Nicaragua - Enrique Bolaños Geyers
Enrique Bolaños Geyers
President
(pronounced "en-REE-kay bo-LAH-nyos GUY-ers")
"No one will be above the law in my government. Everybody knows I am a man of integrity."
The Republic of Nicaragua is the largest and least densely populated country in Central America. Approximately the size of New York State, the 120,254 sq km region (74,738 sq mi) is home to 5,023,818 inhabitants (2002 estimate). With the Pacific Ocean on the west coast and the Caribbean Sea on the east coast, Nicaragua lies between Honduras in the north and Costa Rica in the south. The capital city of Managua has a population of approximately 1,093,760. Comprised of a mainly mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Caucasian) populus (69%); the population also includes a significant number of whites (17%), blacks (9%), and Amerindians (5%) in the country. While most whites live in Managua, blacks and Amerindians are concentrated on the east coast. Roman Catholics comprise 85% of the population and the remaining 15% are Protestant. Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken on the Caribbean coast and in Managua. Life expectancy at birth was 69 years as of 2002. Infant mortality remains high at 33 deaths per 1,000 live births, though it has been decreasing.
