Nicaraguan

Notable Nicaraguan: Rubén Dario •
Total population
7,000,000 (est)
Regions with significant populations
Nicaragua      5.8 million
Costa Rica 226,000-800,000  United States 238,000-700,000  Spain 6,096-8,000
Languages
Spanish, English, others
Religion
Roman Catholicism
Related ethnic groups
Nicaraguan American, Chinese Nicaraguan, Afro-Nicaraguan, Jewish Nicaraguan, Palestinian Nicaraguan

Nicaraguans (Spanish: Nicaragüense; also Nicaragüense, Nica, Nicoya and Pinolero) are people inhabiting in, originating or having significant heritage from Nicaragua. Most Nicaraguans live in Nicaragua, although there is also a significant Nicaraguan diaspora, particularly in Costa Rica and the United States with smaller communities in other countries around the world. There are also people living in Nicaragua who are not Nicaraguans because they were not born or raised in Nicaragua nor have they gained citizenship.

Demographics[link]

Population[link]

The most populous city in Nicaragua is the capital city, Managua, with a population of 1.8 million (2005). As of 2009, over 6.9 million inhabitants live in the Pacific, Central and North regions, 5.1 in the Pacific region alone, while inhabitants in the Caribbean region only reached an estimated 300,000.^[1]

According to the UN, Nicaragua has a population of 7,243,000 (July 1, 2009) with a population growth rate of 1.31% (during the period 2005-210) and a birth rate of 24.9/1,000 population (2005–2010), third highest in the region. The life expectancy for Nicaraguans at birth is (2005–2010) 74.45 years; 70.9 for males and 78.0 for females.

Ethnic groups
Nicaraguan boys
Group	Number
Mestizo (75%)	4,258,328
White (10%)	567,777
Amerindian (5%)	283,888
Black (10%)	567,777
Source: CIA World Factbook (2007)

Ethnic groups[link]

The majority of the Nicaraguan population is Mestizo and White. Exactly 68% are Mestizos (mixed Amerindian and White) and 17% are White with the majority being of Spanish, German, Italian, or French ancestry. Mestizos and Whites mainly reside in the western region of the country and combined make up 85% of the Nicaraguan population, approximately 6.2 million people.

A black Nicaraguan.

About 5% are Amerindians, the unmixed descendants of the country's indigenous inhabitants. Nicaragua's pre-Columbian population consisted of many indigenous groups. In the western region the Nicarao people, whom the country is named after, were present along with other groups related by culture and language to the Mayans. The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua was inhabited by indigenous peoples who were mostly chibcha related groups that had migrated from South America, primarily present day Colombia and Venezuela. These groups include the Miskitos, Ramas and Sumos. In the 19th century, there was a substantial indigenous minority, but this group was also largely assimilated culturally into the mestizo majority. In the mid-1980s, the government divided the department of Zelaya into two autonomous regions and granted the black and indigenous people of this region limited self-rule.

The remainder 10% of Nicaragua's population is black, and mainly reside on the country's sparsely populated Caribbean or Atlantic coast. The black population is mostly of West Indian (Antillean) origin, the descendants of indentured laborers brought mostly from Jamaica when the region was a British protectorate. There is also a smaller number of Garifuna, a people of mixed Carib, Angolan, Congolese and Arawak descent.

Immigration[link]

Nicaraguan women at a concert in Managua.

Relative to its overall population, Nicaragua has never experienced any large scale wave of immigrants. The total number of immigrants to Nicaragua, both originating from other Latin American countries and all other countries, never surpassed 1% of its total population prior to 1995. The 2005 census showed the foreign-born population at 1.2%, having risen a mere .06% in 10 years.^[1] This is not to say that immigrants were not important to the evolution of Nicaraguan society and the Nicaraguan nation.

In the 19th century Nicaragua experienced a wave of immigration, primarily from Europe. In particular, families from Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Belgium generally moved to Nicaragua to start a new life. They received free land, monetary incentives, and other perks in exchange for populating unsettled territories and working in the new growing coffee industry. In time immigrants were able to set up newspapers, hotels and banks.

There is also a small Middle Eastern-Nicaraguan community of Syrian, Armenian, Palestinian Nicaraguan, Jewish Nicaraguan, and Lebanese people in Nicaragua with a total population of about 30,000. There is also an East Asian community of Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese. The Chinese Nicaraguan population is estimated at around 12,000.^[2] The Chinese arrived in the late 19th century but were unsubstantiated until the second census (in 1920) revealed 400 people of the Chinese nationality.

Nicaraguans abroad[link]

Nicaragua, as well as other Latin American countries, have a long history of migration to the United States. However, Nicaragua is the only countries in its region to have Costa Rica as the primary destination. Estimates on the basis of the Nicaraguan Health Survey indicated that at least 11% of Nicaraguan households have at least 1 person residing abroad.^[3]

Smaller numbers of Nicaraguans live in many other countries around the world such as other countries in Latin America, Europe, Canada, China and Taiwan among others.

Nicaraguans in Costa Rica[link]

Nicaraguan migration to Costa Rica has occurred since the mid-19th century. Unlike other Latin American countries, Nicaraguan migrants primary destination is not the United States, it is Costa Rica. An estimated 10% (400,000 - 600,000) of the Costa Rican population is made up of Nicaraguans,^[4] some of them migrate for seasonal work opportunities and then return to their country. Costa Rica and Nicaragua signed an agreement regulating seasonal migration in 1998; it allows Nicaraguans with work permits to enter Costa Rica at the western border at Peñas Blancas on the Pan-American Highway. In the northern part of Costa Rica there are 200,000 Nicaraguans and the Catholic Church in this area has an active program to protect the rights of migrant workers.^[5]

Nicaraguans in the U.S.[link]

A mural in Little Managua featuring Nicaraguan poet, Rubén Darío, Venezuelan Simón Bolívar among others.

Abroad, the United States is home to the second largest number of Nicaraguans outside Nicaragua, particularly in the Miami area. The estimated number of Nicaraguan Americans in the U.S. was 281,167 in 2006, up from 177,684 in 2000.^[6]

The earliest documents of immigration from Nicaragua to the United States was combined in total with those of other Central American countries. However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau some 7,500 Nicaraguans legally immigrated from 1967 to 1976. An estimated 28,620 Nicaraguans were living in the U.S. in 1970, 90% of which self-reported as white on the 1970 census. Most Nicaraguan immigrants during the late 1960s were women: there were only 60 male Nicaraguan immigrants for every 100 female immigrants during this period.^[7] In 1998 more than two million Nicaraguans were left homeless due to hurricane Mitch, as a result many Nicaraguans received permanent residence or temporary protected status (TPS) in the late 1990s.^[8]

According to the 1990 U.S. Census 168,659 of the total 202,658 documented Nicaraguans in the U.S. were born in Nicaragua.^[9] In 1992 approximately 10–12% of the Nicaraguan population had emigrated. These emigrants tended to be disproportionately of working age, better educated, and more often white-collar workers than nonmigrants. In addition, emigrants were more likely to come from larger premigration households and higher income households.^[10]

Areas of greatest concentration in the U.S.

The largest concentration of Nicaraguan Americans in the U.S., about 79,559, is in Miami, Florida, most notably around the areas of Sweetwater and "Little Managua". Sweetwater has the highest concentration of Nicaraguan American in the U.S., in 2000 16.63% of Sweetwater residents identified as being of Nicaraguan heritage. This was the highest percentage of Nicaraguan Americans of any place in the country. As a result, Sweetwater is locally known as "Little Managua" after Managua, the Nicaraguan capital. However, the area of "Little Havana" in Miami is also colloquially called "Little Managua even though Sweetwater has a higher number of Nicaraguan Americans.

California hosts the second largest concentration, most notably in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco. The number of Nicaraguan Americans living in California was 51,336 in 2000.^[11]

History[link]

6000 year old human footprints preserved in volcanic mud near the lake in Managua, Nicaragua.

It is known that Nicaragua was inhabited by Paleo-Indians as far back as 6000 years. The ancient footprints of Acahualinca confirms it along with other archaeological evidences, mainly ceramics and statues made of volcanic stone like the ones found on the island of Zapatera and petroglyphs found in Ometepe island. At the end of the 15th century, western Nicaragua was inhabited by several indigenous peoples related by culture and language to the Mayans. However, within three decades an estimated Indian population of one million plummeted to a few tens of thousands, as approximately half of the indigenous people in western Nicaragua died of diseases brought by the Spaniards. The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua was inhabited by indigenous peoples who were mostly chibcha related groups that had migrated from South America, primarily present day Colombia and Venezuela. These groups include the Miskitos, Ramas and Sumos which lived a less sedentary life based on hunting and gathering.^[12]

During the 1979 uprising, many wealthy families left Nicaragua. The Sandinista revolution during the 1980s brought a wave of Nicaraguan refugees into the U.S.,^[13] and the largest wave of documented immigrants. Many Nicaraguans also fled to nearby Costa Rica and other countries. Over 62 percent of the total documented immigration from 1979 to 1988 occurred after 1984.^[10]

Many Nicaraguans who immigrated did so to escape poverty, in Santa Clara County, California, the Nicaraguan public benefits recipients reported that in their families, 43% have one self-employed person or business owner, and 14% of the families have two such persons.^[8] However, nearly all of the estimated 200,000 Nicaraguans who fled to the U.S. (and other nearby Central American countries) between 1978 and 1979 returned after the victory of the Sandinistas in 1979.^[14]

Culture and traditions[link]

Nicaraguan culture has strong folklore, music and religious traditions, deeply influenced by European culture but enriched with Amerindian sounds and flavors. Nicaraguan culture can further be defined in several distinct strands. The Pacific coast has strong folklore, music and religious traditions, deeply influenced by Iberian. It was colonized by Spain and has a similar culture to other Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. The Caribbean coast of the country, on the other hand, was once a British protectorate. English is still predominant in this region and spoken domestically along with Spanish and indigenous languages. Its culture is similar to that of Caribbean nations that were or are British possessions, such as Jamaica, Belize, The Cayman Islands, etc. The indigenous groups that were present in the Pacific coast have largely been assimilated into the mestizo culture, however, the indigenous people of the Caribbean coast have maintained a distinct identity.

Nicaraguan music is a mixture of indigenous and European, especially Spanish, influences. Musical instruments include the marimba and others common across Central America. The marimba of Nicaragua is uniquely played by a sitting performer holding the instrument on his knees. He is usually accompanied by a bass fiddle, guitar and guitarrilla (a small guitar like a mandolin). This music is played at social functions as a sort of background music. The marimba is made with hardwood plates, placed over bamboo or metal tubes of varying lengths. It is played with two or four hammers. The Caribbean coast of Nicaragua is known for a lively, sensual form of dance music called Palo de Mayo which is very much alive all throughout the country. It is especially loud and celebrated during the Palo de Mayo festival in May. The Garifuna community exists in Nicaragua and is known for its popular music called Punta.

Celebrating the annual "Alegria por la vida" Carnaval in Managua, Nicaragua

Literature of Nicaragua can be traced to pre-Columbian times with the myths and oral literature that formed the cosmogonic view of the world that indigenous people had. Some of these stories are still know in Nicaragua. Like many Latin American countries, the Spanish conquerors have had the most effect on both the culture and the literature. Nicaraguan literature has historically been an important source of poetry in the Spanish-speaking world, with internationally renowned contributors such as Rubén Darío who is regarded as the most important literary figure in Nicaragua, referred to as the "Father of Modernism" for leading the modernismo literary movement at the end of the 19th century.^[15] Other literary figures include Ernesto Cardenal, Gioconda Belli, Claribel Alegría and José Coronel Urtecho, among others.

El Güegüense is a satirical drama and was the first literary work of pre-Columbian Nicaragua. It is regarded as one of Latin America's most distinctive colonial-era expressions and as Nicaragua's signature folkloric masterpiece combining music, dance and theater.^[15] The theatrical play was written by an anonymous author in the 16th century, making it one of the oldest indigenous theatrical/dance works of the Western Hemisphere.^[16] The story was published in a book in 1942 after many centuries.^[17]

Language[link]

A sign in Bluefields in English (top), Spanish (middle) and Miskito (bottom).

An English speaking creole from Bluefields.

