Central American Immigrants in the United States | migrationpolicy.org Central American Immigrants in the United States You are here Central American Immigrants in the United States September 2, 2015 Spotlight By Jie Zong and Jeanne Batalova The majority of Central American immigrants who have obtained lawful permanent residence in the United States did so through family reunification channels. (Photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Shutterstock) Large-scale Central American migration to the United States, an overwhelmingly post-1980s phenomenon, has been driven mainly by economic hardship and political instability in the region. In 2013, approximately 3.2 million Central American immigrants resided in the United States—the majority from the so-called Northern Triangle formed by El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—representing 7 percent of the country’s 41.3 million immigrants. The Central American population in the United States was very small in the 1950s and 1960s, consisting of a mix of privileged individuals and low-skilled workers. Of the total 48,900 Central American immigrants in 1960, Panama was the largest origin country, followed by Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.

The Central American immigrant population began its rapid increase in the late 1970s when a series of civil wars broke out in the region. Thousands of Salvadorans and Guatemalans, many from rural areas with little formal education, fled north in response to the repression and violence of war. In contrast, those who left Nicaragua were mostly well-educated elites. The Reagan administration, as part of its regional foreign policy, actively discouraged Salvadorans and Guatemalans from applying for political asylum: their approval rates were less than 3 percent in 1984, compared to 12 percent for Nicaraguans, and far below the rates for Poles (32 percent) and Iranians (60 percent). However, many whose applications were declined remained in the United States without authorization under the protection of local religious congregations in the sanctuary movement. Although migration rates from Central America declined with the end of the conflicts in the early 1990s, the Central American immigrant population has continued to grow. Migrant social networks previously developed to assist those seeking political refuge now facilitate economic migration, with many individuals entering the United States illegally.

In the late 1990s, unauthorized Salvadorans, Hondurans, and Nicaraguans became eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)—provisional protection against deportation with work authorization—due to a series of natural disasters in those countries. TPS has been renewed for Honduras and Nicaragua until July 2016, and El Salvador until September 2016. In addition, many unauthorized Central Americans have legalized their status through a set of discretionary measures and legislation passed by the U.S. government, including the 1997 Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA). However, the number of unauthorized immigrants from Central America has continued to rise. Since 2011, a growing number of unaccompanied children, largely from the Northern Triangle, have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border. From the start of fiscal year (FY) 2014 through July 31, 2015, 72,968, or 74 percent, of the unaccompanied minors apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the U.S.-Mexico border were from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

From 1980 to 2013, the size of the Central American immigrant population grew nine-fold from 354,000 to 3.2 million (see Figure 1). The population more than tripled in the 1980s, almost doubled in the 1990s, and continued to grow more than 56 percent between 2000 and 2013. Figure 1. Central American Immigrant Population in the United States, 1980-2013 Sources: Data from U.S. Census Bureau 2006, 2010, and 2013 American Community Surveys (ACS), and Campbell J. Gibson and Kay Jung, "Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-born Population of the United States: 1850-2000" (Working Paper no. 81, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC, February 2006), available online .

Immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and more recently, Honduras accounted for 90 percent of the total growth between 1980 and 2013, while other Central American groups showed moderate increases. Between 2010 and 2013, the number of Costa Rican and Nicaraguan immigrants actually decreased. Click here for an interactive chart showing changes in the number of immigrants from Central America in the United States over time. Select individual Central American countries from the dropdown menu. In 2013, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras were the top three countries of origin for Central American immigrants (see Table 1). Together, they accounted for 85 percent of immigrants from Central America, followed by Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, and Belize. Table 1. Distribution of Central American Immigrants by Country of Origin, 2013 Source: Migration Policy Institute (MPI) tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 ACS. The majority of Central American immigrants who have obtained lawful permanent residence in the United States (also known as receiving a “green card”) did so through family reunification channels.

Compared to the overall foreign- and native-born populations, Central American immigrants on average were significantly less educated, but more likely to be employed. Although Central American countries share similar religious and linguistic backgrounds, there are great variations in socioeconomic characteristics among the different origin countries. Due to the high share of individuals from the Northern Triangle, the indicators for all Central American immigrants are biased towards immigrants from those three countries. Of the total 4.2 million Central American immigrants worldwide, the vast majority (80 percent) resided in the United States, with the rest scattered in Central America and Europe, according to mid-2013 estimates by the United Nations Population Division. However, the international settlement pattern of each country’s immigrants is very different. For instance, between 80 percent and 90 percent of immigrants from Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras settled in the United States, compared to only 42 percent of Nicaraguan immigrants (46 percent reside in Costa Rica). Click here to view an interactive map showing where migrants from Central American countries among others have settled worldwide. Definitions Central America includes Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The U.S.

Census Bureau defines the foreign born as individuals who had no U.S. citizenship at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees and asylees, legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. The terms foreign born and immigrant are used interchangeably and refer to those who were born in another country and later emigrated to the United States. Data collection constraints do not permit inclusion of those who gained citizenship in a Central American country via naturalization and later moved to the United States. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau (the most recent 2013 American Community Survey [ACS] and pooled 2009-13 ACS data), the Department of Homeland Security’s Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, and the World Bank's annual remittance data, this Spotlight provides information on the Central American immigrant population in the United States, focusing on its size, geographic distribution, and socioeconomic characteristics. Click on the bullet points below for more information: Remittances Distribution by State and Key Cities Most immigrants from Central America have settled in California (28 percent), Texas (11 percent), and Florida (11 percent).

The top four counties with Central American immigrants in 2009-13 were Los Angeles County in California, Harris County in Texas, Miami-Dade County in Florida, and Prince George’s County in Maryland. Together, these four counties accounted for about 30 percent of the total Central American immigrant population in the United States. Figure 2. Top Destination States for Central American Immigrants in the United States, 2009-13 Note: Pooled 2009-13 ACS data were used to get statistically valid estimates at the state level for smaller-population geographies. Source: MPI tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau pooled 2009-13 ACS. Click here for an interactive map that shows the geographic distribution of immigrants by state and county. Select individual Central American countries from the dropdown menu to see which states and counties have the most Central American immigrants. In the 2009-13 period, the U.S. cities with the largest number of Central American immigrants were the greater Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, DC metropolitan areas. These three metropolitan areas accounted for close to 40 percent of Central American immigrants in the United States.

Figure 3. Top Metropolitan Destinations for Central American Immigrants in the United States, 2009-13 Note: Pooled 2009-13 ACS data were used to get statistically valid estimates at the metropolitan statistical-area level for smaller-population geographies. Source: MPI tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau pooled 2009-13 ACS. Click here for an interactive map that highlights the metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of immigrants. Select individual Central American countries from the dropdown menu to see which metropolitan areas have the most Central American immigrants. Table 2. Top Concentrations by Metropolitan Area for the Foreign Born from Central America, 2009-13 Source: MPI tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau pooled 2009-13 ACS. Click here for an interactive map that shows the metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, as well as the three combined. Select one population from the list and see which metropolitan areas have the most Northern Triangle immigrants.

Language Diversity and English Proficiency Central American immigrants were both much less likely to be proficient in English and to speak English at home than the overall U.S. foreign-born population. In 2013, approximately 67 percent of Central American immigrants (ages 5 and over) reported limited English proficiency (LEP), compared to 50 percent of the total foreign-born population. English proficiency varied significantly by country of origin: less than 7 percent of immigrants from Belize and 26 percent of those from Panama were LEP, versus around 70 percent of immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. Approximately 7 percent of all Central American immigrants spoke only English at home, versus 16 percent of all immigrants. Note: Limited English proficiency refers to those who indicated on the ACS questionnaire that they spoke English less than “very well.” Age, Education, and Employment The Central American immigrant population was younger than the overall foreign-born population but older than the native-born population. The median age of Central American immigrants was 38 years—compared to 43 for the foreign-born population overall and 36 for U.S. born.

In 2013, a higher share of Central American immigrants were of working age (18 to 64) compared to both the total foreign- and U.S.-born populations (see Table 3). Notably, approximately 22 percent of Panamanian immigrants were ages 65 and older, the highest share among all Central American immigrant groups. Table 3. Age Distribution by Origin, 2013 Source: MPI tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 ACS. Numbers may not add up to 100 as they are rounded to the nearest whole number. Click here to view an interactive chart showing the age and sex distribution of the top immigrant-origin groups, including those from El Salvador. Central American immigrants tend to have much lower educational attainment compared to the overall foreign- and native-born adult populations. In 2013, close to half (49 percent) of Central American immigrants ages 25 and over did not finish high school, compared to 30 percent of all immigrants and 10 percent of U.S.-born adults.

Around 9 percent of Central American adults had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 28 percent of the total immigrant population and 30 percent of native-born adults. Immigrants from Nicaragua (17 percent), Belize (19 percent), Costa Rica (23 percent), and Panama (27 percent) were significantly more likely to be college graduates compared to those from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (about 7 percent each). Central American immigrants participated in the labor force at a higher rate than the overall immigrant and native-born populations. In 2013, about 75 percent of Central American immigrants ages 16 and over were in the civilian labor force, compared to 67 percent and 63 percent of all foreign and native born, respectively. Central American immigrants were significantly more likely to be employed in service occupations (34 percent); natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (22 percent); and production, transportation, and material-moving occupations (18 percent) than both the overall foreign- and native-born populations (see Figure 4). Figure 4.

Employed Workers in the Civilian Labor Force (ages 16 and older) by Occupation and Origin, 2013 Source: MPI tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau 2013 ACS. In contrast, close to one-third of employed immigrants from Panama, Belize, and Costa Rica worked in management, business, science, and arts occupations, compared to less than 10 percent of their peers from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Income and Poverty Central American immigrants had significantly lower incomes than the total foreign- and U.S.-born populations. In 2013, the median income of households headed by a Central American immigrant was $41,000, compared to $48,000 and $53,000 for overall immigrant and native-born households, respectively. All Central American immigrant groups, except for Costa Ricans, had lower median household income than the total foreign-born population. In 2013, 22 percent of Central American immigrant families lived in poverty, higher than both all immigrant (18 percent) and native-born families (10 percent).

Around 28 percent of immigrant families from Guatemala and Honduras were in poverty, versus 11 percent of those from Costa Rica. Immigration Pathways and Naturalization Central American immigrants were less likely than the total foreign-born population to be naturalized citizens, partly due to the large presence of TPS beneficiaries and unauthorized individuals ineligible for U.S. citizenship. In 2013, only 32 percent of the 3.2 million Central American immigrants residing in the United States were naturalized U.S. citizens, compared to 47 percent of all immigrants. Between half and two-thirds of immigrants from Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama were naturalized citizens, compared to between 22 percent and 31 percent of immigrants from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. In general, Central American immigrants have mirrored the arrival patterns of the overall immigrant population with some small variations. Central Americans were more likely than other origin groups to have entered the United States between 2000 and 2009 and less likely to have arrived since 2010 (see Figure 5).

