Since the mid-1960s, government spending has consistently exceeded revenues. During the Sandinista regime, detailed public finance budgets were not a priority. The government budget deficit shrank from 18% of GDP in 1987 to 4% in 1998, while government revenues consistently reflected almost one-third of GDP. Nicaragua reached the decision point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief initiative in late 2000.
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates that in 2000 Nicaragua's central government took in revenues of approximately $726 million and had expenditures of $908 million. Overall, the government registered a deficit of approximately $182 million. External debt totaled $6.1 billion.
The following table shows an itemized breakdown of government revenues. The percentages were calculated from data reported by the International Monetary Fund. The dollar amounts (millions) are based on the CIA estimates provided above.
REVENUE AND GRANTS | 100.0% | 726 |
Tax revenue | 75.8% | 550 |
Non-tax revenue | 7.2% | 52 |
Capital revenue | 0.1% | 1 |
Grants | 16.9% | 123 |
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