Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Constructed of Carrara marble, Daro's monument is one of the greatest in the country. Based on weather reports collected during 1985-2015. Managua's progress came to a sudden halt after it suffered a second major earthquake on December 23, 1972, which destroyed 90% of the city's downtown and killed more than 19,120 people. Nicaragua was inhabited by Paleo-Americans as far back as 12,000 BC. Managua Population: (2023 est.) menos de 17% of the population is of European descent, with the largest ancestry groups being Spanish, German, Italian, English and French. (Show more) Official Language: Spanish See all facts & stats Recent News Feb. 21, 2023, 8:50 PM ET (AP) Opponents describe hideous conditions in Nicaraguan prisons Constant fear Also on the crater lip of Tiscapa is the Mazmorras, a prison where current President Daniel Ortega and many other political prisoners were tortured during the Somoza regime. Since, the number of gangs and gang members both decreased and increased to 34 gangs in 2005, with 706 members in Managua.[61]. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. te Managua is also home to all of the major banks of the nation, Banco de la Produccin (BANPRO), BAC Credomatic, Banco de Finanzas (BDF), Banco de Crdito Centroamericano (Bancentro) and its parent company the Lafise Group. Several new hotels including Crowne Plaza, Best Western, InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Hilton currently have facilities in Managua. 36(4):289300. )consumption: 3,182,620,000 kWh (2019 est. ms de, Select the correct answer. It produces a variety of small manufactures, including processed meat, furniture, metal, and textiles, and it has an oil refinery. [12] Managua had become Central America's most developed city. and D.B.Kramer. TransNica is a Nicaraguan bus company that operates international bus services throughout Central America. ), 33.3% of GDP (2017 est. )imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est. There are numerous radio stations in Managua, some of which tend to have political, social, or religious affiliations. )services: 60% (2017 est. Although promoting or practicing homosexuality was illegal in Nicaragua,[44] there is a modest gay social scene in Managua. Nicaragua is the only country in Latin America to be colonized by both the Spanish and the British. Corrections? The name "Managua" comes from the indigenous Nahuatl language and means "surrounded by ponds." The city is also known as La Novia del Xolotlan, denoting its location on the shores of Lake Xolotlan. Almost every fourth Nicaraguan is a Managuan and the city still grows rapidly through people moving in, making a person "born and raised" in Managua something of a rare sight. GENEVA (2 March 2023) - Widespread human rights violations that amount to crimes against humanity are being committed against civilians by Nicaragua's Government for political reasons, the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua said in a new report that calls for the international community to impose sanctions on institutions or individuals involved. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. It competes extensively with its counterpart, TicaBus, a Costa Rican bus company. The project costs $100 million and has been considered as a possibility for the nation's capital. ), fossil fuels: 37.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est. In 1950, the population of Managua was 109,903. The country's railroads fell into disrepair during the 1980s. 1. The city, with a population exceeding one million inhabitants, houses many large national and international businesses. The Nicaraguan Revolution was ultimately responsible for the death of 2% of the Nicaraguan population, 50,000 people. [6] [2][3] The city underwent a rapid expansion and urbanization between 1842 and 1930, leading it to become one of the most developed cities in Central America. Official name: Republic of Nicaragua Capital city: Managua Population: 6,203,441 Area: 130,370 sq km Major languages: Spanish, Miskito Time zone: UTC-6 (Central Time Zone) (Source: CIA World Fact Book) Interesting facts about Nicaragua. [40] It starts on the morning of August 1, when the "Bajada del Santo" (walk down of the saint) involves many joyful people walking and carrying the old statue of Santo Domingo from Las Sierritas Church in south Managua to another church across the city to the north, in the area destroyed by the 1972 earthquake. Since 2000, Nicaraguan emigration to Costa Rica has slowed and stabilized. )major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informacin bsica. )-1.79% (2020 est. Construction lasted from 1928 to 1938, overseen by Pablo Dambach, who was a Belgian engineer residing in Managua. New government buildings were erected, industry developed, and universities were established. Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua. Managua, the largest city in the country, is also its centre of commerce and culture. nos Across from the Central Park, on the north side, is the Rubn Daro park and monument, dedicated to Nicaragua's greatest poet and one of the most influential literary figures of the Spanish-speaking world. )industrial: 73.6 million cubic meters (2017 est. Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%, Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 15-49, Drinking Water Source - percent of rural population improved, Drinking Water Source - percent of total population unimproved, Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved, bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever, Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population, Infant Mortality Rate - female deaths/1,000 live births, Infant Mortality Rate - male deaths/1,000 live births, Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births, Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk, Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births, Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population, Sanitation Facility Access - percent of total population unimproved, Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved, Sanitation Facility Access - percent of rural population improved, Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman, Underweight - percent of children under five years, Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population, Sex Ratio of Total Population - male/female, Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary). Flugh.) Since the late 1990s and early 2000, many casinos and karaoke bars opened and have remained popular attractions for Nicaraguans and foreign visitors. Also, the tomb of Carlos Fonseca, founder of the FSLN, which is guarded by an eternal flame. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Managua's prime location between the Northern Pan-American highway and the Southern Highway make it an ideal hub for local, national and international buses. With an average price for the route of $868 and an overall rating of 7.9, Avianca is the most popular choice. Fast facts. A third road, under construction, will connect Bluefields, South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region with Managua via Nueva Guinea. All of these highways are in good condition, with little traffic congestion. Managua serves as the company's hub, with buses departing from Managua to San Jos, Costa Rica, Tegucigalpa, San Salvador and Choluteca. The museum is located in west Managua in the Acahualinca neighborhood. [37], Managua is Nicaragua's cultural capital, boasting several restaurants, theaters, museums, and a few shopping centers. )solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est. )proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est. Salsa dancing is a national pastime. INCAE was founded in 1964 with the support of the United States government and other Central American countries. Ese Nicaragua, located in Central America, may have been inhabited from as long ago as 8,000 years.Evidence of one of the Americas' earliest human . The surface area is 267.2 square kilometers. )beer: 1.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est. The construction of a new sewer system and the redirecting of waste water to a new water treatment plant at Las Mercedes in Eastern Managua in May 2009 relieved old concerns over water pollution and native wildlife, and brought some residents closer to the old city center and the rest of the mainland. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The stadium was named in honor of Nicaragua's first baseball player to play in Major League Baseball. Euraque, Dario A. The metro area population of Managua in 2020 was 1,064,000, a 0.85% increase from 2019. [45] As of March 2008, homosexuality is no longer illegal and no longer carries a prison sentence. A new sewer system and the redirecting of waste water to a new waste water treatment plant at Las Mercedes funded by the German government to decontaminate the lake is expected to be the largest in Central America and was inaugurated in 2009. [citation needed], The National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN) (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Nicaragua) is the main state-funded public university of Nicaragua. It survived the 1972 earthquake. The reserve is located within Managua's city limits, and is a tourist attraction. )$35.007 billion (2020 est. Nicaragua's government has committed serious and systematic violations which amount to crimes against humanity, a United Nations . ), total petroleum production: 200 bbl/day (2021 est. In 197879 it was the scene of general strikes against the government of Anastasio Somoza Debayle and of heavy fighting, particularly in the slum areas held by Sandinista rebels. As of 2015, the city houses a population of 1,048,134. After another disastrous earthquake in 1972, the business section was rebuilt 6 miles (10 km) away (to the south and west) from the former city centre. [citation needed] The project included the possibility of building a metro that would cross over the old center of the capital that remains rather unchanged since the 1972 earthquake. Managua is getting a tourist-friendly makeover that has breathed bright new life into the once forlorn downtown area and spruced up the lakeshore promenade with shiny new attractions. There is no precipitation between November and April. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. In addition there are two bus routes that formerly connected to outside parts of Managua, but these became now are part of the city (Esquipulas and Los Vanegas). Upon the completion of its construction, the New Cathedral generated controversy among tourists and locals because of its bland and dull appearance. [2][3] Or, it may have come from the Mangue language, where the word managua was said to mean "place of the big man" or "chief". in 2017). However, income distribution is very uneven, and the poor, agriculturalists, and indigenous people continue to have less access to healthcare services. ), 19.2 years (2011/12 est. Schmidt K.M. Such a building whose intention was to serve as a place of worship was expected to have some sort of vibrant color. This also tends to be true for cities and towns that are served or are in close distance with the freeways. ), 5.96% (2021 est. The city has railroad and highway connections with the Pacific port of Corinto and with the cities of Len and Granada. ), $6.617 billion (2021 est.) The city's chief products include beer, coffee, pharmaceuticals, textiles, shoes, matches, construction products, etc. The main trading products are beef, coffee, cotton, and other crops. note: data are in current year dollars$5.342 billion (2020 est.) Are Nicaraguans white or black? Nicaragua is comparatively low at an average elevation of 298 meters above sea level. )$754.1 million (2019 est. )-3.78% (2019 est. Managua Urban Area Population History. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. By Reuters. It was commissioned by President Juan Bautista Sacasa in 1935 and built by architect Pablo Dambach, who also built the St. James Cathedral. World Book, 2009. More than 300,000 Nicaraguans returned from abroad bringing their expertise and needed capital. [48], Plaza de la Revolucin (Revolution Square), formerly known as Plaza de la Repblica (Republic Square) is home to Managua's historic center, located on the shores of Lake Xolotlan. )investment in fixed capital: 28.1% (2017 est. New governmental buildings, galleries, museums, apartment buildings, squares, promenades, monuments, boat tours on Lake Managua, restaurants, nighttime entertainment, and broad avenues have resurrected part of downtown Managua's former vitality. )note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; Nicaragua rebased its GDP figures in 2012, which reduced the figures for debt as a percentage of GDP, -$316.6 million (2021 est.