Approximately 57 percent of Central American immigrants arrived prior to 2000, followed by 36 percent who arrived between 2000 and 2009, and 7 percent in 2010 or later. The majority of immigrants from El Salvador (61 percent), Costa Rica (67 percent), Belize (74 percent), Nicaragua (75 percent), and Panama (77 percent) entered before 2000, while less than half (47 percent) of immigrants from Guatemala and Honduras entered during the same period. Figure 5. Immigrants from Central America and All Immigrants in the United States by Period of Arrival, 2013 Source: MPI tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 ACS. Numbers may not add up to 100 as they are rounded to the nearest whole number. The majority (84 percent) of Central American immigrants who became legal permanent residents (LPRs) in FY 2013 did so through family-based channels. Close to half (47 percent) of new Central American LPRs were immediate relatives of U.S.

citizens, while 37 percent qualified via other family-sponsored preferences. Central American immigrants were much less likely to become LPRs via employment-based preferences (6 percent) or as refugees and asylees (4 percent) than the total LPR population (see Figure 6). Figure 6. Immigration Pathways of Central American Immigrants and All Immigrants in the United States, 2013 Notes: Family-sponsored: Includes adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens as well as spouses and children of green-card holders. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: Includes spouses, minor children, and parents of U.S. citizens. Diversity Visa Lottery: The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery to allow entry to immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The law states that 55,000 diversity visas in total are made available each fiscal year. All Central American countries are eligible for the DV lottery except El Salvador.

Source: MPI tabulation of data from Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 2013 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (Washington, DC: DHS Office of Immigration Statistics, 2014), available online . Although petitioning as immediate relatives of U.S.-citizens was the primary pathway for almost all Central American groups in FY 2013, patterns of LPR channels varied by country. For instance, 10 percent of Costa Rican immigrants became LPRs via employment-based preferences, 7 percent of Guatemalan immigrants as asylees, and 7 percent of Salvadoran immigrants under other specific legislation (for example, cancellation of removal under NACARA). As of 2015, about 204,000 Salvadorans, 61,000 Hondurans, and 2,800 Nicaraguans benefitted from TPS based on USCIS data. Click here to read an article on TPS in the United States.

In the 2009-13 period, approximately 1.6 million Central American unauthorized immigrants resided in the United States, according to MPI estimates, representing 15 percent of the 11 million total unauthorized population. El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are among the top five origin countries of unauthorized immigrants. In August 2015, MPI estimated that approximately 118,000 Central American youth were immediately eligible for the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. As of June 30, 2015 (the latest data available from the U.S. government), 72,647 Central American unauthorized immigrants had applied for the DACA program, and 60,677 had been approved. Health Coverage More than half of Central American immigrants (52 percent) were uninsured: a much higher share compared to both the total foreign born (32 percent) and native born (12 percent). They were also much less likely than the foreign- and U.S.-born populations to have public or private health insurance, possibly due to lack of legal status (see Figure 7).

For all Central American immigrant groups, public health insurance rates were generally low (ranging from 14 percent to 22 percent). Private coverage rates were the highest for immigrants from Costa Rica (51 percent), Belize (52 percent), and Panama (63 percent), while the majority of immigrants from Guatemala (60 percent) and Honduras (62 percent) were uninsured. Figure 7. Health Coverage for Central American Immigrants, All Immigrants, and the Native Born, 2013 Note: The sum of shares by type of insurance is likely to be greater than 100 because people may have more than one type of insurance. Source: MPI tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 ACS. Diaspora The Central American diaspora population in the United States is comprised of approximately 5.3 million individuals who were either born in Central America or reported Central American ancestry, according to tabulations from the U.S. Census Bureau 2013 ACS. Notes: There is no universally-recognized definition of the term "diaspora." Most often, the term includes individuals who self-identify as having ancestral ties to a specific country of origin.

The Central American diaspora in the United States includes all individuals who were born in a Central American country, reported “Central American Hispanic” origin, or who selected at least one of the following responses on the two ACS questions about ancestry: “Costa Rican,” “Honduran,” “Nicaraguan,” “Panamanian,” “Salvadoran,” or “Central American.” Remittances Remittances sent to Central America increased five-fold since 2000. Global remittances sent to Central American countries via formal channels equaled nearly USD $15 billion in 2013, representing around 7 percent of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, for several countries including Guatemala (10 percent), Nicaragua (10 percent), El Salvador (16 percent), and Honduras (17 percent), remittances accounted for more than 10 percent of their GDP in 2013. Figure 8. Annual Remittance Flows to Central America, 1974-2014 Source: MPI tabulations of data from the World Bank Prospects Group, “Annual Remittances Data,” April 2015 update. Where Is Central America?

The Countries of the Region 3. El Salvador, Central America in Miniature The smallest of the Central American nations, El Salvador's many problems make it seem larger. Wracked by a civil war in the 1980's, the nation has yet to recover. The rampant corruption in the nation means that a high percentage of the young labor force tries to emigrate to the United States or other nations. El Salvador has much going for it, including friendly people, nice beaches, and stable government since the early 1990's. More » Jane Sweeney/AWL Images/Getty Images 4. Honduras, Ruins and Diving Honduras is an unlucky nation. It is a center of dangerous gang and drug activity, the political situation is occasionally unstable and to top it off it regularly gets socked by monster hurricanes and natural disasters . Cursed with arguably the worst crime rate in Central America, Honduras is a nation that constantly seems to be looking for answers. It is home to the best Mayan ruins in Central America outside of Guatemala and the diving is superb, so perhaps the tourism industry will help this nation pull itself up.

More » DreamPictures/The Image Bank/Getty Images The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms volcanism: significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (elev. 3,772 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pacaya (elev. 2,552 m), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, is one of the country's most active volcanoes with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana Demographic profile: Guatemala is a predominantly poor country that struggles in several areas of health and development, including infant, child, and maternal mortality, malnutrition, literacy, and contraceptive awareness and use. The country's large indigenous population is disproportionately affected. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and has the highest fertility rate in Latin America.

