HNLHonduran LempiraHonduran Lempira (HNL)
The Honduran lempira is Honduras's national currency and a Central American unit used in agriculture, manufacturing, services and remittance-supported consumption.
- ISO code
- HNL
- Symbol
- L
- Region
- Americas
- Currency type
- Fiat currency
- Exchange system
- Managed market exchange-rate framework
- Last reviewed
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HNLRate date:
Quick facts
HNL at a glance
Currency profile
How HNL works
The Honduran lempira is Honduras's national currency and a Central American unit used in agriculture, manufacturing, services and remittance-supported consumption.
The Central Bank of Honduras issues lempira banknotes and coins and manages the national monetary and exchange-rate framework.
- HNL is divided into 100 centavos and replaced the Honduran peso in 1931.
- The lempira uses a managed exchange-rate framework and is not maintained at a one-to-one USD parity.
Context
Why this currency matters
HNL links a national currency named for an Indigenous resistance leader with a modern economy shaped by agriculture, manufacturing and remittances. Its managed exchange-rate setting and the prevalence of U.S.-linked trade make a dated HNL reference more useful than an unlabeled local symbol.
Monetary framework
Exchange arrangement
Managed market exchange-rate framework
CurrencyHub shows daily reference rates. Banks, card networks, ATMs and transfer providers may apply different exchange rates, fees or spreads.
History timeline
Key dates for HNL
Lempira introduced
Honduras replaced the peso with the lempira as its national currency.
Central Bank of Honduras - historyCentral Bank of Honduras established
The central bank assumed the country's modern monetary and currency-issue role.
Central Bank of Honduras - historyBanknote security updates continued
The Central Bank continued modernizing lempira notes and their security features.
Central Bank of Honduras - history
Usage and economy
How HNL is used
- Prices, payroll, taxes and payments throughout Honduras.
- Central American comparisons involving GTQ, NIO, CRC and USD.
Banknotes and coins
HNL currency units
The Central Bank of Honduras publishes current lempira banknotes and security details.
The Central Bank of Honduras documents lempira and centavo circulation coins.
One Honduran Lempira unit is recorded with 2 decimal places and uses Centavo as its minor unit.
Related currencies
Currency relationships
Explore currencies connected through regional use, trade comparisons or monetary relationships.
FAQ
HNL questions
What currency did the lempira replace?
HNL replaced the Honduran peso in 1931.
Who was the lempira named after?
The currency is named for Lempira, an Indigenous leader remembered in Honduran history.
Is HNL fixed one-to-one with USD?
No. Honduras uses a managed exchange-rate framework rather than a one-to-one U.S. dollar parity.
Sources
Data and editorial review
Rate source: Frankfurter
Last reviewed:
Currency identity and cash information is checked against central-bank, government, ISO and official international sources.