Photo: Neil Palmer (CIAT) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Nicaragua: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Nicaragua is placed joint 78th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 62.74 (2025); Labour Income Share 47.15 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint78th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Nicaragua on work & labour — 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.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
62.74
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Nicaragua: 62.74. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Central America
- 62.74 Nicaragua
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 53.71 · Honduras 53.77
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
5.04
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Nicaragua: 5.04. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Central America
- 2.604 Guatemala
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 6.843 · Honduras 4.92
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
38.86
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Nicaragua: 38.86. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Central America
- 23.36 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Costa Rica 23.36 · Honduras 33.87
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.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua rose from 55.86 in 2000 to 62.74 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2025 62.744 57.720 2024 62.745 57.694 2023 62.795 58.158 2022 62.379 57.688 2021 61.293 56.066 2020 60.386 55.691 2019 61.449 57.871 2018 61.767 56.911 2017 63.177 56.738 2016 62.670 56.845 2015 62.036 56.788 2014 62.034 56.774 2013 61.224 56.229 2012 60.953 56.289 2011 59.736 56.297 2010 58.646 56.212 2009 58.125 56.255 2008 59.046 57.308 2007 59.546 56.933 2006 58.958 56.685 2005 58.595 56.129 2004 57.628 55.465 2003 56.575 55.630 2002 56.305 55.843 2001 56.161 56.018 2000 55.861 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua fell from 52.46 in 2004 to 47.15 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2025 47.15 46.230 2024 47.03 46.060 2023 46.85 45.900 2022 47.86 45.615 2021 48.10 45.433 2020 49.44 47.267 2019 48.96 46.277 2018 49.78 46.187 2017 49.37 46.467 2016 50.12 46.798 2015 50.95 46.876 2014 52.44 47.281 2013 52.91 46.887 2012 52.42 46.231 2011 52.94 45.679 2010 52.72 46.024 2009 53.13 47.071 2008 52.98 45.312 2007 52.93 45.246 2006 52.45 45.670 2005 52.65 46.265 2004 52.46 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua fell from 7.181 in 2000 to 5.04 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2025 5.040 5.08 2024 4.980 5.15 2023 4.698 5.21 2022 4.969 5.34 2021 6.076 6.04 2020 6.180 6.38 2019 5.457 5.36 2018 5.200 5.35 2017 3.300 5.59 2016 3.900 5.90 2015 4.700 6.41 2014 4.520 6.58 2013 5.280 6.71 2012 5.208 6.79 2011 6.613 6.90 2010 7.830 7.04 2009 8.160 6.67 2008 6.200 5.79 2007 4.890 6.00 2006 5.310 6.50 2005 5.370 7.09 2004 6.410 6.80 2003 7.600 6.95 2002 7.517 6.91 2001 7.222 6.96 2000 7.181 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
NicaraguaWorld median
Nicaragua fell from 39.67 in 2000 to 38.86 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Nicaragua World median 2025 38.865 28.67 2024 39.089 29.04 2023 39.326 29.33 2022 39.615 29.67 2021 39.796 30.01 2020 40.272 30.54 2019 39.584 29.98 2018 39.578 30.15 2017 39.692 29.93 2016 39.967 29.91 2015 40.240 30.26 2014 40.547 30.47 2013 40.806 31.14 2012 41.063 31.00 2011 41.342 31.41 2010 41.620 32.37 2009 41.787 32.59 2008 41.806 31.76 2007 42.138 33.47 2006 42.425 34.27 2005 42.670 34.66 2004 41.907 35.51 2003 41.173 35.90 2002 40.299 35.96 2001 39.512 35.27 2000 39.667 35.67
03In context
Nicaragua beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Nicaragua and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Honduras | =78th | 53.77 | 57.36 | 4.92 | 33.87 |
| Nicaragua | =78th | 62.74 | 47.15 | 5.04 | 38.86 |
 Costa Rica | =92nd | 53.71 | 55.39 | 6.843 | 23.36 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Nicaragua in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Nicaragua is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under work & labour, 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 median6
Statistics on which Nicaragua does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0757.2932.07No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 57.29 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1626.9919.16No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 26.99 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 35th of 179 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6666.0761.66▲ Improved since 2015
Nicaragua: 66.07 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 53rd of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 373▼ Worsened since 2015
Nicaragua: 7 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.839.54312.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Nicaragua: 9.543 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 116th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8853.8384.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Nicaragua: 3.838 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Nicaragua does worse than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3651.2553.36▲ Improved since 2015
Nicaragua: 51.25 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 110th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989198▲ Improved since 2015
Nicaragua: 91 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.922.645.9No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 22.6 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23011,08025,230▲ Improved since 2010
Nicaragua: 11,080 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 109th of 151 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7422,6736,742No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 2,673 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 110th of 151 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.169.2722.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Nicaragua: 9.27 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 134th of 182 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38417,63847,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Nicaragua: 17,638 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 131st of 168 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.615.141.61▼ Worsened since 2015
Nicaragua: 5.14 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.685.316.68No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 5.3 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 125th of 139 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8172.8941.81No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 72.89 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 11th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3830.4714.38Moved since 2015
Nicaragua: 30.47 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 57th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8444.2731.84No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 44.27 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 65th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95565657.95Moved since 2014
Nicaragua: 565 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5152.6559.51No real change since 2015
Nicaragua: 52.65 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 113th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8816.8818.88Moved since 2015
Nicaragua: 16.88 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 117th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8935.9238.89Moved since 2015
Nicaragua: 35.92 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 125th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.016.97715.01No earlier reading
Nicaragua: 6.977 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 105th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Nicaragua
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2014), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2010), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2014), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2014), Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2012), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2012) and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2014). 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
Work & Labour among Nicaragua’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Nicaragua’s 2nd 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 work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Nicaragua can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States14th4/4 keysHighest in Central America
El Salvador50th4/4 keysThis page
Nicaragua=78th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 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.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Nicaragua and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Nicaragua on work & labour: 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 work & labour?
Nicaragua is placed joint 78th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Nicaragua?
62.74 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Nicaragua?
47.15 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Nicaragua compare with Honduras on work & labour?
Honduras is placed joint 78th of 182, and Nicaragua joint 78th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Honduras 53.77, Nicaragua 62.74; Labour Income Share: Honduras 57.36, Nicaragua 47.15; Unemployment Rate: Honduras 4.92, Nicaragua 5.04; Vulnerable Employment: Honduras 33.87, Nicaragua 38.86.
How have Nicaragua’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 55.86 in 2000 to 62.74 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 52.46 in 2004 to 47.15 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 7.181 in 2000 to 5.04 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 39.67 in 2000 to 38.86 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Nicaragua?
No current reading is published for Nicaragua on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour 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 work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 2 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
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Nicaragua: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nicaragua/work