It also has the highest population growth rate in Latin America, which is likely to continue because of its large reproductive-age population and high birth rate. Almost half of Guatemala's population is under age 19, making it the youngest population in Latin America. Guatemala's total fertility rate has slowly declined during the last few decades due in part to limited government-funded health programs. However, the birth rate is still more than three children per woman and is markedly higher among its rural and indigenous populations. Guatemalans have a history of emigrating legally and illegally to Mexico, the United States, and Canada because of a lack of economic opportunity, political instability, and natural disasters. Emigration, primarily to the United States, escalated during the 1960 to 1996 civil war and accelerated after a peace agreement was signed. Thousands of Guatemalans who fled to Mexico returned after the war, but labor migration to southern Mexico continues.

0-14 years: 35.02% (male 2,711,683/female 2,608,295) 15-24 years: 21.8% (male 1,663,484/female 1,647,749) 25-54 years: 33.53% (male 2,425,931/female 2,666,790) 55-64 years: 5.23% (male 377,642/female 416,939) 65 years and over: 4.42% (male 311,165/female 360,280) (2016 est.) population pyramid: Executive branch: chief of state: President Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (since 14 January 2016); Vice President Jafeth CABRERA Franco (since 14 January 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head

 of government head of government: President Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (since 14 January 2016); Vice President Jafeth CABRERA Franco (since 14 January 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (not eligible for consecutive terms); election last held in 2 rounds on 6 September and 25 October 2015 (next to be held in September 2019) election results: Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (FNC) elected president; percent of vote in first round - Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (FNC) 23.8%, Sandra TORRES (UNE) 19.8%, Manuel BALDIZON (LIDER) 19.6%; percent of vote in second round - Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (FNC) 67.4%, Sandra TORRES (UNE) 32.6% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (

158 seats; 127 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies within each of the country's 22 departments by simple majority vote and 31 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 6 September 2015 (next to be held in September 2019) election results: percent of vote by party - LIDER 19.10%, UNE 14.83%, TODOS 9.74%, PP 9.43%, FCN 8.75%, EG 6.24%, PU 5.69%, UCN 5.43%, Winaq-URNG-MAIZ 4.32%, Convergence 3.84%, VIVA 3.66%, PAN 3.42, FUERZA 2.07%, other 3.48%; seats by party - LIDER 44, UNE 36, TODOS 18, PP 17, FCN 11, EG 7, UCN 6, PU 5, Winaq-

URNG-MAIZ 3, Convergence 3, VIVA 3, PAN 3, FUERZA 2 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 13 magistrates including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - the court president also supervises trial judges countrywide; Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court magistrates elected by the Congress of the Republic from candidates proposed by the Postulation Committee, an independent body of deans of the country's university law schools, representatives of the country's law associations, and representatives of the Courts of Appeal; magistrates elected for concurrent, renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges - 1 elected by the Congress of the Republic, 1 by the Supreme Court, 1 by the president of the republic, 1 by the (public) University of San Carlos, and 1 by the lawyers bar association; judges elected for concurrent, renewable 5-year terms; the presidency of the court rotates among the magistrates for a single 1-year term subordinate courts: numerous first instance

 and appellate courts Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO [Roberto GONZALEZ Diaz-Duran] Convergence Democratic Union or UD [Edwin Armando MARTINEZ Herrera] Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENEGRO Cottom] Everyone Together for Guatemala or TODOS [Felipe ALEJOS] FUERZA [Maurico REDFORD] Grand National Alliance or GANA [Jaime Antonio MARTINEZ Lohayza] Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or Winaq-URNG [Angel SANCHEZ Viesca] Institutional Republican Party (formerly the Guatemalan Republican Front) or PRI [Luis Fernando PEREZ] National Advancement Party or PAN [Juan GUTIERREZ Strauss] National Unity for Hope or UNE [Sandra TORRES] Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Mario ESTRADA] National Convergence Front or FCN [Edgar Justino OVALLE Maldonado] New National Alternative or ANN [Pablo MONSANTO] Patriot Party or PP [Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias] Renewed Democratic Liberty or LIDER [Manuel BALDIZON] Unionista Party or PU

 [Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen] Victoria (Victory) [Amilcar RIVERA] Vision with Values or VIVA [Harold CABALLEROS] (part of a coalition with EG during the last legislative election) Alliance Against Impunity or AI (includes among others Center for Legal Action on Human Rights (CALDH), Family and Friends of the Disappeared of Guatemala (FAMDEGUA)) Civic and Political Convergence of Women Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF Foundation for the Development of Guatemala or FUNDESA Guatemala Visible Mutual Support Group or GAM Movimiento PRO-Justicia International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU,

 ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO chief of mission: Ambassador Gladys Marithza RUIZ SANCHEZ (since 2 June 2016) chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s): Del Rio (TX), San Bernadino (CA), Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ) consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), Miami, New York, Phoenix, Providence (RI), San

 Francisco, Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ) chief of mission: Ambassador Todd D.

ROBINSON (since 10 October 2014) embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: DPO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 2326-4000 Flag description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue, with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) representing liberty and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands represent the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; the white band denotes peace and purity name: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala) lyrics/music: Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE note: adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet

 Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem; his authorship was not discovered until 1911 Economy :: GUATEMALA Economy - overview: Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America with a GDP per capita roughly half the average for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The agricultural sector accounts for 13.6% of GDP and 31% of the labor force; key agricultural exports include sugar, coffee, bananas, and vegetables. Guatemala is the top remittance recipient in Central America as a result of Guatemala's large expatriate community in the US. These inflows are a primary source of foreign income, equivalent to over one-half of the country's exports or one-tenth of its GDP. The 1996 peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in July 2006, spurring increased investment and diversification of exports, with the largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural exports. While CAFTA-DR has helped improve the investment climate, concerns over security, the lack of skilled workers, and poor infrastructure continue to hamper foreign direct investment. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest 20% of the population accounting for more than 51% of Guatemala's overall consumption.

