated Land, Ecological Footprint, Operating Coal Power Capacity, Organic Agricultural Area, Pesticide Use per Hectare, Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) and Temperature Change on Land. 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
Air quality and biodiversity are not keys, because the site does not yet hold data for them that passes every test. Forest cover, farmland, farm emissions and the renewable share of electricity are published here as context. Exposure to natural hazards belongs to Risk & Resilience.
How the Environment & Sustainability standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 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 4 keys to be placed.
The environment & sustainability method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- CO₂ Emissions per Capita — Global Carbon Project, CC BY 4.0
- Water Stress — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Organic Agricultural Area — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Ecological Footprint — Global Footprint Network, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 44 statistics on this page come from 20 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
- Angola — Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk, CC0
- Sierra Leone — Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Nicaragua: Environment & Sustainability — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nicaragua/environment