Honduras

Central America

Central America

A low-cost Central American country with a 3-year citizenship path and low university tuition, but a weaker passport and a thin job market.

25
Overall score
Low · Penalty applied · 94% data coverage
Language
Spanish
Currency
HNL
Citizenship
3 years
Personal tax
Up to 25%
Cost of living
$800 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
48
Access
17%
39Residence12%
70Citizenship and passport5%
53
Earning power
25%
48Salary and work12%
57Buying power13%
52
Business and wealth
20%
62Taxes7%
45Business8%
51Investment5%
41
Daily life
25%
38Quality of life18%
50Education7%
31
Rights and institutions
13%
47Freedom6%
18Rule of law7%

Severe safety risk (17) cut the overall score from 46 to 25.

Pros

  • A 3-year citizenship path
  • Low university tuition

Cons

  • A weaker passport
  • A thin job market

Best for

Students

Score profile

Access
Residence
39
Citizenship
72
Passport
65
Earning power
Salary & work
48
Buying power
57
Cost of living
78
Economy
57
Business and wealth
Taxes
62
Personal tax
55
Corporate tax
29
Business
45
Investment
51
Wealth building
55
Daily life
Safety
17
Healthcare
47
Environment
66
Infrastructure
51
Education
50
HDI
65
Rights and institutions
Freedom
47
Rule of law
18
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Limited
39
Migrant stock0.4% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.63 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Good
72
Years required3 years
Dual allowedYes
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 3 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport
Passport power
Good
65
129 / 198
Mobility
#42
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free88
  • On arrival37
  • eTA4
  • Visa required69

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Moderate
48
Output per worker$17,639 PPP (2024)
Unemployment4.9% (2025)
Participation56.6% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$323 · $713 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$655 · $1,318 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Moderate
57
GNI / person$7,270 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$5,802 PPP (2024)
Price level49 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality45.7 Gini (2024)
Inflation4.6% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Good
78
Price level49 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$800 / mo (single)
CitiesTegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula
Economy
Economic strength
Moderate
57
Output & income
GDP$39.6B (2025)
GDP / person$3,598 (2025)
GNI / person$7,270 PPP (2025)
GDP growth3.6% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation4.6% / yr (2025)
Unemployment4.9% (2025)
Output per worker$17,639 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture13.3% of GDP (2025)
Industry25.4% of GDP (2025)
Services57.6% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Agriculture (coffee, bananas)Apparel manufacturingRemittance-fed servicesMining
Top exports
CoffeeApparel & textilesBananasPalm oil
TypeLower-middle-income, agri- and remittance-led
Key sectorsCoffee & banana agriculture, Apparel maquilas, Remittances
SummaryA low-income economy reliant on coffee, bananas, apparel assembly and large remittance inflows.
CurrencyHonduran lempira

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Moderate
62
PersonalUp to 25%
Corporate25% plus possible surtax
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax
Personal tax
Moderate
55
PersonalUp to 25%
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Low
29
Corporate25% plus possible surtax
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Moderate
45
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.63 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.62 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyGenerally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local companyAvailable company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment
Investing environment
Moderate
51
Private credit78% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Moderate
55
Salary & work
Moderate
48
Business
Moderate
45
Investment
Moderate
51
Tax friendliness
Moderate
62
Cost of living
Good
78

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Low
17
Personal safety
Homicide rate31.4 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-1.24 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.57 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Moderate
47
Outcomes
Life expectancy73.0 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality15.0 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.49 per 1,000 (2020)
Hospital beds0.53 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$553 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Good
66
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure30.7 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress4.6% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Moderate
51
Digital infrastructure
Internet use58.6% (2024)
Internet resilience47 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed74 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed57 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access95.6% (2023)
Grid losses33.8% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality2.70 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity1,505 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Moderate
50
Attainment
Expected schooling10.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling7.5 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment23% gross (2024)
Education spending4.5% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$2,000–8,000 / yr
Public universityVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesSpanish
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Good
65
HDI0.645 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy72.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling10.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling7.5 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$6,065 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Moderate
47
Freedom in the World47 / 100 (Partly free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Low
18
Rule of Law percentile18 / 100
Resources

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.