More than half of the population is below the national poverty line, and 23% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which make up more than 40% of the population, averages 79%, with 39.8% of the indigenous population living in extreme poverty. Nearly one-half of Guatemala's children under age five are chronically malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. Guatemala is facing growing fiscal pressures exacerbated by multiple corruption scandals in 2015 that led to the resignation of the president, vice president, and numerous high-level economic officials.

10 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 8.915 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 1.025 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 664 million kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 3.73 million kW (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 61.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 29.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 8.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (July 2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 Telephone system: general assessment: fairly modern network centered in

 the city of Guatemala domestic: state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opened the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity roughly 10 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are being concentrated on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular teledensity about 120 per 100 persons international: country code - 502; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber-optic submarine cable system that, together, provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015) country comparison to the world: 129 Transnational Issues :: GUATEMALA Disputes - international: annual ministerial meetings under the Organization of American States-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in

 April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution, but this vote was suspended indefinitely; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US Central American Immigrants in the United States | migrationpolicy.org Central American Immigrants in the United States You are here Central American Immigrants in the United States January 10, 2011 Spotlight By Aaron Terrazas A display of Salvadoran national and cultural pride at the Salvadoran American Day Festival in Hempstead, New York.

Source Spotlights are often updated as new data become available. Please click here to find the most recent version of this Spotlight. Versión espanol The United States is home to about 2.9 million immigrants from the Central American countries of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Immigration from Central America has grown rapidly in recent decades, but more than two of every five Central American immigrants lack legal immigration status while about one in ten resides in the United States under temporary humanitarian protection. Overall, the Central American immigrant population faces substantial challenges in the United States including generally low levels of education, limited English proficiency, and an overall concentration in jobs that have experienced substantial employment losses during the economic crisis of the past three years. Central American immigrants are heavily concentrated in California, Texas, and Florida but also account for a large share of the foreign-born population in places like the New Orleans and Washington, DC metropolitan areas (for more information on immigrants by state, please see the ACS/Census Data tool on the MPI Data Hub). This spotlight focuses on Central American immigrants residing in the United States and examines the population's size, geographic distribution, and socioeconomic characteristics. The data used are the most recent available and come from the U.S.

Census Bureau's 2009 American Community Survey (ACS), the 2000 Decennial Census (as well as earlier censuses), and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Immigration Statistics (OIS). Click on the bullet points below for more information: Size and Geographic Distribution There were 4.6 million self-identified members of the Central American diaspora residing in the United States in 2009. Defining the Foreign-Born Population The U.S. Census Bureau defines the foreign born as individuals who were not entitled to U.S. citizenship at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or certain other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. The terms "foreign born" and "immigrant" are used interchangeably. Size and Geographic Distribution There were about 2.9 million foreign born from Central America residing in the United States in 2009.

There were 2,915,420 foreign born from Central America residing in the United States in 2009, accounting for 7.6 percent of the country's 38.5 million immigrants. The Central American immigrant population in the United States has grown rapidly in recent decades, tripling from 345,655 in 1980 to 1.1 million by 1990 and nearly doubling to 2.0 million in 2000 (see Table 1). Between 2000 and 2009, the Central American immigrant population grew by nearly 890,000 – an increase similar to the population's growth of 910,000 during the 1990s. This growth has been mostly driven by immigrants from El Salvador and Guatemala, who accounted for 41.2 and 28.7 percent, respectively, of the total increase in the Central American born between 1980 and 2009. Table 1.

Total and Central American Foreign-Born Populations, 1960 to 2009 Year 2,915,420 7.6% Source: Data for 2000 from the 2000 Decennial Census; data for 2009 from the American Community Survey 2009. Data for earlier decades from Gibson, Campbell, and Emily Lennon, U.S. Census Bureau, Working Paper No. 29, Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 1850 to 1990, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC., 1999. Available online . Back to the top Two-thirds of Central American immigrants were from El Salvador and Guatemala. In 2009, more than two-thirds (66.8 percent) of all Central American immigrants were from El Salvador (39.4 percent) and Guatemala (27.4 percent). By contrast, Salvadorans and Guatemalans accounted for less than one-quarter (23.9 percent) of Central American immigrants in the United States in 1960 (see Table 2).

Incidentally, during the 1960s and 1970s Panamanians were the largest immigrant group from Central America. The remaining one-third of Central American immigrants in 2009 were from Honduras (16.1 percent), Nicaragua (8.7 percent), Panama (3.6 percent), Costa Rica (3.0 percent), and Belize (1.7 percent). A small share of Central American immigrants (0.6 percent) listed their country of origin as "Central America." Overall, Salvadoran and Guatemalan immigrants were among the top ten foreign-born groups in the United States in 2009. See pie charts showing the top 10 countries of birth of immigrants residing in the United States in 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2009 . Review data on general U.S. Historical Immigration Trends . Table 2. Central American Immigrants by Country of Origin, 1960 to 2009 103.8 3.6 Notes: *Share of all Central American immigrants in year listed.

