2013 Edition

Background

Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion in damage. Since then, the economy has slowly rebounded.

Area

112,090 sq km 111,890 sq km 200 sq km

total

112,090 sq km

water

200 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate

subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Coastline

Caribbean Sea 669 km; Gulf of Fonseca 163 km

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Sea 0 m Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

highest point

Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 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

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 none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

2.12 cu km/yr (16%/23%/61%) 295.6 cu m/yr (2006)

per capita

295.6 cu m/yr (2006)

total

2.12 cu km/yr (16%/23%/61%)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 86 30 W

Geography - note

has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast

Irrigated land

878.5 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

1,520 km Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km

border countries

Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km

total

1,520 km

Land use

9.07% 3.91% 87.02% (2011)

arable land

9.07%

other

87.02% (2011)

permanent crops

3.91%

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm natural extension of territory or to 200 nm

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; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Total renewable water resources

95.93 cu km (2011)

Age structure

35.5% (male 1,530,385/female 1,466,136) 21.2% (male 913,818/female 878,340) 34.8% (male 1,482,548/female 1,459,341) 4.6% (male 178,514/female 208,243) 3.9% (male 145,626/female 185,514) (2013 est.)

0-14 years

35.5% (male 1,530,385/female 1,466,136)

15-24 years

21.2% (male 913,818/female 878,340)

25-54 years

34.8% (male 1,482,548/female 1,459,341)

55-64 years

4.6% (male 178,514/female 208,243)

65 years and over

3.9% (male 145,626/female 185,514) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

24.16 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

280,809 16 % (2002 est.)

percentage

16 % (2002 est.)

total number

280,809

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.6% (2006)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

65.2% (2005/06)

Death rate

5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

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. Honduras' population growth rate has slowed since the 1990s, but it remains high at nearly 2% annually because the birth rate averages approximately three children per woman and more among rural, indigenous, and poor women. Consequently, Honduras' young adult population - ages 15 to 29 - is projected to continue growing rapidly for the next three decades and then stabilize or slowly shrink. Population growth and limited job prospects outside of agriculture will continue to drive emigration. Remittances represent about a fifth of GDP.

Dependency ratios

65.8 % 58.4 % 7.4 % 13.6 (2013)

elderly dependency ratio

7.4 %

potential support ratio

13.6 (2013)

total dependency ratio

65.8 %

youth dependency ratio

58.4 %

Drinking water source

urban: 95% of population rural: 79% of population total: 87% of population urban: 5% of population rural: 21% of population total: 13% of population (2010 est.)

rural

21% of population

total

13% of population (2010 est.)

urban

5% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

9.1% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,500 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

39,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

19.28 deaths/1,000 live births 21.83 deaths/1,000 live births 16.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

female

16.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total

19.28 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects

Life expectancy at birth

70.81 years 69.14 years 72.56 years (2013 est.)

female

72.56 years (2013 est.)

total population

70.81 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 85.1% 85.3% 84.9% (2011 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

84.9% (2011 est.)

male

85.3%

total population

85.1%

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria (2013)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population

TEGUCIGALPA (capital) 1 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

100 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

21.6 years 21.3 years 22 years (2013 est.)

female

22 years (2013 est.)

male

21.3 years

total

21.6 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.1 Median age a first birth among women 25-29 (2011-12)

Nationality

Honduran(s) Honduran

adjective

Honduran

noun

Honduran(s)

Net migration rate

-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.4% (2008)

Physicians density

0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

Population

8,448,465 (July 2013 est.) 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

Population growth rate

1.79% (2013 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 85% of population rural: 69% of population total: 77% of population urban: 15% of population rural: 31% of population total: 23% of population (2010 est.)

rural

31% of population

total

23% of population (2010 est.)

urban

15% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 11 years 12 years (2010)

female

12 years (2010)

male

11 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.85 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.94 children born/woman (2013 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

7% 5.2% 11.2% (2005)

female

11.2% (2005)

total

7%

Urbanization

52% of total population (2010) 3.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

