1998 Edition

Area

total: 112,090 sq km land: 111,890 sq km water: 200 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate

subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Coastline

820 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 86 30 W

Irrigated land

740 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,520 km border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km

Land use

arable land: 15% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 54% other: 14% (1993 est.)

Location

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast

Natural resources

timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish

Terrain

mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Age structure

0-14 years: 42% (male 1,248,291; female 1,204,574) 15-64 years: 55% (male 1,591,995; female 1,615,449) 65 years and over: 3% (male 96,017; female 105,629) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

31.79 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%

Infant mortality rate

41.88 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Spanish, Amerindian dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.01 years male: 63.31 years female: 66.8 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 72.7% male: 72.6% female: 72.7% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran

Net migration rate

-1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

5,861,955 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.33% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.12 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

18 departments (departamentos, singular-departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa); 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

Constitution

11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras

Data code

HO

Executive branch

chief of state: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27 January 1998); First Vice President William HANDAL; Second Vice President Gladys CABALLERO de Arevalo; Third Vice President Hector Vidal CERRATO Hernandez; note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27 January 1998); First Vice President William HANDAL; Second Vice President Gladys CABALLERO de Arevalo; Third Vice President Hector Vidal CERRATO Hernandez; note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 30 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: Carlos FLORES Facusse elected president; percent of vote-Carlos FLORES Facusse (PLH) 53%, Nora de MELGAR (PNH) 42%, other 5%

FAX

[1] (202) 966-9751 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN (29 July 1996) embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 36-9320, 38-5114

[504] 36-9037

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; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Government type

republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edgardo DUMAS Rodriguez chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702, 2604, 5008, 4596

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National Assembly Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PLH), Raphael PINEDA Ponce, president; National Party of Honduras (PNH), Nora MELGAR, president; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social Democratic Party (PINU-SD), Olban VALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH) Political pressure groups and leaders: National Association of Honduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union of Campesinos (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); United Federation of Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations (CCOP)

Legal system

rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 30 November 1997 (next to be held November 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-PLH 50%, PNH 42%, PINU-SD 4%, PDCH 2%, other 2%; seats by party-PLH 70, PNH 55, PINU-SD 3

National capital

Tegucigalpa

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture-products

bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp;

Budget

revenues: $655 million expenditures: $850 million, including capital expenditures of $150 million (1997 est.)

Currency

1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos

Debt-external

$4.1 billion (1995)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economy-overview

In 1994 the REINA administration inherited an economy in the grips of stagflation due to an unprecedented energy crisis, declining agricultural output, and extravagant public expenditures. In response the REINA administration cut the fiscal deficit and enacted a number of structural reforms including passage of a modern financial sector reform law in 1995 and a central bank reform law in 1996. As a result, Honduras finished 1997 with improved GDP growth and a decreasing rate of inflation. The newly elected FLORES administration faces pressure from the international financial community and the IMF to further decrease the fiscal deficit and implement key reforms, including the privatization of state enterprises such as Hondutel. Tegucigalpa will probably implement tighter fiscal and monetary policies to keep inflation low and meet commitments to the IMF. This may slow GDP growth to 3.5% in 1998. Moreover, wage increases for public-sector employees, agreed to in 1997, will make it difficult for FLORES to make headway on the fiscal deficit and inflation.

Electricity-capacity

305,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

516 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

2.8 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period)-13.1332 (January 1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996), 10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994), 7.2600 (1993)

Exports

total value: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber partners: US 54%, Germany 7%, Belgium 5%, Japan 4%, Spain 3% (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$12.7 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 20% industry: 19% services: 61% (1997)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$2,200 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

4.5% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $1.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs partners: US 43%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%, Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate

10% (1992 est.)

Industries

sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products

Inflation rate-consumer price index

15% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 1.3 million (1997 est.) by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7

Radios

2.115 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

inadequate system domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Telephones

105,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

28

Televisions

400,000 (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.3% (1997); underemployed 30% (1997 est.)

Airports

122 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 110 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 87 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 15,400 km paved: 3,126 km unpaved: 12,274 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 219 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 545,829 GRT/801,456 DWT ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 131, chemical tanker 3, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 2, oil tanker 19, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 3, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 7 ships, Vietnam 2, Singapore 2, North Korea 1, Brazil 1, Japan 1, Iran 1 (1997 est.)

Railways

total: 595 km narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km 0.914-m gauge note: in 1993, there was a total of 988 km of track

Waterways

465 km navigable by small craft Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Public Security Forces (FUSEP, now being converted to a civilian police force)

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$42.5 million (1997)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

about 1.5% (1997)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 1,409,012 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 839,283 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 68,076 (1998 est.)

Current issues

Pursuant to the agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became a special administrative region of China on 1 July 1997. Under the terms of this agreement, China has promised that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.

Disputes-international

land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; the presidents of El Salvador and Honduras signed in January 1998 an agreement allowing citizens in the 1992 demarcated areas to choose Salvadoran or Honduran citizenship; the two countries also agreed to a final demarcation of the border within one year; the agreement awaits ratification by the legislative assemblies of both countries; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for drugs and narcotics, mostly along the Caribbean coastline; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption (special administrative region of China) Introduction