Shares my not sum to 100 due to rounding and, in 2009, some immigrants listing only "Central America" as their country of birth. Source: Data for 2000 from the 2000 Decennial Census; data for 2009 from the American Community Survey 2009. Data for earlier decades from Gibson, Campbell and Emily Lennon, US Census Bureau, Working Paper No. 29, Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 1850 to 1990, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC., 1999. Available online . Back to the top Over half of all Central American born resided in California, Texas, and Florida. In 2009, California had the largest number of resident Central American immigrants with a total of 846,734, or 29.0 percent of the overall Central American-born population, followed by Texas (357,516, or 12.3 percent), and Florida (342,181, or 11.7 percent).

New York (230,941, or 7.9 percent), Maryland (132,046, or 4.5 percent), Virginia (125,824, or 4.3 percent), and New Jersey (122,467, or 4.2 percent) also had sizeable Central American immigrant populations. Back to the top The Central American born accounted for over one in five immigrants in the District of Columbia and Louisiana. The Central American born made up 29.0 percent of all immigrants in the District of Columbia and 22.3 percent in Louisiana. Over one in ten immigrants in Maryland (18.1 percent), Virginia (15.6 percent), Rhode Island (14.7 percent), North Carolina (12.1 percent), Nebraska (11.9 percent) and Arkansas (10.5 percent) were from Central America. Back to the top Between 2000 and 2009, the size of the Central American immigrant population doubled or more in 18 states.

The Central American immigrant population increased by 100 percent or more in 18 states between 2000 and 2009. Most of these states had a relatively small share of Central American born to begin with, but several states have historically had rather large populations including Georgia, which saw a 120.4 percent increase, North Carolina, with an increase of 120.2 percent, and Maryland, which experienced a 99.6 percent increase in resident Central American immigrants. (See Table 3). Back to the top Almost one in five Central American immigrants resided in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. In 2009, the metropolitan area with the largest number of Central American born was Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA with 570,053 immigrants, or 19.6 percent of the total Central American immigrant population.

This was followed by New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA (324,518, or 11.2 percent), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL (248,715, or 8.6 percent), Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (231,231, or 8.0 percent), Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX (195,113, or 6.7 percent), and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (100,739, or 3.5 percent). Back to the top Nearly one-third of immigrants in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area were from Central America. In 2009, the Central American born accounted for 30.9 percent of all immigrants in the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA metropolitan area.

They also accounted for 21.0 percent in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 17.1 percent in Trenton-Ewing, NJ, 15.5 percent in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, 15.3 percent in Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX, 14.1 percent in Richmond, VA, 12.9 percent in Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC, and 12.9 percent in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA. Back to the top There were 4.6 million self-identified members of the Central American diaspora residing in the United States in 2009. Of the 4.6 million self-identified members of the Central American diaspora residing in the United States in 2009, 63.2 percent were born in Central America (excluding individuals born in Central America to at least one U.S.-born parent or who were native-born U.S. citizens at birth) and over one third (36.1 percent) were U.S. citizens at birth.

A small share of immigrants with Central American ancestry (0.6 percent) was born elsewhere, mostly in Mexico. Note: There is no universally recognized definition of the term "diaspora". Most often, the term includes individuals who self-identify as having ancestral ties to a specific country of origin. To calculate the size of the Central American diaspora in the United States, we included all individuals who selected "Belizean," "Costa Rican," "Guatemalan," "Honduran," "Nicaraguan," "Panamanian," "Salvadoran," or "Central American" (either alone or in combination with another option) in response to the two ACS questions on ancestry. Legal and Unauthorized Central American Immigrants One in every 10 unauthorized immigrants in 2009 was from Central America. The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that there were 1.3 million unauthorized immigrants from Central America in the United States in March 2009. Central Americans accounted for 11.7 percent of the 11.1 million estimated unauthorized immigrants residing in the United States, and just under half (about 45 percent) of the 2.9 million Central American immigrants in the United States were unauthorized.

Back to the top About 302,500 Central Americans reside in the United States under Temporary Protected Status. The United States provides limited humanitarian protection on a temporary basis – known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – to individuals fleeing unsafe or problematic circumstances in their home countries (or who are already present in the U.S. and cannot return home) but who fail to meet the formal threshold required for refugee or asylum status. The Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of State can issue TPS for a period of six to 18 months and can extend the period if conditions do not change in the country or origin. (Congress is also authorized to grant TPS directly, although it has not done so since 1990.) TPS was extended to certain Salvadoran immigrants in 1990 as the country was embroiled in civil war. TPS was also granted for some Honduran and Nicaraguan immigrants in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, but not for Salvadorans or Guatemalans, who instead benefited from a temporary stay on deportations after the disaster. TPS was then granted for Salvadorans following two devastating earthquakes in 2001.

In May 2010 TPS was renewed for Salvadorans, Hondurans, and Nicaraguans and is valid through January 2012. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) estimates that there are 229,000 Salvadorans, 70,000 Hondurans, and 3,500 Nicaraguans currently residing in the United States under TPS. The U.S. government has not yet responded to Guatemala's June 2010 request for TPS following a volcanic eruption and a severe tropical storm in that country. While it hasn't officially denied this request, the United States has resumed deportations to Guatemala. Back to the top More than 606,000 Central American foreign born gained lawful permanent residence in the United States between 2000 and 2009. Between 2000 and 2009, about 10.3 million immigrants obtained green cards, including 606,894 Central American born.

Central American immigrants accounted for 4.2 percent (or 47,868) of the 1.1 million immigrants who received lawful permanent residence in 2009 alone. Back to the top Nearly 400,000 Central American immigrants naturalized as U.S. citizens over the last decade. Between 2000 and 2009, 397,899 Central Americans naturalized as U.S. citizens. They accounted for about one in 20, or 5.8 percent, of all naturalizations over the nine-year period. Back to the top Overall, Central American immigrants were much less likely than other immigrant groups to be naturalized U.S. citizens. Among the Central American foreign born, 30.2 percent were naturalized U.S. citizens, compared with 43.7 percent among the overall foreign-born population.