52% of total population (2010)

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

Capital

Tegucigalpa 14 06 N, 87 13 W UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) none scheduled for 2013

daylight saving time

none scheduled for 2013

geographic coordinates

14 06 N, 87 13 W

name

Tegucigalpa

time difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended many times, last in 2012 (2013)

Country name

Republic of Honduras Honduras Republica de Honduras Honduras

conventional long form

Republic of Honduras

conventional short form

Honduras

local long form

Republica de Honduras

local short form

Honduras

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Lisa J. KUBISKE (since 26 July 2011) Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa [504] 2236-9320, 2238-5114 [504] 2236-9037

chief of mission

Ambassador Lisa J. KUBISKE (since 26 July 2011)

embassy

Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa

FAX

[504] 2236-9037

mailing address

American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa

telephone

[504] 2236-9320, 2238-5114

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Jorge Ramon HERNANDEZ-Alcerro (since 9 June 2010) Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 966-2604 [1] (202) 966-9751 Atlanta, Belmont (MA), Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco

chancery

Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jorge Ramon HERNANDEZ-Alcerro (since 9 June 2010)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Belmont (MA), Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 966-9751

telephone

[1] (202) 966-2604

Executive branch

President Porfirio LOBO Sosa (since 27 January 2010); Vice President Maria Antonieta GUILLEN de Bogran (since 27 January 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Porfirio LOBO Sosa (since 27 January 2010); Vice President Maria Antonieta GUILLEN de Bogran (since 27 January 2010) Cabinet appointed by president president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2013) Porfirio LOBO Sosa elected president; percent of vote - Porfirio LOBO Sosa 56.3%, Elvin SANTOS Lozano 38.1%, other 5.6%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president

chief of state

President Porfirio LOBO Sosa (since 27 January 2010); Vice President Maria Antonieta GUILLEN de Bogran (since 27 January 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Porfirio LOBO Sosa elected president; percent of vote - Porfirio LOBO Sosa 56.3%, Elvin SANTOS Lozano 38.1%, other 5.6%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2013)

head of government

President Porfirio LOBO Sosa (since 27 January 2010); Vice President Maria Antonieta GUILLEN de Bogran (since 27 January 2010)

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 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 words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Government type

democratic constitutional republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO (suspended), WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (9 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 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 courts of appeal; courts of first instance; peace courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (9 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

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members elected proportionally by department to serve four-year terms) last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2013) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNH 71, PL 45, DC 5, UD 4, PINU 3

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNH 71, PL 45, DC 5, UD 4, PINU 3

elections

last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2013)

National anthem

"Himno Nacional de Honduras" (National Anthem of Honduras) Augusto Constancio COELLO/Carlos HARTLING adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are sung

lyrics/music

Augusto Constancio COELLO/Carlos HARTLING

name

"Himno Nacional de Honduras" (National Anthem of Honduras)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

scarlet macaw; white-tailed deer

Political parties and leaders

Anti-Corruption Party or PAC [Salvador NASRALLA] Christian Democratic Party or DC [Felicito AVILA Ordonez] Broad Political Electoral Front in Resistance or FAPER [Andres PAVON] Democratic Unification Party or UD [Cesar HAM] Freedom and Refounding Party or LIBRE [Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales] Liberal Party or PL [Elvin SANTOS Brito] National Party of Honduras or PNH [Ricardo ALVAREZ] Social Democratic Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Jorge Rafael AGUILAR Paredes]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Beverage and Related Industries Syndicate or STIBYS Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations or CCOP General Workers Confederation or CGT Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP National Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH National Union of Campesinos or UNC Popular Bloc or BP United Confederation of Honduran Workers or CUTH United Farm Workers' Movement of the Aguan (MUCA)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

bananas, coffee, citrus, corn, African palm; beef; timber; shrimp, tilapia, lobster

Budget

$3.074 billion $4.169 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$4.169 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$3.074 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.25% (31 December 2010 est.) NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

18.45% (31 December 2012 est.) 18.56% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$-1.744 billion (2012 est.) $-1.498 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$5.233 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.642 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

57.7 (2007) 53.8 (2003)

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.

