Central America Population: 49.4 Million (2020 World Bank)
Central America's 2020 population: ~49.4 million (World Bank), across 7 countries:
Country Breakdown
| Country | Population (2020) | % of Region | Capital | Key Demographic |
|---|
| Guatemala | 18.0M | 36% | Guatemala City | Youngest (median 20); highest fertility |
| Honduras | 9.9M | 20% | Tegucigalpa | High emigration; 60% urban |
| El Salvador | 6.6M | 13% | San Salvador | Smallest; densest (300/km²); dollarized |
| Nicaragua | 6.5M | 13% | Managua | Largest area; lowest density |
| Costa Rica | 5.2M | 11% | San José | Oldest; highest HDI; no army |
| Panama | 4.1M | 8% | Panama City | Fastest growing; canal economy |
| Belize | 0.4M | 1% | Belmopan | English-speaking; Caribbean culture |
Regional Trends
- Growth rate: ~1.2%/yr (slowing)
- Urbanization: 60%+ urban (2020)
- Median age: ~26 (Guatemala 20, Costa Rica 33)
- Fertility: 2.4 TFR (Guatemala 2.9, Costa Rica 1.5)
- Migration: Net emigration (US, Mexico, Spain); remittances 20%+ GDP (Salvador, Honduras)
- Ethnic diversity: Mestizo majority; Indigenous (Maya, Garifuna, Miskito); Afro-descendant; European
Economic Context
- GDP (2020): ~$300B combined
- Integration: SICA (Central American Integration System); CA-4 free mobility
- Challenges: Inequality, violence, climate vulnerability, governance, informal economy
Central America: small in size, complex in demography, pivotal in hemispheric migration and trade.
Wanderlust World