Panamanians (65.5 percent) and Belizeans (61.2 percent) had the highest naturalization rates of all Central American immigrant groups, while Salvadorans (27.9 percent), Guatemalans (24.0 percent), and Hondurans (21.3 percent) had the lowest naturalization rates. Naturalization rates among Costa Ricans (45.7 percent) and Nicaraguans (49.6 percent) were closer to the rate among the overall foreign born population. Demographic and Socioeconomic Overview Over one-third of the Central American foreign born in the United States arrived in 2000 or later. As of 2009, 35.8 percent of the 2.9 million Central American foreign born entered the country in 2000 or later. Of the remaining share of Central American immigrants, 28.0 percent entered between 1990 and 1999, 24.8 percent between 1980 and 1989, 7.6 percent between 1970 and 1979, and 3.9 percent prior to 1970.

By contrast, 31.6 percent of the 38.5 million total foreign born entered the country in 2000 or later with 27.9 percent entering between 1990 and 1999, 19.6 percent entering between 1980 and 1989, 11.0 percent between 1970 and 1979, and the remaining 9.9 percent prior to 1970. Although a large portion of all Central American immigrants arrived in the United States in the past decade, there are substantial differences by country of origin. For example, while nearly half of Guatemalan (46.2 percent) and Honduran (44.4 percent) immigrants are recent arrivals, the shares of recent arrivals are much lower among immigrants from Belize (19.0 percent), Nicaragua (18.6 percent), and Panama (14.1 percent). The shares of recent arrivals among immigrants from El Salvador (32.1 percent) and Costa Rica (30.1 percent) are close to the group average.

Back to the top Central American immigrants were more likely than other immigrants and the native born to be working age adults. Of the Central American immigrants residing in the United States in 2009, 79.3 percent were adults of working age (between 18 and 54-years-old), 14.5 percent were seniors (age 55 and older), and 6.3 percent were youth (under age 18). Of the total foreign-born population in the United States in 2009, 68.7 percent were of working age, 24.1 percent were seniors, and 7.2 percent were youth. Among native-born U.S. citizens, 64.8 percent were of working age, 32.0 percent were seniors, and 35.2 percent were youth.

Among Central American immigrants, 82.5 percent of Hondurans, 80.9 percent of Guatemalans, 80.8 percent of Salvadorans, 76.4 percent of Nicaraguans, 69.6 percent of Belizeans, 67.7 percent of Costa Ricans, and 56.7 percent of Panamanians were adults of working age. Back to the top Central American immigrant men outnumbered women in 2009. Over half, or 53.8 percent, of Central American immigrants residing in the United States in 2009 were men, compared with 49.9 percent among all immigrant populations. There are notable gender imbalances among the immigrant populations from several Central American countries. Men accounted for 61.2 percent of Guatemalan immigrants, for instance, and 54.8 percent of Honduran immigrants. By contrast, only 35.2 percent of Panamanian immigrants, 43.6 percent of Belizean immigrants, and 46.2 percent of Nicaraguan immigrants were men.

Immigrant populations from other Central American countries were more gender balanced: 48.6 percent of Costa Rican immigrants and 52.5 percent of Salvadoran immigrants were men. Back to the top Two-thirds of Central American immigrants in 2009 were limited English proficient. Over two-thirds (67.7 percent) of Central American immigrants reported speaking English less than "very well," thus classifying them limited English proficient (LEP). This is substantially higher than the 52.0 percent among all foreign born age 5 and older who reported limited English proficiency in 2009. Moreover, 17.5 percent of Central American immigrants reported speaking no English at all, compared with 10.6 percent of all immigrants who reported the same. The rates of limited English proficiency vary substantially by country of origin. For instance, 74.0 percent of Guatemalan, 71.8 percent of Honduran, and 71.5 percent of Salvadoran immigrants age 5 and older were LEP, compared with 59.5 percent of Nicaraguans and 46.2 percent of Costa Ricans.

Just 26.7 percent of Panamanians and 8.0 percent of Belizeans were LEP. (English is widely spoken in Panama and is the national language of Belize.) About one-fifth of Guatemalan (21.0 percent), Honduran (20.3 percent), and Salvadoran (18.3 percent) immigrants reported speaking no English at all. (Note: The term "limited English proficient" refers to any person age 5 and older who reported speaking English "not at all," "not well," or "well" on their survey questionnaire. Individuals who reported speaking only English or speaking English "very well" are considered proficient in English). Back to the top Nearly half of Central American immigrant adults had not attained a high school diploma. In terms of academic achievement, Central American immigrants were much less educated than other immigrants and the native born. In 2009, nearly half (48.0 percent) of Central American immigrants age 25 and older did not have a high school diploma, compared with 30.1 percent of the total foreign-born population and 10.0 percent of all native-born adults over the age of 25.

About one quarter (or 24.9 percent) of Central American immigrants, 22.9 percent of all immigrants, and 30.1 percent of native-born adults reported a high school diploma or the equivalent general education diploma (GED) as their highest level of education. The share of adults with a high school education or less varied among Central American immigrant groups, ranging from 55.9 percent among Guatemalans, 55.5 percent among Salvadorans, and 50.3 percent among Hondurans to 23.6 percent among Nicaraguans, 19.3 percent among Costa Ricans, 12.9 percent among Belizeans, and 9.3 percent among Panamanians. On the other end of the education continuum, 9.8 percent of Central American immigrants had a Bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 27.7 percent of all immigrants and 28.5 percent of native-born adults age 25 and older.

