People #_Population: 3,751,884 (July 1991), growth rate 2.8% (1991) _#_Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991) _#_Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991) _#_Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991) _#_Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1991) _#_Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 65 years female (1991) _#_Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1991) _#_Nationality: noun—Nicaraguan(s); adjective—Nicaraguan _#_Ethnic divisions: mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5% _#_Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5% _#_Language: Spanish (official); English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast _#_Literacy: 57% (male 57%, female 57%) age 15 and over can read and write (1971) _#_Labor force: 1,086,000; service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986) _#_Organized labor: 35% of labor force _* Government #_Long-form name: Republic of Nicaragua _#_Type: republic _#_Capital: Managua _#_Administrative divisions: 9 administrative regions encompassing 16 departments (departamentos, singular—departamento); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Zelaya; note—Zelaya may have been replaced by 2 autonomous regions (regiones autonomistas, singular—region autonomista) named North Atlantic Coast and South Atlantic Coast _#_Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) _#_Constitution: January 1987 _#_Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts _#_National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) _#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet _#_Legislative branch: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) _#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) and municipal courts _#_Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government—President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President Virgilio GODOY (since 25 April 1990) _#_Political parties and leaders: ruling coalition—National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 14-party alliance—National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS; Conservative Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; National Conservative Action Party (PANC), Hernaldo ZUNIGA; National Democratic Confidence Party (PDCN), Augustin JARQUIN; Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Andres ZUNIGA; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto SOMARRIBA; National Action Party (PAN), Eduardo RIVAS; Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo TABLADA; Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO; Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Luis HUMBERTO; Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY; Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC), Alejandro PEREZ; opposition parties—Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA; Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS; Democratic Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES; Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo CORONADO; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco SAMPER;
— from The 1991 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency