Female entrepreneurship challenges in Central America

In El Salvador and Costa Rica, female entrepreneurs face distinct hurdles regarding business scaling and financial access. Data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025–2026 shows that while women in El Salvador lead in early-stage entrepreneurship with a 26.5% participation rate, they represent only 17% of established businesses. Digital adoption also remains a challenge, with only 4.5% of women in micro and small enterprises utilizing artificial intelligence. In Costa Rica, 51% of women surveyed by Grameen Costa Rica reported struggles to find viable financing alternatives, though microcredits have improved business operations for 49% of recipients.

As the landscape evolves, women are increasingly using digital platforms and social media to build income streams. However, traditional financial systems often fail to accommodate these models because lending assessments typically rely on physical assets or established trading histories rather than digital value. To address these gaps, organizations like the F5 Collective, the World Bank Group, and We-Fi are focusing on improving financial backing and strengthening digital literacy and AI-related skills to help women access new markets and achieve sustainable growth.