Quick facts
Managua overview
Managua (orange) and the other large cities of Nicaragua
Managua lies in Managua Department in Nicaragua at 12.13°N, 86.25°W, about 108 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Managua (UTC-6); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Nicaragua: the next largest cities are León (144,538), Masaya (130,113), Chinandega (126,387). Together, the three largest cities hold 17.5% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Ciudad Sandino, about 11 km away, followed by Tipitapa (18 km).
Nicaragua as a whole has a live population of 7,124,745 (+1.3% a year) and ranks #109 of 238 countries — see the Nicaragua population page for the full statistics and the Nicaragua atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Managua
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Ciudad Sandino Managua Department | 11 km | 50,000 |
| Tipitapa Managua Department | 18 km | 50,000 |
| Mateare Managua Department | 22 km | 61,234 |
| Masaya Masaya Department | 24 km | 130,113 |
| San Marcos Carazo Department | 25 km | 23,347 |
| Masatepe Masaya Department | 27 km | 21,452 |
| Diriamba Carazo Department | 31 km | 35,008 |
| Jinotepe Carazo Department | 32 km | 29,507 |
Largest cities in Nicaragua
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ManaguaCapital | Managua Department | 973,087 |
| 2 | León | León Department | 144,538 |
| 3 | Masaya | Masaya Department | 130,113 |
| 4 | Chinandega | Chinandega Department | 126,387 |
| 5 | Matagalpa | Matagalpa Department | 109,089 |
| 6 | Estelí | Estelí Department | 96,422 |
| 7 | Granada | Granada Department | 89,409 |
| 8 | Mateare | Managua Department | 61,234 |
| 9 | Jinotega | Jinotega Department | 55,000 |
| 10 | El Viejo | Chinandega Department | 53,504 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Managua?
Managua has about 973,087 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Managua the capital of Nicaragua?
Yes — Managua is the national capital of Nicaragua.
How big is Managua compared with the rest of Nicaragua?
Its 973,087 residents are 13.7% of the 7,124,745 people living in Nicaragua today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Managua?
In Managua Department, Nicaragua, at latitude 12.13 and longitude -86.25, 108 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Ciudad Sandino (11 km), Tipitapa (18 km), Mateare (22 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Managua Population 2026 — Nicaragua. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/nicaragua/managua/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/nicaragua/managua/">Managua Population 2026 — Nicaragua</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.