Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Though neighboring Central American nations with shared history, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras differ significantly in size, demographics, economy, and character.
| Feature | El Salvador | Guatemala | Honduras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | 21,041 km² | 108,889 km² | 112,090 km² |
| Population (2024) | 6.5M | 18.1M | 10.6M |
| Density | 309/km² (highest) | 166/km² | 95/km² |
| Capital | San Salvador | Guatemala City | Tegucigalpa |
| Currency | USD (since 2001) | Quetzal (GTQ) | Lempira (HNL) |
| Coastline | Pacific only (307 km) | Pacific (254) + Caribbean (148) | Caribbean (820) + Pacific (124) |
| Geography | Volcanic, "Land of Volcanoes" | Highlands, volcanoes, Petén jungle | Mountains, Caribbean lowlands, Mosquitia |
| Indigenous % | ~10% (Pipil, Lenca) | ~43% (Maya: K'iche', Kaqchikel, etc.) | ~9% (Lenca, Miskito, Garífuna) |
| HDI (2022) | 0.675 (High) | 0.629 (Medium) | 0.624 (Medium) |
| Remittances % GDP | 24% (highest) | 18% | 27% |
| Main Exports | Textiles, coffee, sugar, gold | Coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom | Coffee, textiles, bananas, gold |
| Tourism Draw | Surfing (El Sunzal), volcanoes, Ruta de las Flores | Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Semuc Champey | Roatán (diving), Copán ruins, Mosquitia |
| Recent Politics | Bukele (2019–): Bitcoin, gang crackdown, authoritarian drift | Arévalo (2024–): Anti-corruption, reform mandate | Castro (2022–): Leftist, anti-corruption, Honduras-China ties |
Each country's path reflects its unique geography, demographics, and political choices—despite the "Northern Triangle" label.