Is Nicaragua safe in 2026?
Nicaragua scores 69.0/100 on the live safety index — broadly safe, with some concerns. The main pressure on the score comes from political instability, economy, natural disasters. The score has been stable for 12 days. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 67.5/100).
69.0 /100broadly safe
30-day trend
Nicaragua's score fell by −3.8 over the last 30 days (72.7 → 69.0).
Threat breakdown
| Category | Pressure | Score / cap |
|---|---|---|
| Political instability | 9.2 / 15 | |
| Economy | 3.5 / 8 | |
| Natural disasters | 1.8 / 5 | |
| Sanctions | 1.3 / 4 | |
| Crime | 4.6 / 15 | |
| Military conflict | 8.8 / 30 | |
| Internet freedom | 1.7 / 7 | |
| Public health | 0.2 / 3 | |
| Ecology | 0.1 / 1 | |
| Nuclear risk | 0.0 / 12 |
Higher category scores mean more threat pressure; each category is capped by its weight in the 0–100 index. How scores are computed.
Official travel advisory
3 Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department places Nicaragua at Level 3 — Reconsider Travel citing wrongful detention, crime and health. Our live index reads 69.0/100. That advisory was last revised May 14, 2026, 110 days ago; the index above is recomputed continuously from current reporting.
Source: U.S. Department of State, revised May 14, 2026. Levels run 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). This page is not travel advice.
Latest recorded events
- International body votes to convene emergency meeting over Nicaragua
- Ten OAS countries back rejection of electoral restrictions in Nicaragua promoted by Daniel Ortega
- Nicaragua advances reform that would extend the presidential term to seven renewable years
- Nicaraguan leader proposes extending presidential term by another year
- Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega aims to bar ‘traitors’ from future elections
- De la Espriella to close Colombian embassies in 14 countries and cut ties with Cuba and Nicaragua
24-hour forecast
Trend: stable · projected score 67.5/100 (generated )
Accelerating constitutional changes and threats to elections deepen political instability.
Compared with nearby countries
| Country | Score | 0–100 | vs Nicaragua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicaragua | 69.0 | — | |
| Honduras | 72.1 | +3.1 | |
| Costa Rica | 90.3 | +21.3 | |
| El Salvador | 74.6 | +5.6 | |
| Belize | 83.8 | +14.8 | |
| Guatemala | 78.0 | +9.0 |