Honduras has the smallest police force in Central America

Honduras possesses the smallest police force in Central America, with one officer for every 436 inhabitants, according to Security Minister Gerzon Velásquez. This ratio falls significantly below the United Nations recommendation of approximately one officer per 333 citizens.

Velásquez noted that neighboring countries maintain higher operational capacities, often with one agent for every 200 citizens. He acknowledged that the National Police and Armed Forces face severe logistical, technological, and financial limitations.

To combat high rates of violence and homicide, the government is focusing its strategy on neutralizing the leaders of gangs and maras, which have been identified as the primary drivers of crime in the country. Despite resource constraints, the administration stated it is injecting additional funds into high-crime areas to build a more robust institutional structure for future administrations.