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
SpanishCurrency
HNLCitizenship
3 yearsPersonal 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
Access
Residence
Openness to residents
39Limited
Migrant stock0.4% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.63 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
| Student | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
|---|---|
| Work | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
| Self-employed | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
| Permanent | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
72Good
| Years required | 3 years |
|---|---|
| Dual allowed | Yes |
| Language | Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route |
| Residence | Typical headline route: 3 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply |
| Notes | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
Passport
Passport power
65Good
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
48Moderate
Output per worker$17,639 PPP (2024)
Unemployment4.9% (2025)
Participation56.6% of 15+ (2025)
Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$323 · $713 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$655 · $1,318 PPP (2024)
| Freelance | Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation |
|---|---|
| Job market | Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions. |
Buying power
Purchasing power score
57Moderate
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)
Cost of living
Affordability
78Good
Price level49 (US = 100) (2025)
| Rent | Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $800 / mo (single) |
| Cities | Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula |
Economy
Economic strength
57Moderate
Output & income
GDP$39.6B (2025)
GDP / person$3,598 (2025)
GNI / person$7,270 PPP (2025)
GDP growth3.6% / yr (2024)
Stability & labour
Inflation4.6% / yr (2025)
Unemployment4.9% (2025)
Output per worker$17,639 PPP (2024)
Sector composition
Agriculture13.3% of GDP (2025)
Industry25.4% of GDP (2025)
Services57.6% of GDP (2025)
Main industries
Agriculture (coffee, bananas)Apparel manufacturingRemittance-fed servicesMining
Top exports
CoffeeApparel & textilesBananasPalm oil
| Type | Lower-middle-income, agri- and remittance-led |
|---|---|
| Key sectors | Coffee & banana agriculture, Apparel maquilas, Remittances |
| Summary | A low-income economy reliant on coffee, bananas, apparel assembly and large remittance inflows. |
| Currency | Honduran lempira |
Business and wealth
Taxes
Tax friendliness
62Moderate
| Personal | Up to 25% |
|---|---|
| Corporate | 25% plus possible surtax |
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Exit tax | Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence |
| Foreign companies | Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply |
Personal tax
Personal tax
55Moderate
| Personal | Up to 25% |
|---|---|
| Freelance | Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply |
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Exit tax | Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence |
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
29Low
| Corporate | 25% plus possible surtax |
|---|---|
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position |
| Dividends | Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility |
| Foreign companies | Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply |
Business
Business friendliness
45Moderate
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.63 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.62 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Operating rules
| Foreign company | Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules |
|---|---|
| Local company | Available company forms and capital requirements vary |
| Freelance | Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply |
Investment
Investing environment
51Moderate
Private credit78% of GDP (2024)
| Capital gains | Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position |
|---|---|
| Dividends | Data not available yet |
| ETFs & funds | Data not available yet |
| Wealth tax | Check current national and subnational rules |
| Brokers | Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks |
| Foreign access | Data not available yet |
| Tax-advantaged | Data not available yet |
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
55Moderate
Salary & work
48Moderate
Business
45Moderate
Investment
51Moderate
Tax friendliness
62Moderate
Cost of living
78Good
Daily life
Safety
Safety & stability
17Low
Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-1.24 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.57 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.
Healthcare
Healthcare score
47Moderate
Outcomes
Life expectancy73.0 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality15.0 per 1,000 births (2024)
Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.49 per 1,000 (2020)
Hospital beds0.53 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$553 PPP / person (2023)
System & costs
| System | Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements |
| Average cost | Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage |
Environment
Environment score
66Good
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure30.7 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress4.6% (2022)
Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
51Moderate
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)
Transport
Transport quality2.70 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity1,505 departures / million people (2023)
Education
Education score
50Moderate
Attainment
Expected schooling10.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling7.5 years (2023)
Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment23% gross (2024)
Education spending4.5% of GDP (2023)
| Tuition | $2,000–8,000 / yr |
|---|---|
| Public university | Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality |
| Languages | Spanish |
| Student work | Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting. |
HDI
Human development score
65Good
HDI0.645 (2023)
Knowledge
Expected schooling10.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling7.5 years (2023)
Rights and institutions
Freedom
Freedom score
47Moderate
| Freedom in the World | 47 / 100 (Partly free) |
|---|
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
18Low
| Rule of Law percentile | 18 / 100 |
|---|
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.