Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Total renewable water resources: 95.93 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 95.93 cu km (2011) Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Environment - current issues: urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals
Environment - international agreements: party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
People and Society
Nationality: noun: Honduran(s)
adjective:Honduran
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Demographic profile: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has the world's highest murder rate. More than half of the population lives in poverty and per capita income is one of the lowest in the region. Poverty rates are higher among rural and indigenous people and in the south, west, and along the eastern border than in the north and central areas where most of Honduras' industries and infrastructure are concentrated. The increased productivity needed to break Honduras' persistent high poverty rate depends, in part, on further improvements in educational attainment. Although primary-school enrollment is near 100%, educational quality is poor, the drop-out rate and grade repetition remain high, and teacher and school accountability is low.
Population: 8,598,561country comparison to the world: 94
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years:34.8% (male 1,529,578/female 1,465,188)
65 years and over:3.9% (male 150,681/female 193,520) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio:64.7 %
youth dependency ratio:57.2 %
elderly dependency ratio:7.4 %
potential support ratio:13.5 (2014 est.)
Median age: total:21.9 years
male:21.6 years
female:22.3 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.74% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 71
Birth rate: 23.66 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 65
Death rate: 5.13 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 183
Net migration rate: -1.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 153
Urbanization: urban population:52.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:3.06% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population: TEGUCIGALPA (capital) 1.088 million (2011)
Sex ratio: at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.79 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.4
Maternal mortality rate: 100 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate: total:18.72 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 96
male:21.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female:16.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population:70.91 yearscountry comparison to the world: 147
male:69.24 years
female:72.65 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.86 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 65
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 65.2% (2005/06)
Health expenditures: 9.1% of GDP (2009)
Physicians density: 0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source: improved:
urban: 96.8% of population
rural: 81.5% of population
total: 89.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.2% of population
rural: 18.5% of population
total: 10.4% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved:
urban: 85.3% of population
rural: 74% of population
total: 80% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14.7% of population
rural: 26% of population
total: 20% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 70
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 25,600 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 75
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,700 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 63
Major infectious diseases:
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.4% (2008)country comparison to the world: 106
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 8.6% (2006)country comparison to the world: 73
Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:85.1%
male:85.3%
female:84.9% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total:11 years
male:11 years
female:12 years (2012)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total:8%country comparison to the world: 122
male:5.5%
female:13.8% (2011)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form:Honduras
local long form:Republica de Honduras
local short form:Honduras
Government type: democratic constitutional republic
Capital: name:Tegucigalpa
geographic coordinates:14 06 N, 87 13 W
time difference:UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:none scheduled for 2013
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended many times, last in 2012 (2013)
Legal system: civil law system
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state:President Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (since 27 January 2014); Vice Presidents Ricardo ALVAREZ, Rossana GUEVARA, and Lorena HERRERA (since 27 January 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (since 27 January 2014); Vice Presidents Ricardo ALVAREZ, Rossana GUEVARA, and Lorena HERRERA (since 27 January 2014)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by president
elections:president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 24 November 2013 (next to be held in November 2017)
election results:Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado elected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado 36.9%, Xiomara CASTRO 28.8%, Mauricio VILLEDA 20.3%, Salvador NASRALLA 13.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members elected proportionally by department to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 24 November 2013 (next to be held in November 2017)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNH 48, LIBRE 37, PL 27, PAC 13, DC 1, UD 1, PINU 1
Judicial branch: highest court(s):Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (15 principal judges - including the court president - and 7 alternates; court organized into civil, criminal, and labor chambers); note - the court has both judicial and constitutional jurisdiction
judge selection and term of office:court president elected by his peers; judges elected by the National Congress from candidates proposed by the Nominating Board, a diverse 7-member group of judicial officials, other government and non-government officials selected by each of their organizations; judges elected by Congress for renewable, 7-year terms
subordinate courts:courts of appeal; courts of first instance; peace courts
Political parties and leaders: Anti-Corruption Party or PAC [Salvador NASRALLA]
Christian Democratic Party or DC [Felicito AVILA Ordonez]
Democratic Unification Party or UD [Cesar HAM]
Freedom and Refounding Party or LIBRE [Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales]
Liberal Party or PL [Mauricio VILLEDA Bermudez]
National Party of Honduras or PNH [Gladys Aurora LOPEZ]
Social Democratic Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Jorge Rafael AGUILAR Paredes]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Beverage and Related Industries Syndicate or STIBYS
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC (suspended), IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (suspended), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO (suspended), WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Jorge Alberto MILLA Reyes (since 21 May 2014)
chancery:Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 966-2604
FAX:[1] (202) 966-9751
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Lisa J. KUBISKE (since 26 July 2011)
embassy:Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address:American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone:[504] 2236-9320, 2238-5114
FAX:[504] 2236-9037
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue, with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water and the peace and prosperity of its people
National symbol(s): scarlet macaw; white-tailed deer
National anthem: name:'Himno Nacional de Honduras' (National Anthem of Honduras)
note:adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are sung
Economy
Economy - overview:
Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, suffers from extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, as well as high underemployment. While historically dependent on the export of bananas and coffee, Honduras has diversified its export base to include apparel and automobile wire harnessing. Nearly half of Honduras's economic activity is directly tied to the US, with exports to the US accounting for 30% of GDP and remittances for another 20%. The US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in 2006 and has helped foster foreign direct investment, but physical and political insecurity, as well as crime and perceptions of corruption, may deter potential investors; about 70% of FDI is from US firms. The economy registered modest economic growth of 3.0%-4.0% from 2010 to 2012, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 65% of the population in poverty. An 18-month IMF Standby Arrangement expired in March 2012 and was not renewed, due to the country's growing budget deficit and weak current account performance. Public sector workers complained of not receiving their salaries in November and December 2012, and government suppliers are owed at least several hundred million dollars in unpaid contracts. The government announced in January 2013 that loss-making public enterprises will be forced to submit financial rescue plans before receiving their budget allotments for 2013.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$39.23 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$38.16 billion (2012 est.)
