Nicaragua

Nicaragua, a country of 50,377 square miles, is bordered by Honduras to the north, Costa Rica to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. It was discovered and conquered by Christopher Columbus in 1502. It gained independence in 1838, but Nicaragua inherited a legacy of colonialism, hence creating inequalities based on class, gender, and race. Throughout history, Nicaragua has experienced several uprisings and lengthy civil wars, the most recent from 1961–90 known as the Revolución Sandinista.

Nicaragua's most pressing current challenge is to overcome poverty and inequality, which disproportionately affect women and children. Nicaragua is the third poorest country in the Americas; over 50 percent of the total population (approximately 2.9 million individuals) are under 19 years of ...