Nicaraguan Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America, with Lake Nicaragua, one of the largest lakes in the Americas, and chains of volcanoes. Spanish is the official language. Nicaraguans in Britain include students, professionals and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 329 people living in the city had been born in Central America, a group that includes Nicaragua; and 976 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Hispanic or Latin American.

Working for Birmingham

Nicaraguan residents study and work in fields such as education, healthcare, business and development. They are known for their resilience and their commitment to family and community.

The city's future rests on the same things as its past: skills, enterprise and people willing to put in the hours. Whether in a hospital, a classroom, a lecture theatre, a van full of tools or a shop on a busy high street, Nicaraguan residents are helping to build that future, and to make Birmingham a stronger, fairer and more welcoming city.

Culture and community life

Ruben Dario, the father of the modernist movement in Spanish-language poetry, is Nicaragua's national hero, and poetry festivals are a proud tradition. Gallo pinto, rice and beans, is eaten every day, and El Gueguense, a satirical drama, is recognised by UNESCO. Baseball is the national sport, and Nicaraguans follow their players in the American major leagues with pride.

The story of the Nicaraguan community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.