$36.74 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$18.88 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
3.9% (2012 est.)
3.8% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$4,800 (2012 est.)
$4,700 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
Gross national saving:
17.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
16.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption:79.5%
government consumption:16.4%
investment in fixed capital:25.2%
investment in inventories:1.2%
exports of goods and services:51.5%
imports of goods and services:-73.8%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture:14%
US 34.5%, Germany 11.6%, Belgium 6.8%, El Salvador 6.6%, Guatemala 4.9%, Nicaragua 4.6% (2012)
Imports:
$11.34 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$11.18 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
US 44.3%, Guatemala 8.5%, El Salvador 5.7%, Mexico 5.6%, China 4.7%, Costa Rica 4.1% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.414 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$2.533 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.173 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$5.233 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates:
lempiras (HNL) per US dollar -
20.53 (2013 est.)
19.638 (2012 est.)
18.9 (2010 est.)
18.9 (2009)
18.983 (2008)
Energy
Electricity - production:
6.486 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:111
Electricity - consumption:
4.85 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - exports:
22 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - imports:
22 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.701 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
63.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
30.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
5.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Crude oil - production:
20 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
58,150 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Refined petroleum products - imports:
46,370 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
7.975 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
610,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world:91
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.37 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 93
Telephone system:
general assessment:fixed-line connections are increasing but still limited; competition among multiple providers of mobile-cellular services is contributing to a sharp increase in subscribership
domestic:beginning in 2003, private sub-operators allowed to provide fixed-lines in order to expand telephone coverage contributing to a small increase in fixed-line teledensity; mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 100 per 100 persons
international:country code - 504; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2011)
Broadcast media:
multiple privately owned terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by multiple cable TV networks; Radio Honduras is the lone government-owned radio network; roughly 300 privately owned radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.hn
Internet hosts:
30,955 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 107
Internet users:
731,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
Transportation
Airports
103 (2013)
country comparison to the world:54
Airports - with paved runways total:13
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:3 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:90
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:16
under 914 m:
73 (2013)
Railways total:44 kmcountry comparison to the world: 131
narrow gauge:44 km 1.067-m gauge
note:(4 km are in use) (2012)
Roadways total:14,742 kmcountry comparison to the world: 123
paved:3,367 km
unpaved:11,375 km (1,543 km summer only)
note:there are another 8,951 km of non-offical roads used by the coffee industry (2012)
Waterways
465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 85
Merchant marine total:88country comparison to the world: 55
by type:bulk carrier 5, cargo 39, carrier 2, chemical tanker 5, container 1, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned:47 (Bahrain 5, Canada 1, Chile 1, China 2, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Israel 1, Japan 4, Lebanon 2, Montenegro 1, Panama 1, Singapore 11, South Korea 6, Taiwan 1, Thailand 2, UAE 1, UK 1, US 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals major seaport(s):La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela
Military
Military branches Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2012)
Military service age and obligation 18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription (2012)
Manpower available for military service males age 16-49:2,045,914
females age 16-49:1,991,418 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service males age 16-49:1,525,578
females age 16-49:1,539,688 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male:95,895
female:92,087 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures
1.05% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 97
1.13% of GDP (2011)
1.05% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of 'bolsones' (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum
Refugees and internally displaced persons IDPs:17,000 (violence, extortion, threats, forced recruitment by urban gangs) (2013 est.)
Trafficking in persons
Illicit drugs transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activity
