Editing Central America (section)

== Economy ==
{{See also|Economy of Belize|Economy of Costa Rica|Economy of El Salvador|Economy of Guatemala|Economy of Honduras|Economy of Nicaragua|Economy of Panama|l1=Economy of Belize|l2=Costa Rica|l3=El Salvador|l4=Guatemala|l5=Honduras|l6=Nicaragua|l7=Panama}}
<gallery>
File:Banco deGuatemala.JPG|[[Bank of Guatemala|Central Bank of Guatemala]]
File:World Trade Center San Salvador.jpg|[[World Trade Center San Salvador]]
File:BCH.jpg|[[Central Bank of Honduras]]
File:Maqueta del Banco Central de Nicaragua.jpg|[[Central Bank of Nicaragua]]
File:Banco Nacional de Panamá, en vía España de la ciudad de Panamá.jpg|[[National Bank of Panama]]
File:Belizean Central Bank 2015.jpg|[[Central Bank of Belize]] 
</gallery>
[[File:Federal Republic of Central America 1835 4 Escudos.jpg|thumb|Federal Republic of Central America, 4 Escudos (1835). Struck in the San Jose, Costa Rica mint (697 were minted)]]
 
[[File:LogoSieca.jpg|thumb|left|Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration]]

Signed in 2004, the [[Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement|Central American Free Trade Agreement]] (CAFTA) is an agreement between the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the [[Dominican Republic]]. The treaty is aimed at promoting [[free trade]] among its members.

Guatemala has the largest economy in the region.<ref name=IMFWEO2012 /><ref name=IMFGDP2012 /> Its main exports are coffee, sugar, bananas, petroleum, clothing, and [[cardamom]]. Of its 10.29&nbsp;billion dollar annual exports,<ref name=ciaexport /> 40.2% go to the United States, 11.1% to neighboring El Salvador, 8% to Honduras, 5.5% to Mexico, 4.7% to Nicaragua, and 4.3% to Costa Rica.<ref name=ciaexportgu />

The region is particularly attractive for companies (especially clothing companies) because of its geographical proximity to the [[United States]], very low wages and considerable tax advantages. In addition, the decline in the prices of coffee and other export products and the structural adjustment measures promoted by the international financial institutions have partly ruined agriculture, favouring the emergence of maquiladoras. This sector accounts for 42 per cent of total exports from El Salvador, 55 per cent from Guatemala, and 65 per cent from Honduras. However, its contribution to the economies of these countries is disputed; raw materials are imported, jobs are precarious and low-paid, and tax exemptions weaken public finances.<ref name="insumisos.com">{{cite web| url = https://www.insumisos.com/diplo/NODE/663.HTM| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110407125941/http://www.insumisos.com/diplo/NODE/663.HTM| archive-date = 7 April 2011| title = Las "maquilas" no admiten sindicalistas {{!}} El Dipló}}</ref>

They are also criticised for the working conditions of employees: insults and physical violence, abusive dismissals (especially of pregnant workers), working hours, non-payment of overtime. According to Lucrecia Bautista, coordinator of the ''maquilas'' sector of the audit firm Coverco, "labour law regulations are regularly violated in maquilas and there is no political will to enforce their application. In the case of infringements, the labour inspectorate shows remarkable leniency. It is a question of not discouraging investors." Trade unionists are subject to pressure, and sometimes to kidnapping or murder. In some cases, business leaders have used the services of the [[Mara (gang)|maras]]. Finally, black lists containing the names of trade unionists or political activists are circulating in employers' circles.<ref name="insumisos.com"/>

Economic growth in Central America is projected to slow slightly in 2014–15, as country-specific domestic factors offset the positive effects from stronger economic activity in the United States.<ref name=IMF2014 />

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Central American countries
!Country
!GDP<br />(nominal)<br /><small>$ millions</small><ref name=IMFWEO2012 />{{efn|name=in-millions-usd|Values listed in millions USD.}}
!GDP<br />(nominal<br />per capita)<ref>Data mostly refers to IMF staff estimates for the year 2013, made in April 2014. [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2013&ey=2013&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=NGDPDPC&grp=0&a=&pr.x=41&pr.y=13 World Economic Outlook Database-April 2014], [[International Monetary Fund]]. Accessed on 9 April 2014.</ref><ref>Data refers mostly to the year 2012. [http://databank.worldbank.org/ddp/home.do?Step=12&id=4&CNO=2 World Development Indicators database], [[World Bank]]. Database updated on 18 December 2013. Accessed on 18 December 2013.</ref>
!GDP<br />(PPP)<br /><small>$ millions</small><ref name=IMFGDP2012 />{{efn|name=in-millions-usd}}
|-style="text-align: right"
|style="text-align:left;"|Belize
|1,552
|$4,602
|2,914
|-style="text-align: right"
|style="text-align:left;"|Costa Rica
|44,313
| $10,432
|57,955
|-style="text-align: right"
|style="text-align:left;"|El Salvador
|24,421
| $3,875
|46,050
|-style="text-align: right"
|style="text-align:left;"|Guatemala
|50,303
| $3,512
|78,012
|-style="text-align: right"
|style="text-align:left;"|Honduras
|18,320
| $2,323
|37,408
|-style="text-align: right"
|style="text-align:left;"|Nicaragua
|7,695
| $1,839
|19,827
|-style="text-align: right"
|style="text-align:left;"|Panama
|34,517
| $10,838
|55,124
|}

=== Tourism ===
{{See also|Tourism in Belize|Tourism in Costa Rica|Tourism in El Salvador|Tourism in Guatemala|Tourism in Honduras|Tourism in Nicaragua|Tourism in Panama|l1=Tourism in Belize|l2=Costa Rica|l3=El Salvador|l4=Guatemala|l5=Honduras|l6=Nicaragua|l7=Panama}}

===Coasts===
<gallery>
File:Playa Blanca Guatemala.jpg|Playa Blanca Guatemala
File:Playa de Corral de Mulas, Usulután, El Salvador - panoramio.jpg|[[Jiquilisco Bay]], El Salvador
File:Roatan West End 95 we 006.jpg|[[Roatán]], Honduras
File:Pink Pearl Island-5.jpg|Pink Pearl Island Nicaragua
File:Costa Rica Playa Tamarindo and Rivermouth 2007 Aerial Photograph Tamarindowiki 01.JPG|[[Tamarindo, Costa Rica|Tamarindo]], Costa Rica
File:Insel Zapatilla Panama.jpg|[[Cayos Zapatilla]], Panama
File:Corozal Beach, Corozal, Belize.jpg|Corozal Beach, Belize
</gallery>

[[File:Great Blue Hole.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Great Blue Hole]] off the coast of Belize is a prime [[ecotourism]] destination. It is a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]]]]
[[File:Semuc Champey, Guatemala.jpg|thumb|[[Semuc Champey]], Guatemala.]]

Tourism in Belize has grown considerably in more recent times, and it is now the second largest industry in the nation. Belizean Prime Minister [[Dean Barrow]] has stated his intention to use tourism to combat poverty throughout the country.<ref name=Cuellar2013 /> The growth in tourism has positively affected the agricultural, commercial, and finance industries, as well as the construction industry. The results for Belize's tourism-driven economy have been significant, with the nation welcoming almost one million tourists in a calendar year for the first time in its history in 2012.<ref name=SPS2013 /> Belize is also the only country in Central America with English as its official language, making this country a comfortable destination for English-speaking tourists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.projectexpedition.com/location/belize/|title=Belize {{!}} Tours & Activities – Project Expedition|website=Project Expedition|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-30}}</ref>

Costa Rica is the most visited nation in Central America.<ref name=Rodr2014 /> Tourism in Costa Rica is one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the country,<ref name=Rojas2004 /> having become the largest source of foreign revenue by 1995.<ref name=Inman1997 /> Since 1999, tourism has earned more foreign exchange than bananas, pineapples and coffee exports combined.<ref name=visitcostarica /> The tourism boom began in 1987,<ref name=Inman1997 /> with the number of visitors up from 329,000 in 1988, through 1.03&nbsp;million in 1999, to a historical record of 2.43&nbsp;million foreign visitors and $1.92-billion in revenue in 2013.<ref name=Rodr2014 /> In 2012 tourism contributed with 12.5% of the country's GDP and it was responsible for 11.7% of direct and indirect employment.<ref name=wef2013 />

Tourism in Nicaragua has grown considerably recently, and it is now the second largest industry in the nation. Nicaraguan President [[Daniel Ortega]] has stated his intention to use tourism to combat poverty throughout the country.<ref name=Carroll2007 /> The growth in tourism has positively affected the agricultural, commercial, and finance industries, as well as the construction industry. The results for Nicaragua's tourism-driven economy have been significant, with the nation welcoming one million tourists in a calendar year for the first time in its history in 2010.<ref name=sify />

=== Transport ===
{{See also|Transport in Belize|Transport in Costa Rica|Transport in El Salvador|Transport in Guatemala|Transport in Honduras|Transport in Nicaragua|Transport in Panama|l1=Transport in Belize|l2=Costa Rica|l3=El Salvador|l4=Guatemala|l5=Honduras|l6=Nicaragua|l7=Panama}}

==== Roads ====
{{See also|Roads in Belize}}
[[File:Diseños de matriculas Centroamericanas.png|thumb|left|Central American license plates]]
[[File:PanAmericanHwy.png|thumb|[[Pan-American Highway]] slices through Central America]]
The [[Inter-American Highway]] is the Central American section of the [[Pan-American Highway]], and spans {{convert|5470|km|mi|sp=us}} between [[Nuevo Laredo]], Mexico, and [[Panama City]], Panama. Because of the {{convert|87|km|mi|adj=on|sp=us}} break in the highway known as the [[Darién Gap]], it is not possible to cross between Central America and South America in an automobile.

==== Waterways ====
{{See also|Category:Water transport in Belize|Category:Water transport in Costa Rica|Category:Water transport in Guatemala|Category:Water transport in Honduras|Category:Water transport in Nicaragua|Category:Water transport in Panama|l1=Category:Water transport in Belize|l2=Costa Rica|l3=Guatemala|l4=Honduras|l5=Nicaragua|l6=Panama|List of rivers of Belize|List of rivers of Costa Rica|List of rivers of El Salvador|List of rivers of Guatemala|List of rivers of Honduras|List of rivers of Nicaragua|List of rivers of Panama|l7=List of rivers of Belize|l8=Costa Rica|l9=El Salvador|l10=Guatemala|l11=Honduras|l12=Nicaragua|l13=Panama|Ecocanal|Nicaragua Canal|Panama Canal}}

==== Ports and harbors ====
{{See also|Ports of Belize|Category:Ports and harbours of Guatemala|Category:Ports and harbours of Panama}}

==== Airports ====
{{See also|List of airports in Belize|List of airports in Costa Rica|List of airports in El Salvador|List of airports in Guatemala|List of airports in Honduras|List of airports in Nicaragua|List of airports in Panama|l1=List of airports in Belize|l2=Costa Rica|l3=El Salvador|l4=Guatemala|l5=Honduras|l6=Nicaragua|l7=Panama}}

==== Railways ====
{{Main|Rail transport in Central America}}
{{See also|Rail transport in Belize|Rail transport in Costa Rica|Rail transport in El Salvador|Rail transport in Guatemala|Rail transport in Honduras|Rail transport in Nicaragua|Rail transport in Panama|l1=Rail transport in Belize|l2=Costa Rica|l3=El Salvador|l4=Guatemala|l5=Honduras|l6=Nicaragua|l7=Panama}}