Honduras Remittances Hit US$9.3 Billion, Up 11% as US Deportations Rise
Money from migrants equals about 30 percent of Honduras's economy. By 10 September it had reached US$9.33 billion this year, up 11.4 percent, despite rising US deportations and a new US tax on cash transfers. The post Honduras Remittances Hit US$9.3 Billion, Up 11% as US Deportations Rise appeared first on The Rio Times .
Honduras' remittances, money sent by migrants to their home country, reached US$9.33 billion between January 1 and September 10 according to the central bank. This is an 11.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Remittances now account for about 30% of Honduras' economy, one of the highest shares globally. Despite more deportations and some tax increases, remittances continue to grow.
The Banco Central de Honduras tracks the money sent through banks and exchange agents. The weekly report shows remittances increased from US$8.76 billion on August 27 to US$9.33 billion on September 10. In August, the total was US$8.92 billion. For every dollar sent, 98% comes from the United States. The United States has deported 30,965 Hondurans between January and August, mostly from the U.S., with 27,828 of them returning via flight.
The International Organization for Migration reports a 40% increase in returns in the first half of the year. The U.S. has also cancelled Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans, affecting tens of thousands who lived and worked legally in the U.S. Fear of deportation may be driving the growth. Honduran analyst César Castillo expects a short-term boom as migrants save or invest in property.
The average monthly remittance is about US$500, with the 1% federal excise tax applying to cash and money orders but not transfers from bank accounts. Over 3.1 million Hondurans receive money from relatives abroad, about three in every ten people in the country. The average monthly transfer is US$506, more than the country's per capita income.
Most of the money is used for household needs and medical treatment. Remittances are Honduras' largest source of foreign currency, bringing in more than exports of goods. This stability keeps the lempira currency strong against the dollar.
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