Nicaragua: Net foreign assets (current LCU)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Nicaragua's net foreign assets (current LCU) rose 19.97 billion on 2023 (from 141.96 billion to 161.92 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +5.47 billion and a typical year strayed about 11.83 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 35.29 billion in 2023 and the biggest yearly fall was 20.97 billion in 2018. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 17.16 billion a year. A straight line explains 87% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Nicaragua had the 18th highest value of the 40 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Nicaragua in the 2024 ranking

• Peru — 15th of 40: 269.92 billion
• Belgium — 16th of 40: 180.33 billion
• Spain — 17th of 40: 162.97 billion
• Comoros — 19th of 40: 126.48 billion
• Austria — 20th of 40: 113.77 billion
• Vanuatu — 21st of 40: 95.78 billion

What this measures

Net foreign assets are the sum of foreign assets held by monetary authorities and deposit money banks, less their foreign liabilities. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.

All 65 values

Net foreign assets (current LCU) in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 2.72 billion (2025)
• Argentina — 28.45 trillion (2025)
• Aruba — 3.06 billion (2023)
• Bahamas, The — 2.97 billion (2024)
• Barbados — 2.26 billion (2023)
• Belize — 1.64 billion (2025)
• Bolivia — 25.97 billion (2025)
• Brazil — 1.26 trillion (2025)
• Chile — 29.13 trillion (2025)
• Colombia — 241.28 trillion (2025)
• Costa Rica

More financial sector data for Nicaragua

• GDP deflator (base year varies by country) — 367.43 (2025)
• DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) — US$36.62 (2025)
• Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) — US$36.62 (2025)
• Domestic credit to private sector by banks (% of GDP) — 29.05% (2024)
• Net domestic credit (current LCU) — 188.32 billion (2024)
• Monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP) — 29.05% (2024)
• Claims on central government, etc. (% of GDP) — -3.32% (2024)
• Inflation, GDP deflator (annual % growth) — 7.6% (2025)
• Claims on central government (annual growth as % of broad money)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Nicaragua's net foreign assets (current LCU)?

161.92 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 1,530.47 trillion% from 0.01 in 1960 (60.7% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 161.92 billion in 2024 and the lowest -23.78 billion in 2000.

How does Nicaragua rank?

18th highest of 40 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in net foreign assets (current LCU) unusual for Nicaragua?

In 2024, Nicaragua's net foreign assets (current LCU) rose 19.97 billion on 2023 (from 141.96 billion to 161.92 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +5.47 billion and a typical year strayed about 11.83 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator FM.AST.NFRG.CN, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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