Nicaragua

Nicaragua remains one of the poorest countries on the Western hemisphere. Its population is about 5,1 million, while 52% of its inhabitants are younger than 18. About 2,3 million people live in poverty, while as many 900 thousand people live in the conditions of extreme poverty. Every third child suffers from chronic malnutrition and 20% of children have reached a critical condition. The country has limited access to drinking water and appropriate sanitation, especially the outlying regions. The majority of all children deaths are caused by diseases that are otherwise treatable, as is diarrhea, respiratory diseases and malnutrition. Nicaragua has the second highest number of malnourished people, the number reaches 29% of the population.