Why Does the Honduras Flag Have Five Stars?
The five stars at the center of the Honduran flag preserve the memory of the former Central American federation and a historic aspiration for regional unity.
Which countries do the five stars represent?
The stars refer to the five principal states that emerged from the former Central American federation: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
They make the Honduran flag one of the clearest surviving visual references to the nineteenth-century project of a united Central America.
Why do the stars symbolize unity?
Official Honduran civic material explains that the stars represent the former federation states and the continuing ideal of fraternity and reunion among the Central American peoples. The symbolism is often associated with the regional-unity vision of Francisco Morazán.
How are the five stars arranged?
The 1949 reform describes four stars forming a rectangle parallel to the horizontal bands, with the fifth star placed in the center. This creates the familiar five-point arrangement seen on the modern flag.
Five stars FAQ
Do the stars represent five departments?
No. They represent the five former Central American federation states.
Which countries are represented?
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
When were the stars added?
The five-star national flag was established in 1866.
Honduras Ministry of Education — Civic Symbols Guide
