Central America Population by Country
< 1M
1M - 10M
10M - 50M
50M - 100M
100M - 300M
> 300M
8 countries
| | Country | Population ↓ | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mexico | 132,998,000 | 68 |
 | Guatemala | 18,968,000 | 174 |
 | Honduras | 11,184,800 | 99 |
 | Nicaragua | 7,097,330 | 54 |
 | El Salvador | 6,391,250 | 304 |
 | Costa Rica | 5,174,790 | 101 |
 | Panama | 4,625,720 | 61 |
 | Belize | 428,644 | 19 |
Central America Overview
Central America is a region located at the southernmost point of North America. To the north, it is bordered by Mexico, and to the south, it connects to South America through Colombia. Seven countries make up the area of Central America, which has an estimated 2016 population of over 44.5 million.
Central America is a region that is comprised of the southernmost countries in North America. These countries are bordered by Mexico, connect North America to South America. A total of seven countries make up Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The total area of Central America is 202,230 square miles, or 523,780 square kilometers, and the average population density is 210 people per square mile, or 81 per square kilometer. The total population, based on 2015 estimates, is 44.53 million.
Central America is a very ethnically diverse area, with the majority of the population made up of mestizo people. There are also high populations of White and Mayan residents spread throughout the seven countries. The official language spoken through the majority of Central America is Spanish, although English is the official language in Belize. Mayan languages are also spoken in some regions. Over 95% of Central American’s residents are Christian, with the majority practicing Roman Catholicism. Central America has very unique geographic features spread across its land mass, such as high mountains and fertile valleys, which is where coffee, tobacco, beans and other crops are grown.
The Land of Central America
The land of Central America is as unique as the region itself, with tropics in the lowlands and evergreens sweeping the Pacific Coast. The timber from the evergreens has been used to fuel the economy of Central America, so the forests of evergreens of yesterday are not quite what they are today. Still, they contribute to a large mammal population.
Population of Central America
Eight countries comprise Central America, which is why so many people ask, “is Central America a continent”? The answer is no, but it is a densely populated region. Central America is comprised of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize.
The United Nations estimates that approximately 182,427,775 people live in Central America. This region comprises approximately 2.31 percent of the entire population of the world with a population density of 73 people per square kilometer. It is a largely urban region with 77.2 percent of the people living in urban centers.
Mexico is the largest country in Central America, with the most people, home to over 128 million people. Guatemala comes in second, with almost 18 million in population. Honduras has a population of almost 10 million people. Nicaragua has 6.6 million, El Salvador 6.4 million, Costa Rica 5 million, Panama 4.3 million, and Belize is home to almost 400,000 people.
The ethnicity in the entire region is mixed. Three-fifths are a mixture of European and Indian descent, and one-fifth of the population is Indian. The Indian population can largely be found in Guatemala. There are also many communities referred to as mixed African and European descent, as the region is home to many immigrants.
Most Populous Countries in Central America
Least Populous Countries in Central America
Central America's Population Growth
Central America Population
Is Central America a Continent?
No, Central America is not a continent. It is a subcontinent of North America.
Sources
- World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.
Recommended Reading
Explore Continents
1,584,984,917
5,005,339,144
743,197,243
621,247,959
440,484,603
47,118,951
