Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe;
volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native
flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note: about 80% of the population lives in cities
@New Zealand:People
Population: 3,819,762 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 440,824; female 419,740)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,263,710; female 1,254,958)
65 years and over: 11% (male 191,511; female 249,019) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.17% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 14.28 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 7.57 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.82 years
male: 74.85 years
female: 80.93 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European
4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%,
Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33%
(1986)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
@New Zealand:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Data code: NZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town
districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller,
Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont,
Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay,
Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay,
Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt,
Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,
Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough,
Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua,
Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako,
Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga,
Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford,
Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,
Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea,
Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa,
Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland,
Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions
(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are
subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,
Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central
Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne,
Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*,
Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie,
Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*,
Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston
North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney,
Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato,
South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames
Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa,
Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western
Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi
established British sovereignty)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various
documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand
Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1
January 1987, but has not been enacted
Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and
land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21
March 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December
1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Jim ANDERTON (since 10 December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed
by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year
term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly
called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in
single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 27 November 1999 (next must be called by November
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NZLP
49, NP 39, Alliance 10, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 7, NZFP 5, UNZ
1
note: NZLP and Alliance formed the government coalition; the National
Party became the opposition party
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: ACT, New Zealand ;
Alliance (a coalition of the New Labor Party, Democratic Party, New
Zealand Liberal Party, and Mana Motuhake) ; Christian
Coalition (a coalition of the Christian Democrats and Christian
Heritage Party) ; Conservative Party (formerly
Right of Centre Party) ; Democratic Party [John
WRIGHT]; Green Party ; Mana
Motuhake ; Mauri Pacific Party (composed of members who
broke away from the NZFP) ; National Party or NP [Jenny
SHIPLEY]; New Labor Party ; New Zealand First Party or
NZFP ; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP ;
New Zealand Liberal Party ; United New Zealand or UNZ
International organization participation: ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended
security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW,
PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,
UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 328-4800
FAX: (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP
96531-1001
telephone: (4) 472-2068
FAX: (4) 471-2380
consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in
the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross
constellation
@New Zealand:Economy
Economy - overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished major
economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on
concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free
market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has
boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological
capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary
pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world.
Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the levels of the big West
European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its
growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe,
and the US. Moderate growth probably will characterize 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $63.8 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,400 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 23%
services: 69% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.86 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture
10% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $24.9 billion
expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles,
machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism,
mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 35.789 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 27.17%
hydro: 65.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 7.01% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 33.284 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits,
vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: dairy products, meat, fish, wool, forestry
products, manufactures
Exports - partners: Australia 21%, Japan 13%, US 13%, UK 6% (1998)
Imports: $11.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft,
petroleum, consumer goods, plastics
Imports - partners: Australia 22%, US 20%, Japan 11%, UK 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $53 billion (1998)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $123 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January
2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996),
1.5235 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@New Zealand:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.719 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 588,000 (1998)
Telephone system: excellent international and domestic systems
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and
over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.926 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 56 (1999)
@New Zealand:Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,913 km
narrow gauge: 3,913 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified) (1999)
Highways:
total: 92,200 km
paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways)
unpaved: 38,632 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; liquefied
petroleum gas or LPG 150 km
Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga,
Wellington
Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 102,461 GRT/133,418 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, rail car carrier
1, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 111 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 67
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 43 (1999 est.)
@New Zealand:Military
Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New
Zealand Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 990,774 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 834,289 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 26,649 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $883 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY97/98)
@New Zealand:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)
______________________________________________________________________
NICARAGUA
@Nicaragua:Introduction
Background: Settled as a colony of Spain in the 1520s, Nicaragua
gained its independence in 1821. Violent opposition to governmental
manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted
in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista
guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El
Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas
through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990 and again in 1996
saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its
economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
@Nicaragua:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 129,494 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries:
total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone
continental shelf: natural prolongation
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior
mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber,
fish
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and
occasionally severe hurricanes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
@Nicaragua:People
Population: 4,812,569 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 971,580; female 936,888)
15-64 years: 57% (male 1,372,169; female 1,392,861)
65 years and over: 3% (male 60,539; female 78,532) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.2% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 28.26 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.74 years
male: 66.81 years
female: 70.77 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.27 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%,
black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Languages: Spanish (official)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 65.7%
male: 64.6%
female: 66.6% (1995 est.)
@Nicaragua:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
Data code: NU
Government type: republic
Capital: Managua
Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular
- region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli,
Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva
Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review
administrative acts
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997);
Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note - the
president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997);
Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note - the
president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996
(next to be held NA October 2001); note - in July 1995 the term of the
office of the president was amended to five years
election results: Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance - ruling
party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA
Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE
(PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other
candidates) 4.33%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional
(93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling
party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN
3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 42,
FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1,
UNO-96 Alliance 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, 16 judges elected for
seven-year terms by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Central American Integrationist Party
or PIAC ; Central American Unionist Party or PUCA [Blanca
ROJAS Echaverry]; Conservative Action Movement or MAC [Hernaldo
ZUNIGA]; Conservative National Party or PNC [Adolfo CALERO, Noel
VIDAURRE]; Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERO
Rocha]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI ; Independent
Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN ;
Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC ; Movement
for Revolutionary Unity or MUR ; National Democratic Party
or PND ; National Project or PRONAL [Antonio
LACAYO Oyanguren]; Nationalist Liberal Party or PLN [Enrique SANCHEZ
Herdocia]; Neoliberal Party or PALI ;
Nicaraguan Democratic Movement or MDN ; Nicaraguan
Party of the Christian Road or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto
RODRIGUEZ]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN ;
Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN ;
Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS ; Social
Christian Party or PSC ; Social Democratic Party or PSD
; Unity Alliance or AU ; UNO-96
Alliance
note: political blocs include: left - FSLN; center left - MRS, PSD,
PSC, MUR, PIAC, AU, PCN, PND, PUCA, UNO-96 Alliance, and MDN; center
right - PALI, PRN, PLI, PRONAL, and MAC; right - PCCN, PLC, PLIUN,
PNC, and PLN
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front or FNT
is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Farm Workers
Association or ATC; Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD; Heroes and
Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO;
National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN; National
Union of Employees or UNE; and the National Union of Farmers and
Ranchers or UNAG; National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista
umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista Workers Central or
CST; Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of
Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor
unions: Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A; Confederation
of Labor Unification or CUS; Independent General Confederation of
Labor or CGT-I; and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan
Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business
groups
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: (202) 939-6570
FAX: (202) 939-6542
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Oliver P. GARZA
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
telephone: (2) 662298, 666010, 666012, 666013, 666015, 666018,
666026, 666027, 666032, 666033
FAX: (2) 669074
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white,
and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band;
the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA
DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to
the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by
the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in
the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five
blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
@Nicaragua:Economy