Safest cities in Nicaragua
7 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in NicaraguaAlthough there is no recent history of terrorism in Nicaragua, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Demonstrations and gatherings can turn violent. It is illegal for foreigners to take part in any sort of political activity in Nicaragua. You can be arrested and detained or deported for:
Crime
- Violent crimeForeign nationals have been affected by violent crime in Nicaragua. Criminals often carry out attacks on people in vehicles. To reduce the risk to yourself and your belongings:
- Taxi safety and criminal kidnapThere is a risk of ‘express kidnapping’ if you use an unauthorised taxi. You could be taken hostage and forced to pay cash for your release.
- Sexual assaultIf you’re a woman, use hotels that have staff at the front desk 24 hours a day and have adequate security measures. Read the advice for women travelling abroad.
- Risks when exchanging moneyThere is a risk when exchanging money on the street that you could be assaulted or targeted by muggers. There are often money changers with official identification at the front of banks, where there is likely to be better security. You can also withdraw cash in US dollars or Nicaraguan cordobas from ATMs.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesDo not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession of even small quantities can lead to imprisonment.
- Flying dronesThere is a prohibition on the possession and use of drones. Law 1230 introduced in December 2024 requires people in possession of drones to hand them in to the authorities. You may wish to take legal advice on how to do this.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Swimming safetyThere are strong currents off sections of Nicaragua’s Pacific coast and people have drowned. There are no warning signs or lifeguards, and rescue equipment is not readily available.
- Scuba divingThere have been fatalities from scuba diving off Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast. If you want to dive, contact a reputable diving company to find out about Nicaraguan waters. Nicaragua’s only hyperbaric chamber is in Puerto Cabezas, a 5-hour speedboat ride from Corn Island.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you’re planning to drive a car, see information on driving abroad. You cannot drive or import right-hand-drive vehicles into Nicaragua.
- Driving standards and road conditionsThe standard of driving is low and the condition of vehicles, particularly taxis and buses, is poor. There’s a risk of drivers failing to give way and driving dangerously, including under the influence of alcohol.
- Boat and ferry travelAlthough local law requires operators of water transport to have insurance, some still do not carry recognised insurance. Check the operator’s insurance cover before beginning your journey.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- HurricanesThe hurricane season normally runs from June to November. Monitor the National Hurricane Center forecasts and the World Meteorological Organization warnings. Follow the advice of local authorities and obey evacuation orders.
- Volcanic eruptionsA group of volcanoes, several of which are active, stretches the length of the country, in particular San Cristóbal, Masaya, Cerro Negro, and Telica and Concepción on Ometepe Island. Follow media reports and listen to local authorities if you intend to visit the area.
- EarthquakesThere is a risk of earthquakes. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake or tsunami.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Nicaragua, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 5.45 /100k2023
- Income inequality
- Gini 46.22014
- Human development
- HDI 0.7062023
- Income
- $8,780/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 16.9 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 65/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 29/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 14/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.66GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 20.4 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.7 doctors /1k1.0 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 1 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Earthquake
- 8.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 7.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 5.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 4.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 3.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Nicaragua (as of 2025).
How Nicaragua compares
| Measure | Nicaragua | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 5.5 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +3.1 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 46.2 | 35.2 | +11.0 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.706 | 0.763 | −0.057 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 16.9 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +1.5 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 29/100 | 52/100 | −23/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 14/100 | 39/100 | −25/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 20.4 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +0.7 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.3/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.5/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Nicaragua | North America median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 5.5 /100k | 17 /100k | −11 /100k — better for Nicaragua |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 46.2 | 41.1 | +5.1 — better for North America median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.706 | 0.789 | −0.083 — better for North America median |
| Road deaths | 16.9 /100k | 13.9 /100k | +3.0 /100k — better for North America median |
| Rule of law | 29/100 | 53/100 | −24/100 — better for North America median |
| Corruption perceptions | 14/100 | 40/100 | −26/100 — better for North America median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 20.4 µg/m³ | 14.4 µg/m³ | +5.9 µg/m³ — better for North America median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.3/10 | 4.0/10 | +0.3/10 — better for North America median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.