Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition 12.27.2025: Some Social Achievements in 2025; Two Daniel Ortega Speeches; ALBA Summit Statement

Nicaraguan Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo: Brothers and Sisters, Peace an Unity from Nicaragua to the World These are days to celebrate the Great Power of God and the Love He gives us every day through Life for us to do our Best, with Wisdom and Serenity, in the Full Knowledge of our Mission on this Plane of Existence. These are days to be born and reborn in the Great Spirit that animates us encouraging us to be better… These are days for us all, from the deep Affection and the Duties and Responsibilities that we share, to work for an end to all war, all aggression, as we must overcome too, with the Hand of God, all miseries and everything that destroys us…

Nicaragua is among the safest countries in Latin America Nicaragua is among the safest countries in Latin America to travel to in 2025.The survey shows which are the countries with the lowest crime rates in Latin America in 2025, taking into account factors such as homicides, robberies and the perception of safety of both residents and tourists. According to the study data, Cuba tops the list of the safest countries in Latin America, with a security index of 65.6, indicating a low incidence of crime compared to other Latin American nations. It is followed by Panama, with 57.3. Both countries are ranked higher than Canada (54.3) and the United States (50.8). Nicaragua is positioned as one of the countries with the lowest crime rates in the region, with an index of 49.2. (La Primerisima, 27 March 2025)

Housing Improvements 99.2% of homes are individual houses, almost completely eliminating the precarious cardboard and plastic dwellings that were characteristic of the Somoza and neoliberal eras. Internet access exceeds the threshold of 50.9%. Access to drinking water: 77.5% are connected to the public network,10.2% are supplied by wells. 57.5% of households have televisions; 44.5% have cable TV service; 24% use automatic washing machines; 11.4% have computers; 37% have their own car, truck or motorcycle; (Informe Pastran, 5 December 2025)

Electrification Reaches 99.6% of Nicaraguan Homes Nicaragua has achieved a historic milestone in its energy sector, reaching 99.636% electricity coverage in July 2025. A MEM report shows that 760,965 homes have been electrified, benefiting more than 4,003,132 inhabitants. The coverage target for 2025, set at 99.73%, is about to be achieved. (Informe Pastran, 25 August, 2025)

Nicaragua Has Built or Renovated 150,000 Homes since 2007 Nicaragua is on track to reach the construction and improvement of nearly 150,000 homes since 2007. In 2025, its goal is completing 7,696 homes nationwide, of which 4,151 have already been built or improved by the end of July. (Informe Pastran, 19 August, 2025)

Nicaragua Continues with More than 70% Renewable Energy Sources Nicaragua obtains more than 70% of its energy renewable sources, which has significantly reduced dependence on oil and lowered costs. So far this year, 72.13% has come from renewable sources and 27.87% from fossil fuel generation. Of the renewables, solar energy contributed 1.24%; hydroelectric 10.93%; geothermal 11.46%; biomass 10.44%; wind 12.46%; and imported renewable energy 25.57%. (Informe Pastran, 20 November 2025)

Nicaragua Drinking Water Coverage now over 95% Nicaragua has achieved national drinking water coverage of over 95% and over 55% in sanitary sewerage with treatment. In drinking water, Nicaragua had less than 60% coverage in 2007.  https://www.plenglish.com/news/2025/03/22/nicaragua-celebrates-world-water-day-with-broad-national-coverage/

Major Drop in Malnutrition Acute malnutrition has dropped 46.6% since 2016, from 5.8% in 2016 to 3.1% in 2025. Chronic malnutrition in children under five has dropped 56.9% in 2016, from 13.7% in 2016 to 5.9% in 2025. In the last year of the neoliberal period, 2006, chronic malnutrition stood at 21.7%.

2026 Budget Guarantees Social Welfare and Fighting Poverty The Sandinista government has allocated 65.4% of projected revenues in the 2026 budget to programs and actions aimed at combating poverty.

Free Universal Healthcare and Education In 2025, Nicaragua has free universal healthcare, free education with a hot meal daily for 1.2 million school children, and a host of poverty reduction and income generation programs. 

Nicaragua has built or renovated 75 hospitals since 2007 The number of health workers increased by 77%, going from 22,083 in 2006 to 38,984 in 2024.

Advances in Healthcare

1) Maternal mortality has decreased by 79.8%, from 104 maternal deaths in 2006 to 21 in 2024.

2) Infant mortality has decreased by 58.6%, from 1,916 children under the age of 1 who died in 2006 to 908 in 2024.

3) The number of health services provided to the population has increased, going from 8,503,987 in 2006 to 35,956,696 services in 2024.

4) In 2024, 72,161 pregnant women spent their last days/weeks of pregnancy in Maternity Wait Centers. For those who still live far from hospitals, a network of 201 maternal wait homes around the country provide space for women to stay near a hospital for the last two weeks of their pregnancy. Food, housing and vocational training is provided free of charge, women rest and are checked by medical staff regularly, and when they go into labor, they give birth safely in the hospital nearby.

5) Maternity leave law was increased from 84 days to 91 days of mandatory paid leave.

