Nicaraguan Córdoba
Córdoba
Currency Code
NIO
ISO 558
Symbol
NIO
Native: C$
Decimal Digits
2
Rounding: 0
Countries
NI
Using this currency
Currency Units
Major Unit
Name: córdoba
Symbol: C$
Minor Unit
Name: centavo
Symbol:
Value: 0.01
Banknotes
Frequently Used
C$10C$20C$50C$100C$200C$500
Rarely Used
C$1000
Coins
Frequently Used
5 centavos10 centavos25 centavos50 centavosC$1C$5C$10
Plural Forms
English Plural
Nicaraguan córdobas
Native Plural
Córdobas
Overview
The Nicaraguan Córdoba is the currency of Nicaragua, managed by the Central Bank of Nicaragua. It operates under a crawling peg system and serves Central America's largest country by area.
Economy
- Nicaragua is a member of SICA, OAS, CELAC, Non-Aligned Movement.
- Main industries include: Food processing, Chemicals, Machinery, Metal products, Textiles, Clothing, Petroleum refining, Shoes, Beverages.
- Nicaragua is part of the World Trade Organization.
- Imports are consumer goods, machinery, raw materials, petroleum products.
- Major exports include coffee, beef, gold, sugar, peanuts, shrimp, tobacco, cigars, automobile wiring harnesses, textiles.
- GDP: $18.0 billion (2023 est.).
- GDP per capita: $2,640 (2023 est.).
- Unemployment rate: 5.0% (2017 est.).
- Inflation rate: 7.1% (2023 est.).
- Main trading partners: United States, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico.
- Trade agreements: CAFTA-DR, Central American Common Market, Various bilateral agreements.
History
- Previous currencies used: Nicaraguan peso, Old córdoba variants.
- The córdoba was introduced in 1912, named after Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, founder of Granada and León. It has undergone several redenominations due to inflation.
- 1912: Córdoba introduced, replacing peso
- 1988: New córdoba introduced (1000:1)
- 1991: Gold córdoba introduced (5,000,000:1)
- 1991: Current córdoba oro introduced
- 2018: Political crisis and economic impact
- 2020: COVID-19 pandemic effects
- Exchange rate peg: Crawling peg against USD.
- Currently pegged to USD (crawling peg) at Variable (approximately 36-37 NIO per USD).
General Information
- ISO 4217 Code: NIO
- Symbols: NIO/C$
- Currency Subunits: 100 centavos
- Central Bank: Central Bank of Nicaragua
- Monetary Policy: Crawling peg exchange rate system with gradual devaluations against USD. Focus on maintaining competitiveness while controlling inflation.
- Bills: 10 NIO, 20 NIO, 50 NIO, 100 NIO, 200 NIO, 500 NIO, 1000 NIO
- Coins: 5 centavos, 10 centavos, 25 centavos, 50 centavos, 1 córdoba, 5 córdobas, 10 córdobas
- USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 36-37 NIO per USD)
- Pegged To: USD (crawling peg) at Variable (approximately 36-37 NIO per USD)
- Capital: Managua
- Population: 6,850,540 (2023 est.)
- Area: 130,370 km²
- Languages: Spanish (official), Miskito, Mestizo, English
- Time Zones: UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
- Government Type: Presidential republic
- Head of Government: President (head of state and government)
- Independence: September 15, 1821 (from Spain)
- Ethnic Groups: Mestizo 69%, White 17%, Black 9%, Indigenous 5%
- Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Evangelical 33.2%, Other 2.9%, Unspecified 13.2%, None 0.7%
- Literacy Rate: 82.6% (2015 est.)
- Transport: Augusto C. Sandino International Airport, limited road network, Pacific and Caribbean ports
- Communications: Basic telecommunications, 60% internet penetration, mobile network coverage
- Energy: Oil 37%, Hydroelectric 12%, Geothermal 16%, Biomass 35%
- Countries Using This Currency: Nicaragua
- Data Sources: Central Bank: Central Bank of Nicaragua (bcn.gob.ni), Economic Data: National Institute of Information for Development, World Bank, IMF, Trade Data: General Directorate of Customs, Demographic Data: National Institute of Information for Development, Geographic Data: Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies, Historical Data: Central Bank of Nicaragua archives
- Last Updated: 2025