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Honduras vs Nicaragua
Side-by-side comparison of Honduras and Nicaragua from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Honduras
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
Nicaragua
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 205 years
In short
Nicaragua scores 42.8 in the NationsTree Index (117th in the world) and Honduras scores 37.6 (138th), a gap of 5.2 points. Their trees are 5.2 m and 4.6 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Honduras has 57% more people than Nicaragua. Nicaragua has 16% more land area than Honduras. The economy of Honduras is 33% larger than that of Nicaragua (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Honduras 11.0 million and Nicaragua 7.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $9,284 in Nicaragua and $7,871 in Honduras (2025, international dollars). People in Nicaragua live on average 2.1 years longer (75.1 vs 73.0 years).
Of 31 indicators reported by both countries, Honduras ranks higher in the world on 11 and Nicaragua on 20. Honduras is clearly stronger in military, science & innovation and main industries. Nicaragua is clearly stronger in society & health and natural resources.
Over the last five years Nicaragua improved faster (direction score 93 vs 87 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Honduras and Nicaragua.
Hondurasbetter
2.70
71st of 164
Nicaragua
1.90
154th of 164
InflationEconomy
Honduras
4.6%
135th of 180
Nicaraguabetter
2.1%
61st of 180
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
Hondurasbetter
46.8
133rd of 205
Nicaragua
25.4
197th of 205
High-tech exportsTrade
Hondurasbetter
3.9%
105th of 168
Nicaragua
0.6%
153rd of 168
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Nicaragua overtook Honduras in life expectancy in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Nicaragua overtook Honduras in the NationsTree Index in 2014 and has stayed ahead since.
Honduras overtook Nicaragua in GDP (PPP) in 1997 and has stayed ahead since.
Nicaragua has been ahead of Honduras in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Honduras has been ahead of Nicaragua in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
HondurasNicaragua All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Honduras | Nicaragua |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 112,492103rd/216 · 2024 | 130,37098th/216 · 2023 |
| Land area km² | 111,890101st/216 · 2024 | 120,34099th/216 · 2023 |
| Population people | 11.0 m86th/217 · 2025 | 7.0 m108th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.65%63rd/217 · 2025 | 1.31%80th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 96.8110th/216 · 2024 | 56.7148th/216 · 2023 |
| Urban population % | 59.3%131st/217 · 2025 | 59.4%128th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 30.3%69th/217 · 2025 | 28.3%80th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.5%156th/217 · 2025 | 5.7%141st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $39.60 bn105th/210 · 2025 | $22.24 bn129th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $86.63 bn108th/199 · 2025 | $65.06 bn122nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $74.03 bn108th/199 · 2025 | $55.59 bn121st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $3,598154th/210 · 2025 | $3,173157th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $7,871151st/199 · 2025 | $9,284143rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $3,270147th/201 · 2025 | $2,850152nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.8%89th/210 · 2025 | 4.9%55th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.6%135th/180 · 2025 | 2.1%61st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.9%84th/187 · 2025 | 5.0%88th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 40.3%60th/189 · 2025 | 34.6%46th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.7%52nd/192 · 2025 | 3.5%13th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 13.3%58th/197 · 2025 | 14.5%55th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.4%80th/200 · 2025 | 29.3%56th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 15.0%43rd/192 · 2025 | 12.6%71st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 57.6%102nd/200 · 2025 | 45.2%168th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $13.86 bn100th/182 · 2025 | $9.25 bn113th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $22.38 bn91st/182 · 2025 | $12.20 bn114th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 35.0%95th/183 · 2025 | 41.6%74th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 56.5%60th/183 · 2025 | 54.9%63rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 91.5%80th/183 · 2025 | 96.4%67th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%143rd/170 · 2024 | 0.7%124th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 39.1%77th/171 · 2024 | 37.0%81st/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 53.5%25th/171 · 2024 | 42.6%37th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.2%85th/171 · 2024 | 1.1%131st/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.9%105th/168 · 2024 | 0.6%153rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 2.4%54th/191 · 2025 | 9.5%21st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.7%76th/196 · 2025 | 6.8%31st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.2%112th/209 · 2021 | 3.8%82nd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%113th/197 · 2021 | 0.02%96th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.38%57th/209 · 2021 | 2.68%33rd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.84%58th/209 · 2021 | 1.14%49th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 9.1%110th/206 · 2024 | 12.5%84th/206 · 2022 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 8,66453rd/183 · 2022 | 23,20928th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 669,000110th/194 · 2020 | 474,000127th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $189.0 m130th/175 · 2020 | $128.0 m1999 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.0%107th/168 · 2020 | 15.2%1999 |
| Outbound trips departures | 703,00069th/107 · 2018 | 325,00086th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 73.0125th/217 · 2024 | 75.1106th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 15.099th/196 · 2024 | 11.281st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.49125th/174 · 2020 | 0.682018 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.5136th/145 · 2023 | 1.0121st/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 75%157th/193 · 2024 | 89%110th/193 · 2023 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 34.3%125th/153 · 2024 | 35.5%2014 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 51.8%153rd/173 · 2024 | 70.2%140th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 32.2%41st/55 · 2019 | 68.2%2014 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 7.0%160th/217 · 2025 | 8.6%140th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 7.7%68th/193 · 2023 | 8.3%57th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 88.3%56th/98 · 2024 | 87.3%2014 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 23.3%116th/150 · 2024 | 30.4%106th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.645139th/193 · 2023 | 0.706123rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 45.7101st/108 · 2024 | 46.22014 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 15.7%86th/108 · 2024 | 6.6%2014 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 95.5%153rd/215 · 2024 | 88.7%165th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 65.5%94th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 58.6%141st/186 · 2024 | 61.4%137th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 71177th/210 · 2024 | 106131st/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 4.6142nd/208 · 2024 | 5.8136th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.7071st/164 · 2022 | 1.90154th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 428,443117th/161 · 2023 | 61,0312000 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.1467th/203 · 2024 | 0.8358th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 45.9%54th/212 · 2021 | 50.4%47th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 30.7153rd/200 · 2023 | 20.4123rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 52.8%50th/214 · 2024 | 25.8%117th/214 · 2023 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 586116th/149 · 2024 | 613112th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 40.4147th/205 · 2025 | 34.0176th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 22.9182nd/207 · 2025 | 20.2192nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 39.6174th/207 · 2025 | 32.5194th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 58.0147th/207 · 2025 | 65.4117th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 44.6146th/205 · 2025 | 39.3175th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 46.8133rd/205 · 2025 | 25.4197th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 31.4135th/145 · 2023 | 11.3119th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $580.2 m100th/156 · 2025 | $116.4 m137th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.5%90th/156 · 2025 | 0.6%140th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.7%69th/154 · 2025 | 2.0%142nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 23,00098th/170 · 2020 | 12,000124th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.56%105th/168 · 2020 | 0.41%128th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 7.0 m117th/163 · 2024 | 13.0 m2019 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 18.0 m1993 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.06%2019 | 0.11%2015 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 82018 | 12014 |
| Scientific articles articles | 130136th/197 · 2023 | 41158th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Honduras has the larger population: 11.0 m (2025) compared with 7.0 m for Nicaragua (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua is larger: 130,370 km² (2023) compared with 112,492 km² for Honduras (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Honduras has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $86.63 bn intl. (2025) compared with $65.06 bn intl. for Nicaragua (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $9,284 intl. (2025) compared with $7,871 intl. for Honduras (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Honduras or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua has the higher life expectancy at birth: 75.1 years (2024) compared with 73.0 years for Honduras (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Honduras spends more on the military: $580.2 m (2025) compared with $116.4 m for Nicaragua (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Honduras or Nicaragua?
Nicaragua: 42.8 points (117th in the world); Honduras: 37.6 points (138th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
El Salvador
Guyana
Uruguay
Haiti
Jamaica
Trinidad and TobagoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Honduras vs Nicaragua — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/honduras-vs-nicaragua. Data as of 26 October 2026.