Nicaraguan Córdoba flag

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