Skip to main content

Nicaragua

Diet and nutrition profile based on FAO Food Balance Sheets (1961–2023).

2,760 kcal/day
73.8 g protein/day
65.6 g fat/day
138 of 200
Nicaragua provides an average of 2,760 kcal per person per day (2023), with 73.8g of protein and 65.6g of fat. Since 1961, calorie supply has increased by 45% (from 1,910 to 2,760 kcal). Globally, Nicaragua ranks #138 out of 200 countries by calorie supply.

Food Supply Trend

Daily food supply per capita in Nicaragua compared to the world average.

Diet Composition (2023)

Where the calories come from — food group breakdown by kcal/capita/day.

Macronutrient Trends

Protein and fat supply over time in Nicaragua.

Food Supply Treemap

Area-proportional view of Nicaragua's food supply — larger blocks mean more calories from that food group.

What's Different?

How Nicaragua's food supply differs from the world average — bars show excess (right) or deficit (left) in calories.

vs. EAT-Lancet Reference Diet

How Nicaragua's food supply compares to the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet — the scientifically-derived dietary pattern for human and planetary health.

⚠️ Approximate comparison. FAO food supply data measures availability (not intake) and uses different food group definitions than the EAT-Lancet framework. Bars show directional patterns, not precise gaps.

Explore the full Planetary Health Diet →

Similar Countries

Countries with a similar calorie supply.

🔗 Nicaragua in the Mortality Explorer

Explore Nicaragua's mortality data — life expectancy, causes of death, and risk factors — in our companion tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories per day does Nicaragua produce?

Nicaragua's food supply provides approximately 2,760 kcal per person per day as of 2023, according to FAO Food Balance Sheets. This measures food availability, not actual individual consumption — household-level waste typically reduces actual intake by 20–30%.

How has Nicaragua's diet changed over time?

Between 1961 and 2023, Nicaragua's total calorie supply changed from 1,910 to 2,760 kcal/capita/day (an increase of 45%). Protein supply went from 56.2g to 73.8g per day. Fat supply changed from 30.8g to 65.6g per day.

Where does Nicaragua rank globally?

Nicaragua ranks #138 out of 200 countries by calorie supply per capita. The world average is approximately 3,016 kcal/capita/day.

How does Nicaragua's diet differ from the world average?

The butterfly chart above shows the difference in food supply composition between Nicaragua and the global average. Bars extending to the right indicate food groups where Nicaragua consumes more than the world average, while bars extending left show deficits. These differences reflect agricultural production, cultural food traditions, income levels, and trade patterns.

What are dietary risk factors?

Dietary risk factors are eating patterns linked to chronic disease and premature death, as modeled by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. The five major dietary risks are: high sodium intake, low fruit intake, low vegetable intake, low whole grain intake, and low nut and seed intake. These are population-level statistical estimates — not direct counts of individual deaths.