Nicaragua: Investing

FDI in Figures

According to the UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI flows to Nicaragua accounted for USD 1.3 billion in 2022, a 6% increase from USD 1.2 billion one year earlier. At the end of the period, the stock of FDI was estimated at USD 12.5 billion, around 79.3% of GDP. The energy, infrastructure, and tourism sectors attract most FDI. The United States, Mexico, and Spain are the country's main investors, although China’s role is growing following the signing of a trade agreement between the two countries in late 2021. According to the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN), gross FDI inflows reached USD 2,534.5 million in 2023, marking a 37.6% increase (USD 692.2 million) compared to the same period in 2022 (USD 1,842.3 million), primarily driven by higher disbursements of related debt. However, the net FDI inflow for the quarter amounted to USD 204.1 million, totaling USD 1,230.1 million cumulatively, reflecting a 4.9% decrease (USD 63.7 million) from 2022 (USD 1,293.8 million).

The government measures the importance of foreign investment in Nicaragua and the dependency of economic growth on FDI. For that reason, in recent years, it has passed a number of laws to attract and protect foreigners investing in the country. Some of these laws include the Tourism Industry Incentives Law and the Foreign Investment Promotion Law. Among other things, the Foreign Investment Promotion Law allows foreign investors in all sectors to hold 100% of capital in businesses and guarantees repatriation of capital and profits at any time, as well as fast and efficient compensations if the investor's property is expropriated on the grounds of public interest. The same law also allows investors to choose their arbitration court in case of conflict and guarantees no discriminatory treatment for foreigners investing in Nicaragua. The establishment of free zones has strongly supported FDI growth in the country. However, the nation faces many challenges: weak institutions, an inefficient judicial system, bureaucratic obstacles, and widespread corruption. Overall, Nicaragua ranks 172nd among the 180 economies on the 2023 Corruption Perception Index and 122nd out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.

Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors

	Nicaragua	Latin America & Caribbean	United States	Germany
Index of Transaction Transparency*	1.0	4.1	7.0	5.0
Index of Manager’s Responsibility**	5.0	5.2	9.0	5.0
Index of Shareholders’ Power***	6.0	6.7	9.0	5.0

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

Note: *The Greater the Index, the More Transparent the Conditions of Transactions. **The Greater the Index, the More the Manager is Personally Responsible. *** The Greater the Index, the Easier it Will Be For Shareholders to Take Legal Action.

Foreign Direct Investment	2020	2021	2022
FDI Inward Flow (million USD)	747	1,220	1,294
FDI Stock (million USD)	9,986.0	11,206.1	12,499.9
Number of Greenfield Investments*	2.0	3.0	3.0
Value of Greenfield Investments (million USD)	295	79	142

Source: UNCTAD - Latest available data

Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.

Tax Rates

Value-added tax (VAT) - Impuesto al Valor Agregado (Local name): 15% (standard rate)
Exports are zero-rated.
Exempt items include live animals and fresh fish; domestically produced fruits and vegetables that are unprocessed; basic foodstuffs, such as corn tortillas, rice, beans, certain dairy products, eggs and meat; used goods (unless imported); crude oil; real estate transactions; life and health insurance; domestic transport; education; certain financial services; construction of social housing (as defined by law) and leasing of unfurnished accommodation; equipment used for agriculture; irrigation for agriculture and forestry; electricity used for irrigation; importation of goods, machinery and equipment for use by the media; books, newspapers and magazines; medicines and vaccines; local production of sanitary protection products and toilet paper; matches, kerosene, butane and electricity; veterinary products; insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers and seeds.
Company Tax: 30% (or a definitive minimum tax of 1% to 3% on gross income obtained during a fiscal year)
Withholding Taxes: Dividends: 15% (30% if paid to a resident of a tax haven); Interests: 15% (30% if paid to a resident of a tax haven); Royalties: 15% (30% if paid to a resident of a tax haven).
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 21.5% (22.5% for employers with more than 50 employees).
Other Domestic Resources: Dirección General de Ingresos; Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions.

	Nicaragua	Latin America & Caribbean	United States	Germany
Number of Payments of Taxes per Year	43.0	28.2	10.6	9.0
Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours)	201.0	327.5	175.0	218.0
Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit)	60.6	46.8	36.6	48.8

Setting Up a Company	Nicaragua	Latin America & Caribbean
Procedures (number)	7.00	8.00
Time (days)	14.00	25.22

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Individual income tax	Progressive rate up to 30%
Until NIO 100,000	0%
From NIO 100,001 to 200,000	15%
From NIO 200,001 to 350,000	20%
From NIO 350,001 to 500,000	25%
Over NIO 500,001	30%

Nicaragua: Investing

FDI in Figures

Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors

Tax Rates

Individual Taxes

Country Comparison For Corporate Taxation

Investment Opportunities

Business Setup Procedures