Spanish is spoken by about 90% of the country's population. In Nicaragua the Voseo form is common, just as in other countries in Central and South America like Honduras, Argentina, Uruguay or coastal Colombia. Spanish has many different dialects spoken throughout Latin America, Central American Spanish is the dialect spoken in Nicaragua. In the Caribbean coast many afro-Nicaraguans and creoles speak English and creole English as their first language. Also in the Caribbean coast, many Indigenous people speak their native languages, such as the Miskito, Sumo, Rama and Garifuna language.^[18] In addition, many ethnic groups in Nicaragua, such as the Chinese Nicaraguans and Palestinian Nicaraguans, have maintained their ancestral languages, which are minority languages, while also speaking Spanish and/or English. These minority languages include Chinese, Arabic, German, and Italian, among others.

The language and pronunciation varies depending on region. Some Nicaraguans pronounce the word vos with a strong s sound at the end. In the central part of the country, regions like Boaco prounce vos without the s sound at the end. The result is vo, similar to vous in French and voi in Italian.

Nicaragua has a total of 3 extinct languages, one of which was never classified. Nicaraguan Sign Language is also of particular interest to linguists.

Symbols[link]

The flag of Nicaragua

The flag of Nicaragua was adopted on August 27, 1971. It is based on the flag of the United States of Central America. The two blue stripes represented the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; while white symbolizes peace. A modern interpretation indicates that the color blue symbolizes justice and loyalty; while the color white represents virtue and purity. The coat of arms features an equilateral triangle which represents equality. Inside the triangle are five volcanoes, which represent the five members of the federation. The triangle also contains symbols of liberty and peace which is represented by a red Phrygian cap, white rays and a rainbow].

See also[link]

• Demographics of Nicaragua
  • List of Nicaraguans
• Nicaraguan American
  • List of Nicaraguan Americans
• Asian Latin American
• Afro-Nicaraguans

References[link]

v t e  Nicaragua topics History Nicarao · Federal Republic of Central America · United States occupation · Bryan–Chamorro Treaty · Sandinistas v. Contras · Nicaraguan Revolution (Catholic Church's role · Women's role) · Nicaragua v. United States Politics and government Constitution · President · Elections (2001 · 2006) · Departments · Territorial disputes · Political parties (FSLN) · Military · Junta of National Reconstruction · Foreign relations · National Assembly · General National Archive · LGBT rights · Abortion Geography and environment Cities (Managua · Granada · León · Bluefields) · Islands (Corn Islands · Ometepe Island) · Lakes (Lake Cocibolca · Lake Managua) · Rivers · Volcanoes · Mountains · Protected areas (Bosawás · Chocoyero) · Wildlife · Pantasma · Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources Economy Economic history · Córdoba · Tourism · Stock Exchange · Banking · Central Bank · Agriculture · Transportation (Airports · Rail) · Ecocanal · Nicaragua Canal · Energy · Communications · Sandinista Workers' Centre Culture Demographics · Ethnic groups (Miskito · Chinese · Garífuna · Rama) · Literature · Education · Cuisine · Music (Palo de Mayo) · Religion (Buddhism · Roman Catholicism · Islam) · Media · Public holidays · Languages · Nicaraguan Spanish · (Sign Language · Rama) · El Güegüense People Augusto César Sandino · Daniel Ortega · Carlos Fonseca · Anastasio Somoza García · Rubén Darío · Arlen Siu · Gioconda Belli · list Other topics Miss Nicaragua · National symbols · Museums · Universities · Flor de Caña · Macua · Films · Mosquito Coast · International rankings Portal

This is a list of Nicaraguans and people of Nicaraguan ethnicity:

Republic of Nicaragua

(Flag of Nicaragua) (Coat of Arms)

Entertainment[link]

Cristiana Frixione; Miss Nicaragua 2006.

• Pedro Miguel Arce (1976), actor, notable roles include Land of the Dead and Get Rich or Die Tryin'.
• Maurice Benard (1963), actor on American soap operas All My Children and General Hospital.
• Barbara Carrera (1951), film, TV actress, former model.
• Oswaldo Castillo, actor, most notable role includes the one in The Hammer.
• Edward'O, notable astroanalyst and co-host of Telemundo's dating show, 12 Corazones.
• Jade Jagger (1971), model
• Mari Ramos, weather anchor for CNN.
• Gabriel Traversari, actor, director, writer, singer, songwriter and painter.
• Omar D'Leon, Modern Painter

Beauty queens and models[link]

• Xiomara Blandino (1984), Miss Nicaragua 2007, model
• Cristiana Frixione (1984), Miss Nicaragua 2006, model
• Iva Grijalva Pashova
• Thelma Rodríguez, Miss Nicaragua 2008
• Nastassja Bolivar, Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011

Business people[link]

• José Cardenal (1940), businessman
• Michael Cordúa (1961), restaurateur, entrepreneur, businessman, award winning self-taught chef.
• Carlos Reynaldo Lacayo, businessman
• Alfonso Robelo (1939), businessman, politician, diplomat who served as ambassador to Costa Rica.

Music[link]

DJ Craze at a rave in 2002.

• Lya Barrioz, singer and actress
• Katia Cardenal, singer/song writer from Duo Guardabarranco.
• Dimension Costeña, musicians
• Luis Enrique (1962), salsa singer and music composer.
• Carlos Mejia Godoy (1943), musician, composer, singer.
• T-Bone, rapper.
• Tony Melendez (1962), guitar player, singer and Christian rock songwriter who was born without arms.
• Maria Mena. Norwegian/Nicaraguan Pop Singer.
• Torombolo (1985), reggaeton and hip hop singer.
• J Smooth, bilingual Hip Hop and Reggaeton singer.
• José Areas, percussionist, former drummer for Santana.
• Erwin Krüger (1915–1973), singer and Nicaraguan folklore poet.
• Donald Vega, jazz musician and composer.
• Hernaldo Zúñiga (1955), singer and music composer.

DJs

• DJ Craze, only DJ in history to win 3 consecutive World DMC Champion titles.

Government, military and politics[link]

• Jorge Salazar Argüello-(1939–1980), a Nicaraguan coffee grower and popular leader of UPANIC (Union of Agricultural Producers of Nicaragua – Unión de Productores Agropecuarios de Nicaragua), seemed poised to become the leader of the opposition to the Sandinista government, until his death at the hands of State Security forces.
• Reinaldo Aguado Montealegre, President of the International Society for Human Rights in Nicaragua.
• Arnoldo Alemán (1946), former President of Nicaragua from 1997–2002. Mr. Aleman has been one of the most corrupt Presidents Nicaragua ever had. He stole more than US $200,000,000 from the Nicaraguan Treasury
• Leonardo Arguello Barreto (1895–1947), former President of Nicaragua (1947)
• Fernando Agüero (1920), politician
• Juan Bautista Sacasa (1874–1946), former President of Nicaragua from 1933–1936
• Claudia Bermúdez, Nicaragua-American politician and entrepreneur; first Nicaraguan American to be the nominee of a major party for a seat in the United States Congress.
• Enrique Bermúdez (1932–1991), military and political leader of the Nicaraguan contras from 1979–1991.
• Enrique Bolaños (1928), former President of Nicaragua from 2002 to 2007. Enrique Bolaños was a very ineffective President, he was not able to accomplish anything during his Presidency
• Róger Calero (1969), Nicaraguan American who ran for U.S. President in the 2004 elections.
• Adolfo Calero (1931), leader of the Contra-Revolutionary Movement
• Emiliano Chamorro (1871–1966), former President of Nicaragua from 1917–1920 and part of 1926
• Fernando Chamorro Alfaro (1824–1863), General and member of the governing junta of Nicaragua (1860–1863).
• Fruto Chamorro (1804–1855), first President of Nicaragua 1854–1855
• Manuel Coronel Kautz, vice minister of foreign relations.
• Arturo Cruz (1923), politician and diplomat
• Pedro Chamorro (1875–1879), former President of Nicaragua from 1875–1879.
• Violeta Chamorro (1929), first female president in Latin America, second in North America and 48th President of Nicaragua
• Adolfo Díaz (1875–1964), President of Nicaragua in 1911–1917 and 1926–1929
• Aminta Granera, Sandinista and Police chief of Nicaragua
• George William Albert Hendy (1879–1888), Hereditary Chief of Miskito Nation.
• Edmundo Jarquín (1946), politician, candidate for president of Nicaragua in 2006.
• Máximo Jerez (1818), politician, lawyer, and military leader in 19th century Nicaragua.
• Herty Lewites (1939–2006), politician
• Eduardo Montealegre (1955), politician, businessman
• Gustavo Montiel (?-1980), a General, Commander in Chief of the National Guard from from 1960 to 1965. Was one of the planners of the Bay of Pigs invasion. Chief of military intelligence from 1950 to 1960, Minister of Forestry and Public Credit from 1972 to 1978 and Envoy to the United Nations from 1965 to 1972. Generally regarded as a benevolent figure in Nicaraguan politics.
• Oldman (?-1687), King of the Miskito Nation from 1625–1687
• Daniel Ortega (1945), current President of Nicaragua, leader of the FSLN
• Edén Pastora (1937), politician
• Mariano Prado, lawyer and a four-time, liberal chief of state of El Salvador.
• Sergio Ramírez (1943), Vice President of Nicaragua during the Junta, writer, intellectual
• José Santos Zelaya (1853–1919), former President of Nicaragua from 1893–1909
• Hilda Solis, U.S. congresswoman.
• Anastasio Somoza García (1896–1956), dictator, 34th and 39th President of Nicaragua
• Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1925–1980), 44th and 45th Dictator of Nicaragua from 1967 to 1972 and from 1974 to 1979. Member of the Somoza Dictatorial Family
• Luis Somoza Debayle (1922–1967), 40th President of Nicaragua from 1956–1963, but was effectively dictator from 1956 until his death.
• Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero (1951), former commander of the National Guard. His Dictatorial regime lasted many years, until he was executed for Crimes Against Humanity by Mr. Rigoberto Lopez Perez

