| Attribute |
Nicaragua × | 
Laos × |
| Geography | | |
| Area (km²) | 130,370 | 236,800 |
| Continent | North America | Asia |
| Land area (km²) | 119,990 | 230,800 |
| Water area (km²) | 10,380 | 6,000 |
| Land boundaries (km) | 1,253 | 5,274 |
| Border countries | | - Burma
- Cambodia
- China
- Thailand
- Vietnam
|
| Coastline (km) | 910 | 0 |
| Mean elevation (m) | 298 | 710 |
| Lowest point (m) | 0 | 70 |
| Highest point (m) | 2,085 | 2,817 |
| People | | |
| Population | 6,203,441 | 7,447,396 |
| Official languages | | |
| Religion | Roman Catholic | Buddhist |
| Government | | |
| Long country name | Republic of Nicaragua | Lao People's Democratic Republic |
| Short country name | Nicaragua | Laos |
| Long local name | Republica de Nicaragua | Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao |
| Short local name | Nicaragua | Mueang Lao (unofficial) |
| Government type | Presidential republic | Communist state |
| Capital | Managua | Vientiane |
| Economy | | |
| GDP (PPP) (USD) | 36,400,000,000 | 49,340,000,000 |
| GDP (OER) (USD) | 13,810,000,000 | 16,970,000,000 |
| GDP (real growth rate) (%) | 4.9 | 6.9 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) (USD) | 5,900 | 7,400 |
| Gross national saving (% of GDP) | 24 | 22.7 |
| Labor force | 3,046,000 | 3,582,000 |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 6.4 | 0.7 |
| Population below poverty line (%) | 29.6 | 22 |
| Budget revenues (USD) | 3,871,000,000 | 3,099,000,000 |
| Budget expenditures (USD) | 4,150,000,000 | 4,038,000,000 |
| Military expenditures (% of GDP) | 0.61 | 0.19 |
| Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP) | 28 | 18.3 |
| Budget surplus or deficit (% of GDP) | -2 | -5.5 |
| Public debt (% of GDP) | 33.3 | 63.6 |
| Inflation rate (%) | 3.9 | 0.8 |
| Central bank discount rate (%) | 3 | 4.3 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate (%) | 10.8 | 18.5 |
| Stock of narrow money (USD) | 1,162,000,000 | 1,131,000,000 |
| Stock of broad money (USD) | 1,162,000,000 | 1,131,000,000 |
| Stock of domestic credit (USD) | 6,461,000,000 | 9,300,000,000 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares (USD) | 1,568,000,000 | 1,012,000,000 |
| Current account balance (USD) | -694,000,000 | -2,057,000,000 |
| Exports (USD) | 3,819,000,000 | 3,654,000,000 |
| Imports (USD) | 6,613,000,000 | 4,976,000,000 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (USD) | 2,758,000,000 | 1,270,000,000 |
| External debt (USD) | 11,310,000,000 | 14,900,000,000 |
| National currency | cordobas | kips |
| National currency (code) | NIO | LAK |
| National currency (symbol) | C$ | ₭ |
| National currency rate to USD | 30.11 | 8 |