17. Nicaragua
- Advisory level: Level 3: reconsider travel
- Last updated: Sept. 12, 2018
- Population: 6.1 million
- GDP per capita: $2,100
Instability has plagued Nicaragua, and because of this, the American government ordered non-emergency U.S. government personnel to leave the country in early July. The government is concerned over the presence of heavily armed, government-controlled paramilitary forces.
The State Department says these groups often travel in vehicles that don’t have license plates. They have been known to kidnap and detain people and seize privately owned land. Demonstrations occur frequently and the Nicaraguan government has attacked demonstrators and arbitrarily detained protesters.
Employees of the U.S. government have been told to stay inside and avoid unnecessary travel after dark. They are forbidden from using public transportation because of crime fears.
