_-_copia.jpg?w=800&resize=800,500&ssl=1 "Financial inclusion in Honduras")
The recent publication of the Financial Inclusion Module within the November 2024 Permanent Multi-Purpose Household Survey (EPHPM), conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE Honduras) in collaboration with the National Banking and Insurance Commission (CNBS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), provides an updated snapshot of the Honduran population’s participation in the formal financial system. The survey, which covered 7,250 households equivalent to 26,576 people, provides highly representative data on access, use, and financial education, offering relevant information at a time marked by political debates on credit regulation.
Credit utilization and its influencing elements
The document shows that credit use is directly correlated with income levels, increasing as one moves up the income quintiles. This pattern responds to structural factors such as payment capacity, effective demand, knowledge of financial offerings, financial education, and digital literacy.
The questionnaire contained inquiries regarding credit requests made over the past year, encompassing various origins: financial institutions, informal lenders, pawnshops, and businesses. For individuals who did not seek credit, the underlying cause was explored. The findings reveal that 91.3% of the justifications relate to a lack of necessity or perceived hazards: “I haven’t required it,” “I don’t fulfill the criteria,” and “Obtaining a loan is excessively perilous.” Conversely, the justification associated with being listed with the Credit Bureau, a point frequently raised in political discussions, constituted merely 0.7%, a statistic that underscores its minimal significance among the impediments to credit accessibility.
These findings contrast with the views of political actors, such as the ruling party candidate from LIBRE, who has argued that the Central Credit Registry limits the possibility of obtaining credit and has proposed its elimination. Statistical evidence suggests that the real limitations to financial access are more closely associated with socioeconomic, educational, and savings variables, as well as with the perception of risk derived from the economic climate.
Financial integration and geographical analysis
In relation to engagement with the financial sector, the poll indicates that 42% of individuals aged 15 and above possess either a deposit account or an electronic wallet, signifying the extent of banking access. This figure aligns with the World Bank’s Global Findex 2025 data, which recorded 42% for Honduras in 2024, positioning the nation behind nearby countries like Costa Rica (71%) and Panama (64%). Furthermore, a decrease has been observed when compared to pre-pandemic metrics from 2017, underscoring the fundamental obstacles the country encounters regarding financial integration.
The study emphasizes that expanding access to credit and financial services requires evidence-based solutions, such as financial education, strengthening savings, and improving the business climate. Measures that involve the elimination or manipulation of credit information could result in institutional setbacks and greater barriers for those who do not yet have access to the formal system.
Organizational hurdles and the financial landscape
The financial inclusion module identifies the critical bottlenecks that limit credit expansion in Honduras. Beyond political discussions about the Credit Bureau, access to and use of credit is conditioned by household economic capacity, financial education, and risk perception in an environment marked by economic volatility and high levels of informal employment.
The data gathered by INE Honduras, CNBS, and the IDB offers crucial insights for developing public policies designed to enhance financial participation securely and sustainably, thereby preventing the implementation of actions not supported by verifiable information. The examination of the survey results corroborates that financial inclusion is a complex process influenced by multiple factors, with income, education, and economic foresight playing a more significant role than merely credit regulations.