Countries in Central America

by countryaah · Published June 5, 2019 · Updated May 29, 2020

Central America is the narrow and elongated part of America that forms the land link between South and North America. In a geographical sense, Central America encompasses the land area between the Atrato sink in northwestern Colombia and the Tehuantepecnäset in Mexico. According to this delineation, southeastern Mexico (approximately the states of Chiapas and Tabasco along with the entire Yucatán Peninsula) and a smaller area of Colombia are located in Central America.

How Many Countries in Central America?

According to a political demarcation, however, Central America includes the seven independent countries. They are: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. In economic regards, the term Central America is often used in the five states of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. These countries can be regarded as an economic-political entity with some justification, but the demarcation also has a historical background: Belize, formerly British Honduras, became independent in 1981, and Panama was a part of Colombia until 1903.

The countries of Central America feature tropical climate and people, largely mestizo. The population is predominantly Catholic and its economy is based on agriculture. Spanish and English are the predominant languages, but indigenous languages are known to many people because of their ancestry.

Map of Countries in Central America

List of Central American Countries

As of 2020, there are a total of 7 countries in Central America. See the following for full list of Central American countries in alphabetical order:

#	Country Name	Official Name	Independence Date
1	Belize	Belize	September 21, 1981
2	Costa Rica	Republic of Costa Rica	September 15, 1821
3	El Salvador	Republic of El Salvador	September 15, 1821
4	Guatemala	Republic of Guatemala	September 15, 1821
5	Honduras	Republic of Honduras	September 15, 1821
6	Nicaragua	Republic of Nicaragua	September 15, 1821
7	Panama	Republic of Panama	November 28, 1821

All Countries in Middle America and Their Capitals

Compared to Central America, Middle America is a more general term. Besides nations of Central America, Middle America also include Caribbean, Mexico (located in southern North America), as well as Colombia and Venezuela (located in northern South America). Check out the list of all countries in Middle America now:

Antigua and Barbuda

Capital: Saint Jonh’s
Territorial extension: 440 km²
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Bahamas

Capital: Nassau
Territorial extension: 13,880 km²
Language: English
Currency: Bahamian Dollar

Barbados

Capital: Bridgetown
Territorial extension: 430 km²
Language: English
Currency: Barbados Dollar

Belize

Capital: Belmopan
Territorial extension: 22,970 km²
Language: English
Currency: Belize Dollar

Costa Rica

Capital: São José
Territorial extension: 51.100 km²
Language: Spanish
Currency: Costa Rican Colón

Cuba

Capital: Havana
Territorial extension: 109.890 km²
Language: Spanish
Currency: Cuban Peso

Dominica

Capital: Roseau
Territorial extension: 750 km²
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

El Salvador

Capital: San Salvador
Territorial extent: 21,040 km²
Language: Spanish
Currency: US Dollar and Colon

Grenade

Capital: Saint George’s
Territorial extension: 340 km²
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Guatemala

Capital: Guatemala City
Territorial extension: 108.890 km²
Language: Spanish
Currency: Quetzal

Haiti

Capital: Port-au-Prince
Territorial extension: 27,750 km²
Language: French and Creole
Currency: Gourde

Honduras

Capital: Tegucigalpa
Territorial extension: 112.490 km²
Language: Spanish
Currency: Lempira

Jamaica

Capital: Kingston
Territorial extension: 10,990 km²
Language: English
Currency: Jamaican Dollar

Nicaragua

Capital: Managua
Territorial extension: 130.370 km²
Language: Spanish
Currency: Cordoba

Panama

Capital: Panama City
Territorial extension: 75,420 km²
Language: Spanish
Currency: Balboa

Dominican Republic

Capital: Sao Domingo
Territorial extension: 48.670 km²
Language: Spanish
Currency: Weight

Saint Lucia

Capital: Castries
Territorial extension: 620 km²
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Capital: Basseterre
Territorial extension: 260 km²
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Capital: Kingstown
Territorial extension: 390 km²
Language: English
Currency: Jamaican Dollar

Trinidad and Tobago

Capital: Port of Spain
Territorial extension: 5,130 km²
Language: English
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago Dollar

MCCA Countries

The Central American Common Market (MCCA) emerged in 1960 with the aim of creating a common market for the region. From this bloc, it is intended to constitute the Central American Union, in the same way as the European Union. The following nations are founders and current members of the MCCA: