Central America continues to confront a complex mix of socio-economic and political headwinds in 2025. Most, if not all, contries in the region have faced slow recoveries from the pandemic, high costs of living, and in some cases political turmoil or endemic violence. Trust in government is fragile, migration pressures have surged – the United States has seen historic highs in migrant encounters at its southern border in recent years. Within the region, however, there are important contrasts: El Salvador’s aggressive anti-gang campaign has sharply reduced crime, while Nicaragua’s authoritarian crackdown has quashed dissent but driven tens of thousands into exile. Panama, a higher-income outlier, enjoys relative economic stability but struggles with inequality and a recent influx of transiting migrants.

To capture the “voices” of ordinary Central Americans in this context, GeoPoll conducted a computer-assisted telephone survey using random-digit dialing (RDD) in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. 1,750 adults were interviewed by phone, stratified by geography and and other demographics to ensure national representativeness in each of the countries. Interviews were conducted in Spanish, and respondents were assured of confidentiality to encourage honest feedback. Key research questions centered on: