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Cattle graze a parched field in Nicaragua during the Central American country's intense dry season.

Photo: Neil Palmer (CIAT) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

Topic 11 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Nicaragua: Risk & Resilience

How exposed is a country to crisis, and how ready is it to cope?

Nicaragua is placed joint 116th of 193 countries on risk & resilience in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: World Risk Index 23.6 (2025); INFORM Risk Index 4.5 (2025).

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Risk & Resilience

joint116th

of 193 countries placed

Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topics134th of 183 →

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Nicaragua on risk & resilience — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 4

    World Risk Index

    Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    23.6

    WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)

    Lower is better

    Nicaragua: 23.6. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.18 (Monaco) to 46.56 (Philippines); the world median is 4.17.

    World median
    4.17
    Best in Central America
    7.31 Belize
    Land neighbours
    Costa Rica 11.32 · Honduras 17.78

  2. Key 2 of 4

    INFORM Risk Index

    European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee

    Why it is a key

    2026 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (via the European Commission's reuse policy)

    4.5

    INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)

    Lower is better

    Nicaragua: 4.5. Across the 191 countries in this edition, values run from 0.7 (Singapore) to 8.5 (South Sudan); the world median is 3.7.

    World median
    3.7
    Best in Central America
    3.7 Costa Rica
    Land neighbours
    Costa Rica 3.7 · Honduras 5.6

  3. Key 3 of 4

    Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)

    Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 Unported

    0.423

    ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)

    Lower is better

    Ranked 75th of 190 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame

    Nicaragua: 0.423. Across the 190 countries in this edition, values run from 0.263 (Norway) to 0.655 (Mauritania); the world median is 0.45.

    World median
    0.45
    Best in Central America
    0.387 Costa Rica
    Land neighbours
    Costa Rica 0.387 · Honduras 0.471

  4. Key 4 of 4

    Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2021–2024 · Nicaragua’s is from 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    60.89

    Adults who could raise emergency funds within 30 days without great difficulty (% of population aged 15+)

    Higher is better

    Nicaragua: 60.89. Across the 142 countries at their latest reading, values run from 16.49 (South Sudan) to 93.69 (Sweden); the world median is 53.85.

    World median
    53.85
    Best in Central America
    64.76 Belize
    Land neighbours
    Costa Rica 52.65 · Honduras 54.53

03In context

Nicaragua beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 193 countries on risk & resilience, never a place within the region.

Central America
1st193rdNot placed · 31 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on risk & resilience

Nicaragua and the countries it borders

Standing among all 193; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingWorld Risk IndexWorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)INFORM Risk IndexINFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 DaysAdults who could raise emergency funds within 30 days without great difficulty (% of population aged 15+)
Costa Rica=104th11.323.70.38752.65
Nicaragua=116th23.64.50.42360.89
Honduras154th17.785.60.47154.53

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Across Central America

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 193.

Placed either side on risk & resilience

The countries immediately above and below Nicaragua in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Nicaragua is ahead of the world, and behind

15 more statistics filed under risk & resilience, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median6

Statistics on which Nicaragua does better than the middle country measured.

  • Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per CapitaFAO · 2022 · world median 2,52823,209No 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 1.6630.214No 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Water StressFAO · 2023 · world median 102.22No real change since 2013

    Nicaragua: 2.22 · world median 10 · Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.03 to 3,851; lower is better.

    Position 141st of 177 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • World Risk Poll Resilience IndexLloyd's Register Foundation · 2023 · world median 5357No earlier reading

    Nicaragua: 57 · world median 53 · Resilience Index, 0–100 (higher = more reported capacity to cope with a shock; the mean of individual, household, community and societal sub-indices). Lloyd's Register Foundation, 2024 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 29 to 74; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Children's Climate Risk IndexUNICEF · 2020 · world median 54.6No 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).

    Chart and every countryThe 2021 dataset

  • Adults Who Experienced a Natural Disaster or Severe WeatherWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 20.4620.29No earlier reading

    Nicaragua: 20.29 · world median 20.46 · Adults who experienced a natural disaster or severe weather in the past three years (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.738 to 77.54; lower is better.

    Position 50th of 98 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

Behind the world median6

Statistics on which Nicaragua does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Political Stability and Absence of ViolenceWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.171-0.01No real change since 2015

    Nicaragua: -0.01 · world median 0.171 · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.506 to 1.563; higher is better.

    Position 121st of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Riverine Flood Risk (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 2.4032.996No earlier reading

    Nicaragua: 2.996 · world median 2.403 · Riverine flood risk 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.

    Ranked 67th of 163 by WRI (1st = worst).

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • ND-GAIN Country IndexNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 47.4444.11No 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4810.15▲ Improved since 2015

    Nicaragua: 10.15 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Drought Risk (Aqueduct)WRI · 2019 · world median 2.6233.083No earlier reading

    Nicaragua: 3.083 · world median 2.623 · Drought risk score (0–5). World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023 edition, data for 2019.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.553 to 4.081; lower is better.

    Ranked 36th of 138 by WRI (1st = worst).

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.305▼ Worsened since 2014

    Nicaragua: 0.305 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.

    Ranked 144th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No better end3

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Refugees by Country of OriginUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,27235,341Moved since 2015

    Nicaragua: 35,341 · world median 1,272 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5,224,131.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Burned AreaGWIS · 2025 · world median 13,82499,666No 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · 2015 · world median 2.9541.797Moved 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2015 dataset

No current reading for Nicaragua

Asylum-Seekers by Country of Asylum (last 2023), Firms Whose Assets Were Damaged by Extreme Weather, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index (last 2023), Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR, Per Capita Food Supply Variability (last 2022), Refugee Population by Country of Asylum (last 2023), Stateless Persons by Country of Residence 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

Risk & Resilience among Nicaragua’s 15 topics

Risk & Resilience is Nicaragua’s 6th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 15th of 186
  2. Work & Labourjoint 78th of 182
  3. Energy73rd of 165
  4. Health & Wellbeingjoint 90th of 200
  5. Gender & Equality87th of 183
  6. Risk & Resiliencejoint 116th of 193
  7. Economy & Innovation119th of 176
  8. Development & Human Capital135th of 196
  9. Education & Knowledge146th of 198
  10. Peace & Securityjoint 132nd of 177
  11. Digital & Technologyjoint 150th of 198
  12. Mobility & Trade147th of 177
  13. Poverty & Inequalityjoint 138th of 159
  14. Governance & Institutions181st of 194
  15. Democracy & Civil Liberties193rd of 198

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 risk & resilience

The three countries placed highest of 193, and the leaders Nicaragua can most readily be measured against.

All 193 countries
  1. 1

    Liechtenstein

    Western Europe

    1st of 193 · 2 of 4 keys

    Photo: Guido Radig,Inkey · CC BY 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Luxembourg

    Western Europe

    2nd of 193 · 3 of 4 keys

    Photo: Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Denmark

    Northern Europe

    3rd of 193 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Americas

    Saint Lucia23rd3/4 keys

  2. Highest in Central America

    Costa Rica=104th4/4 keys

  3. This page

    Nicaragua=116th4/4 keys

Positions out of 193 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 risk & resilience: 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 risk & resilience?

Nicaragua is placed joint 116th of 193 countries on Risk & Resilience in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (World Risk Index, INFORM Risk Index, Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) and Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest World Risk Index figure for Nicaragua?

23.6 in 2025 (worldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)), according to Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum. The world median in the same edition was 4.17.

What is the latest INFORM Risk Index figure for Nicaragua?

4.5 in 2025 (iNFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)), according to European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. The world median in the same edition was 3.7.

How does Nicaragua compare with Honduras on risk & resilience?

Honduras is placed 154th of 193, and Nicaragua joint 116th. World Risk Index: Honduras 17.78, Nicaragua 23.6; INFORM Risk Index: Honduras 5.6, Nicaragua 4.5; Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN): Honduras 0.471, Nicaragua 0.423; Able to Raise Emergency Funds Within 30 Days: Honduras 54.53, Nicaragua 60.89.

How have Nicaragua’s risk & resilience figures changed?

World Risk Index fell from 24.03 in 2000 to 23.6 in 2025; INFORM Risk Index rose from 4.2 in 2016 to 4.5 in 2025; Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) fell from 0.468 in 2000 to 0.423 in 2024.

Which risk & resilience statistics are missing for Nicaragua?

No current reading is published for Nicaragua on Asylum-Seekers by Country of Asylum, Firms Whose Assets Were Damaged by Extreme Weather, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Internally Displaced People of Concern to UNHCR, Per Capita Food Supply Variability, Refugee Population by Country of Asylum, Stateless Persons by Country of Residence 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

This topic does not forecast when a disaster will strike, and it does not measure financial or economic risk. Water stress is measured under Environment & Sustainability. Displacement caused by disasters and the severity of crises already under way are published here as context.

About risk & resilience, in full

How the Risk & Resilience 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 risk & resilience method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 15 statistics on this page come from 10 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.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Nicaragua: Risk & Resilience — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nicaragua/risk

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