Honduras

By: Stella Clark

Country Overview

Honduras is a lower-middle-income country in Central America with a population of about 10.6 million. The economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, manufacturing, and remittances, which make up more than one-quarter of GDP. High unemployment, widespread poverty, and insecurity have contributed to substantial emigration, primarily toward the United States.

Key Labor Export Statistics

• Approximately 1.3 million Hondurans live abroad (UN DESA 2024).

• Gender distribution: about 51% women and 49% men among emigrants (UN DESA 2024).

• Main employment sectors abroad: agriculture, domestic work, construction, and services (ILO 2024; IOM 2023).

Top Destination Countries

1. United States

2. Spain

3. Mexico

4. Canada

(UN DESA 2023; IOM 2023)

Remittance Data

• Annual remittance inflow (2024): US $9.5 billion

• Share of GDP: ~25.6 % (World Bank 2024; IMF 2025)                                                         

Legal Gaps

Honduras lacks comprehensive bilateral labor agreements that guarantee protection for migrant workers abroad. Enforcement mechanisms for recruitment agencies and oversight of overseas contracts remain weak. Although remittances provide macroeconomic stability, reintegration programs for returnees are limited, and legal mechanisms for worker protection abroad are inconsistent (ILO 2024; U.S. Department of State 2024).

NGO & Support Resources

• International Organization for Migration (IOM): Honduras | IOM (NTCA)

• UNHCR Honduras: Honduras | UNHCR

• Alianza Americas: Alianza

“Remittances to Honduras remain among the highest in Latin America as a share of GDP, underscoring both the resilience of migrants abroad and the country’s dependence on migration income.”

— International Monetary Fund, Honduras Article IV Mission 2025

Sources

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). 2024. International Migrant Stock 2024: Key Facts and Figures. New York: United Nations.

World Bank. 2024. Workers’ Remittances, Received (% of GDP) – Honduras. Washington, DC: World Bank Data Portal.

International Monetary Fund (IMF). 2025. Honduras: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission. Washington, DC.

International Labour Organization (ILO). 2024. Country Profile: Honduras – Labour Migration and Decent Work. Geneva.

International Organization for Migration (IOM). 2023. Migration Trends in Central America and the Caribbean. San José: IOM Regional Office.

U.S. Department of State. 2024. Trafficking in Persons Report – Honduras Section. Washington, DC.