What is the capital of Nicaragua?
Managua sits on the shores of Lake Managua and is one of the largest cities in Central America.
Managua is the capital and seat of government of Nicaragua, a role it has held since 1852. Nicaragua itself has an estimated population of 7,007,502 (2025).
Managua is also the largest city in Nicaragua, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Managua at a glance
| City population | 1,063,815 (2023 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 1,401,687 (2023 estimate) |
| Country | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Capital since | 1852 |
| Largest city in Nicaragua | Managua |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (CST) |
| Currency | Nicaraguan córdoba (NIO) |
About Managua
Managua was founded in 1819.
Managua has been the capital of Nicaragua since 1852, before which it was a small fishing village.
The city underwent rapid expansion between 1842 and 1930, but several earthquakes, especially those of 1931 and 1972, have repeatedly forced it to rebuild.
Managua also serves as the seat of Managua Department and is a major economic hub for both Nicaragua and Central America.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Managua.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Nicaragua?
Is Managua the largest city in Nicaragua?
What is the population of Managua?
Where is Managua located?
When did Managua become the capital of Nicaragua?
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What currency is used in Managua?
Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Nicaragua on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.