(Government of Reconciliation and National Unity, published in Tortilla con Sal, 10 January 2025)

University in the Countryside Serves more than 38,000 Students Nicaragua’s program serves 38,153 students; 60% are women. Classes are taught at seven public universities in 135 municipalities, offering 115 degree programs. University in the Countryside is a relatively new program that allows young people from remote areas to study university courses. To date, 2,368 professionals have graduated. https://radiolaprimerisima.com/universidad-en-el-campo-atiende-a-mas-de-38-mil-estudiantes/

Sandinista Government to Give Vouchers to 63,000 High School Graduates The Ministry of Education will give 63,000 vouchers to students graduating from high school in public schools throughout the country. The bonuses will be handed out by the presidents of the Federation of Secondary School Students and the municipal coordinators of the local 19 de Julio Sandinista Youth Organization during celebrations in all schools. (La Primerisima, 16 October 2025)

Nicaragua Improves its Score on the World Happiness Index Nicaragua is one of ten countries that have most improved their score on the World Happiness Index over the last decade. The Index measures a range of factors including GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption. Nicaragua is currently ranked the 47th happiest country on the Index, compared with 65th in 2013. The US has fallen from 13th place in the Index in 2013 to 24th now. The world’s ‘happiest’ country for the last eight years has been Finland. The link to the report is https://worldhappiness.report/.  US military spending, according to the index, is $2,781 per person, $14 in Nicaragua, roughly speaking the US spends 200 times more per person than does Nicaragua. And that very likely under-counts US defense spending. https://countryeconomy.com/countries/compare/usa/nicaragua

Daniel Ortega Speech at the XXV ALBA-TCP Summit “We have to condemn this [US] aggression [against Venezuela], which is aggression targeting all the CELAC Countries. Maybe there will be some governments that think that because they are "friends” of the US government and they will do well. But the US rulers, the US Empire, the Imperialists of the Earth have no friends…What they [US] did in Honduras was say who the President should be… since it hates, really hates the Honduran people, hates the Central American Peoples, hates them for being migrants, we don't see any good outcome there.

These are truly extraordinary moments in the struggle for peace in the World, because we see the European Union beating the drums of war…supporting the Nazis in Ukraine, against the Republic of the Russian Federation. We are sure that the People of Ukraine want Peace, just the same, we are sure that the People of Israel want Peace, but there is a Government and a Party also of a fascist nature; that is to say, after the Nazis rampaged through the People of Israel, now this ruling Party comes and rampages through the Palestinian People….The destruction is terrible, whole cities with homes have been destroyed there; thousands of children have been murdered.

And in the United States, the persecution of migrants is an expression of the racism that exists among the US rulers, and I am sure that the majority of the US people do not agree with the persecution that there is against migrants… The US people are suffering the impact of the economic measures the United States Government has taken, against Social Programs, against Health Programs, against Programs that are essential for the US People.” Declaration of the XXV ALBA Summit of Heads of State and Government

Daniel Ortega: The Colonialist, Imperialist Powers have not drawn the lessons history offers them, because wherever colonialism was established, they have always been defeated in the end and the Peoples liberated themselves What is the solution [to drug trafficking]? It is necessary … to control the borders of the United States so as not to allow drugs to enter… to control the neighborhoods of the US, of the US cities, where the drugs are distributed, where the drugs are sold, where there is drug dealing, where gangs are everywhere. And then, controlling the major US banks, where those who sell drugs in the US place their money, and where they have millions and millions of dollars. The President of the US gains nothing by threatening the Latin American People. Because his problem is there in his own house, where those buying drugs do so every day, and where those who are selling the drugs do so every day…

Upcoming Events:

Sarah Woodard 2026 National Speaking Tour To invite her, contact sarah@jhc-cdca.org. Sarah Woodard represents the work of the Jubilee House Community, a nonprofit she helped form in 1979. She has worked the last 32 years in Nicaragua, with the Center for Development in Central America.  The JHC-CDCA continues to respond to local needs, seeking resources to help the poor accomplish what they see as their priorities, particularly in the areas of sustainable economic development, organic agriculture, health care, and education. Sarah's tour will both update supporters on the JHC-CDCA's work in Nicaragua and educate those in the global north on the amazing realities developing within Sandinista Nicaragua where both the social and political will are focused on helping the majority of the population, the poorest of the poor.

Monday, January 12, 2:30 pm ET: Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition monthly meeting on zoom. Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com for zoom access

Delegations to Nicaragua:

Still time to join National Lawyers Guild delegation to Nicaragua: For info, contact  martha@marthalschmidt.net  or coleenruby@gmail.com

Casa Ben Linder Email casabenjaminlinder@gmail.com to apply:

7-15 March 2026: Power & Protagonism: Women in Nicaragua

June 2026: Global Health: Family and Community Health in Nicaragua

July 2026: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution

October 2026: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua

Now offering Spanish classes! Fun and practical language classes at Casa Ben Linder - our model teaches 1/2 day class & 1/2 day practice in a community setting.

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