How People Make Money in Nicaragua: Key Economic Sectors

Primary Sectors

• Agriculture: Coffee, sugarcane, cotton, bananas, tobacco, rice (largest employer).
• Livestock: Cattle, pigs, poultry, horses.
• Fishing: Lobster, shrimp, tuna, dorado (300+ mi coastline, large EEZ).
• Forestry: Timber from rainforests (controversial, regulated).
• Mining: Gold, silver, copper, nickel.

Growing Sectors

• Tourism: Colonial cities (Granada, León), Corn Islands, San Juan del Sur.
• Manufacturing: Food processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals.
• Services (largest GDP contributor): Banking, finance, insurance, real estate, tourism services.

Remittances from abroad (~15% of GDP) also support many households.