Additionally, 17.3 percent of all Central American born had received some college education (at least one year) or an Associate's degree, compared with 19.3 percent of all immigrants and 31.3 percent of native born adults. Back to the top Central American immigrant men and women were more likely to participate in the civilian labor force than were foreign-born men and women overall. In 2009, Central American-born men (88.8 percent) and women (65.1 percent) age 16 and older were more likely to participate in the civilian labor force – i.e., to be employed or be seeking employment -- than were foreign-born men (80.0 percent) and women (57.4) overall. They were also more likely than native-born men (69.1 percent) and women (60.2 percent) to participate in the labor force. Back to the top Employed Central American immigrants were heavily concentrated in construction, extraction, and repair occupations and in service jobs.

Among the 1.3 million Central American immigrant male workers age 16 and older in 2009, 39.9 percent were employed in construction, extraction and transportation occupations and 24.5 percent worked in service occupations (see Table 4). Among the 803,000 Central American-born female workers age 16 and older in 2009, 42.3 percent reported working in service occupations and 12.9 percent were employed in administrative support occupations. Table 4. Occupations of Employed Workers in the Civilian Labor Force Age 16 and Older by Gender and Origin, 2009 Back to the top About one-fifth of Central American immigrants lived in poverty. About one-fifth, or 20.1 percent, of Central American immigrants lived in a household with an annual income below the federal poverty line in 2009. The share of Central American immigrants living in poverty was substantially higher than that among the entire foreign-born population (17.3 percent) and the native born (13.6 percent).

The share of foreign-born Central Americans living in poverty varies by country of origin, and ranges from 25.7 percent among Hondurans and 24.1 percent among Guatemalans to 17.7 percent among Salvadorans, 16.5 percent among Belizeans, 14.3 percent among Nicaraguans, 14.2 percent among Panamanians, and 13.5 percent among Costa Ricans. Note: Individuals residing in families with a total annual income of less than the federal poverty line are described as living in poverty. Whether an individual falls below the official poverty line depends not only on total family income, but also on the size of the family, the number of children, and the age of the head of household. The ACS reports total income over the 12 months preceding the interview date. Back to the top About 1.5 million children under the age of 18 resided in a household with a Central American immigrant parent. In 2009, about 1.5 million children under the age of 18 resided in a household with an immigrant parent born in Central America.

Most of these children (90.6 percent) were native-born U.S. citizens. Note: Includes only children who reside with at least one parent and households where either the household head or spouse is an immigrant from Central America. Central America Pick a Region :. . Central America Poverty Central America is considered to be part of the developing world . In general, people that live in the developing world tend to be poor, have shorter life spans, have higher rates of illiteracy, and lack quality health care. Within the six countries of Central America, there is significant economic diversity. For instance, Nicaragua is considered to be the least developed of the six countries because it has the worst indicators (see chart below) of the Central American countries for infant mortality rate , adult literacy rate , and GDP . Comparisons of Central America and the United States on Key Indicators * *Sources: United Nations Development Programme. 1999. Human Development Report 1999. New York: Oxford University Press and United Nations Development Programme. 1997. Human development Report 1997. New York: Oxford University Press.

This table uses 1997 statistics, with exception of the Adult Literacy Rate for the United States (which uses 1995 statistics). In contrast to Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica are more developed. With respect to GDP per capita, Panama has the highest ($3,080). However, Costa Rica is considered to be the most "developed" of the Central American countries because it has a relatively high GDP per capita and has the best indicators of the Central American countries for life expectancy at birth, infant mortality rate, and adult literacy rate. It is widely believed that Costa Ricas economy has been relatively successful because when the Spanish arrived, there was not a large indigenous population. Therefore, a two-tier society, with the Spaniards on top and the indigenous population on the bottom, did not evolve as it did in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Instead, its population was primarily made up of Spaniards. There are not only economic differences between countries, but also within countries. For example, each of the Central American countries has a small group of very rich individuals and a large group of very poor individuals. Trade Historically, Central American trade has been very dependent on two products: coffee and bananas.

During much of this century, coffee has been the single largest Central American export. Likewise, bananas have been a very important export for Honduras, Panama, and Costa Rica. Due to the importance of bananas and the fact that these countries are republics , these three countries have often been called "banana republics." Photo: Banana trees in Central America. Photo by Michael Snarr. Most of these exports went to the United States, which created a strong trade link between the United States and Central America. In fact, during the 20th century, the United States has been the main purchaser of Central American products. In addition, most of the products that Central America purchases come from the United States. This relationship, however, is not as important to the United States as it is to Central America since the goods the United States sells to and purchases from Central America are only a small amount of total U.S. trade. Photo: Exporting goods from Central America to the United States. Photo by Michael Snarr. In recent decades, Central America has had success in diversifying its exports (so that it is less dependent on bananas and coffee) and diversifying its trading partners (so that it is less dependent on the United States as a trading partner).

Nevertheless, this poor region is struggling to develop its economy. The Central American Common Market In 1960 Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua created the Central American Common Market (CACM) in an effort to promote economic development (Costa Rica joined in 1963). The CACM, however, has suffered from political disagreements between El Salvador and Honduras. In 1969 political tensions resulted in a war between these two countries, which slowed economic cooperation in all of Central America. In recent years, efforts have been made to increase economic integration among the six countries. One of the obstacles, however, has been wealthy Costa Ricas reluctance to tie its economy to its poorer neighbors. Privacy Statement and Copyright ï¿½ 1999-2002 by Wheeling Jesuit University/Center for Educational Technologiesï¿½. All rights reserved. ...

Question: Which country in Central America has the highest population?
Answer: GUATEMALA