Although Central America is not a continent like North America and South America, it is often mentioned separately due to its distinct geography, culture, and politics.
Many Central American countries have shared colonial history due to the European influence in the region. In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas, marking the beginning of a series of Spanish conquests.
The legacy of colonialism has had an impact on the region’s language (Spanish), religion (predominantly Catholic), and social structures today.
Where is Central America?
Central America is the narrow strip of land that connects North America with South America.
Starting from Mexico and heading south, you enter the first Central American country: Guatemala. Or, if you decide to head southeast, you’ll land in Belize.
From there, Central America stretches down through El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica and finally ends with Panama, which borders South America (specifically Colombia).
Central American map
Our printable North American maps show the exact locations of each country.
Countries in Central America in alphabetical order
Here is the alphabetical list of Central American countries with their capitals. We have also included the countries’ regions, the international standard for country codes (ISO 3166), and the continent.
How many countries are in Central America?
There are seven countries in Central America:
- Belize
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama
Despite its geographic proximity, Mexico is not classified as a Central American country.
Are Caribbean countries part of Central America?
The Caribbean countries, which are island nations scattered throughout the Caribbean Sea, are distinct from those in Central America.
The Dominican Republic in the Caribbean is part of the Central American Integration System (SICA), along with the other seven Central American countries. This regional organization promotes cooperation on economic growth, political stability, environmental protection, and social development.
Geographically, however, the Dominican Republic is not located in Central America.
Some of the other island nations in the Caribbean are considered Latin American countries due to cultural and linguistic reasons.
View all country names worldwide.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.