Revolutionaries, Heroes and Martyrs[link]

Bianca Jagger; Political activist.

• Patrick Argüello (1943–1970), considered a martyr of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine PFLP
• Nora Astorga (1948–1988), Sandinista revolutionary, lawyer, politician, judge and Nicaraguan ambassador to the UN
• Antonio Cardenal Caldera (1951–1991), also known by the nom de guerre Jesus Rojas, major leader of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front.
• Arturo Cruz, Jr. (1954), revolutionary, writer, professor and diplomat
• Rigoberto Cruz, one of the founder of the FSLN
• Ajax Delgado, martyr of the Sandinista revolution
• José Dolores Estrada (1792–1869), national hero, famed for his part in the battle Hacienda San Jacinto in 1856
• Idania Fernandez (1952–1979), Martyr of the Sandinista Revolution.
• Carlos Fonseca (1936–1976), teacher, founder of FSLN
• Augusto César Sandino (1895–1934), revolutionary, symbol of the FSLN
• Arlen Siu (1952–1972), martyr of the Sandinista revolution
• Dora María Téllez (1947), Comandante during the Sandinista revolution, founded the MRS, historian

Political activists[link]

• Bianca Jagger (1945), social and political activist, former wife of Mick Jagger

Sports[link]

José "Quiebra Jícara" Alfaro, boxer; world champion

Eve Torres; Professional wrestler, winner of the 2007 WWE Diva Search.

Boxing

• José Alfaro, boxer, world champion.
• Rosendo Alvarez (1970), boxer, former world champion, only person to hold the undefeated flyweight champion to a draw.
• Alexis Argüello (1952), boxer, former world champion.
• Julio Gamboa, lightweight boxer.
• Eddie Gazo, super welterweight boxer.
• Ricardo Mayorga (1973), boxer, former WBA/WBC Welterweight champion and WBC Junior Middleweight world champion.
• David Obregon (1978), professional boxer.
• Juan Palacios, professional boxer, reigning WBC Interim Minimumweight World Champion.
• Luis Alberto Pérez (1978), boxer, current IBF world junior-bantamweight champion.
• Adonis Rivas (1972), boxer, former world champion.

Baseball

• Porfi Altamirano (1952), former Major League Baseball player.
• Marvin Benard (1970), former Major League Baseball player.
• Tony Chévez, Major League Baseball player.
• David Green (1960), former Major League Baseball player.
• Devern Hansack (1978), current Major League Baseball player.
• Oswaldo Mairena, Major League Baseball player.
• Dennis Martínez (1955), first Nicaraguan to play in Major League Baseball, pitched the 13th perfect game in major league history.
• Vicente Padilla (1977), current Major League Baseball player.

Football (Soccer)

• Armando Collado (1985), professional soccer player.
• Denis Espinoza (1983), professional soccer player.
• Shawn Hasani Martin (1987), professional soccer player.
• Lester Meléndez (1981), professional soccer player for the University of Miami.
• Emilio Palacios, professional soccer player, Nicaraguan to score a hat-trick in an international competition.
• Wilber Sanchez, professional soccer player.
• Samuel Wilson (1983), professional soccer player who currently plays for Atletico Olanchano.

Other

• Jessica Aguilera (1985), a track and field sprint athlete, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Diana López, Olympic bronze medalist in the sport of taekwondo.
• Mark López, Olympic silver medalist in the sport of taekwondo.
• Steven López (1978), first official Olympic gold medalist in the sport of taekwondo.
• Karla Moreno (1988), weightlifter, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Claudia Poll (1972), swimmer, won the Gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Silvia Poll (1970), swimmer, won the silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Eve Torres (1984), professional wrestler, dancer, model and actress.

Literature[link]

Gioconda Belli, designated amongst the 100 most important poets during the 20th century.

Ernesto Cardenal is a poet, Roman Catholic priest and was one of the most famous liberation theologians of the Sandinista Regime.

• Claribel Alegría (1924), poet, she received the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2006.
• Emilio Álvarez Lejarza (1884–1969), writer
• Emilio Álvarez Montalván (1919), political writer
• Eugenio Batres Garcia (1941) noted newscaster and journalist, writer, author and poet.
• Gioconda Belli (1948), poet
• Yolanda Blanco (1954), poet and translator.
• Tomás Borge (1930), writer, poet, and essayist.
• Omar Cabezas (1950), writer
• Ernesto Cardenal (1925), poet
• Blanca Castellón (1958), poet
• Xavier Chamorro Cardenal, co-founder, director and editor of El Nuevo Diario.
• José Coronel Urtecho (1906–1994), poet, translator, essayist, critic, narrator, playwright and historian.
• Alfonso Cortés (1893–1969), poet
• Arturo Cruz (1954), writer
• Pablo Antonio Cuadra (1912–2002), poet
• Rubén Darío (1867–1916), poet, referred to as The Father of Modernism
• Salomón Ibarra Mayorga (1887–1985), poet and lyricist of "Salve a ti, Nicaragua", the Nicaraguan national anthem
• Erwin Krüger (1915–1973), poet and composer.
• Danilo López (1954), poet
• Rigoberto López Pérez (1929–1936), poet and writer
• Francisco Mayorga (1949), writer
• Christianne Meneses Jacobs (1971), writer, editor, and publisher
• Rosario Murillo (1951), poet
• Daniel Ortega (1945), poet
• Azarías H. Pallais (1884–1954), poet
• Rafael Pallais (1952), writer
• Joaquín Pasos (1914–1947), poet
• Horacio Peña (1946), writer and poet
• Sergio Ramírez (1942), writer
• Mariana Sansón Argüello (1918), poet
• Arlen Siu (?-1972), essayist
• Julio Valle Castillo (1952), poet, novelist, essayist, literary critic and art critic
• Daisy Zamora (1950), poet

Arts[link]

• Omar D'Leon, a painter and poet.
• Franck de Las Mercedes, painter
• Armando Morales, painter
• Hugo Palma-Ibarra, artist
• Julio Valle Castillo, poet, novelist, painter, essayist, and a critic of literature and art

Religion[link]

• Miguel D'Escoto, Roman Catholic priest, former foreign minister of Nicaragua, received the Lenin Peace Prize, in 1985.
• Uriel Molina, ordained as a Franciscan.
• Pablo Antonio Vega Mantilla (1919–2007), Roman Catholic Bishop and Bishop Emeritus.
• Maria Romero Meneses (1902–1977), Roman Catholic nun.
• Miguel Obando y Bravo (1926) Former Cardinal of Central America and voted for popeship

Other categories[link]

• Lila T. Abaunza First Lady of Nicaragua (2002–2007).
• Harry Brautigam (1948), an economist, banker and academic.
• Aubry Campbell Ingram, former Baseball player who helped found the Asociación de Scouts de Nicaragua.
• Ajax Delgado
• Joseph A. Harrison (1883–1964), Moravian Pastor who helped him start the first scout troop in Nicaragua.
• Jorge Salazar, coffee grower and popular leader of UPANIC.
• Aristides Sánchez, key figure among the Contras.
• Reinaldo Aguado Montealegre, President of the International Society for Human Rights in Nicaragua.
• Clodomiro Picado Twight (1887–1944), scientist