Exchange rates

lempiras (HNL) per US dollar - 19.64 (2012 est.) 19.05 (2011 est.) 18.9 (2010 est.) 18.9 (2009) 18.98 (2008)

Exports

$7.931 billion (2012 est.) $7.8 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

apparel, coffee, shrimp, automobile wire harnesses, cigars, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber

Exports - partners

US 34.5%, Germany 11.6%, Belgium 6.8%, El Salvador 6.6%, Guatemala 4.9%, Nicaragua 4.6% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

77.8% 16.1% 24.3% 1.6% 50.4% -70.2% (2012 est.)

exports of goods and services

50.4%

government consumption

16.1%

household consumption

77.8%

imports of goods and services

-70.2%

investment in fixed capital

24.3%

investment in inventories

1.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

13.9% 27.7% 58.4% (2012 est.)

agriculture

13.9%

industry

27.7%

services

58.4% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,700 (2012 est.) $4,700 (2011 est.) $4,600 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (2012 est.) 3.8% (2011 est.) 3.7% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$18.25 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$37.64 billion (2012 est.) $36.24 billion (2011 est.) $34.91 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Gross national saving

16.4% of GDP (2012 est.) 17.5% of GDP (2011 est.) 16.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

0.4% 42.4% (2009 est.)

highest 10%

42.4% (2009 est.)

lowest 10%

0.4%

Imports

$11.18 billion (2012 est.) $10.99 billion (2011 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)

Industrial production growth rate

1.6% (2012 est.)

Industries

sugar, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (2012 est.) 6.8% (2011 est.)

Labor force

3.437 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

39.2% 20.9% 39.8% (2005 est.)

agriculture

39.2%

industry

20.9%

services

39.8% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

60% (2010 est.)

Public debt

35.8% of GDP (2012 est.) 33.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.533 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.793 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$9.112 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $8.127 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$10.43 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $9.517 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.913 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.154 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.4% (2012 est.) 4.3% (2011 est.) about one-third of the people are underemployed

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

7.975 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

20 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)

Electricity - consumption

4.85 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

22 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

63.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

30.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

5.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

22 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.701 million kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

6.486 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

58,150 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

46,370 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

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)

Internet users

731,700 (2009)

Telephone system

fixed-line connections are increasing but still limited; competition among multiple providers of mobile-cellular services is contributing to a sharp increase in subscribership 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 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)

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

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

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

610,000 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7.37 million (2012)

Airports

103 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

3 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

13

under 914 m

3 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

73 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

16

total

90

Merchant marine

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 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)

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)

total

88

Ports and terminals

La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

major seaport(s)

La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Railways

44 km 44 km 1.067-m gauge (4 km are in use) (2012)

total

44 km

Roadways

14,742 km 3,367 km 11,375 km (1,543 km summer only) there are another 8,951 km of non-offical roads used by the coffee industry (2012)

total

14,742 km

unpaved

11,375 km (1,543 km summer only)

Waterways

465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

2,045,914 1,991,418 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,991,418 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,045,914

Manpower fit for military service

1,525,578 1,539,688 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,539,688 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,525,578

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

95,895 92,087 (2010 est.)

female

92,087 (2010 est.)

male

95,895

Military branches

Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2012)

Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA)

Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2012)

Military expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription (2012)

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

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

Trafficking in persons

Honduras is a source and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Honduran women and girls, and, to a lesser extent, women and girls from neighboring countries, are forced into prostitution in urban and tourist centers; Honduran women and girls are also exploited in sex trafficking in other countries in the region, including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the US; Honduran adults and children are subjected to forced labor in Guatemala, Mexico, and the US and domestically in agriculture and domestic service; gangs coerce some young men to transport drugs or be hit men Tier 2 Watch List - Honduras does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government maintains limited law enforcement efforts against child sex trafficking offenders but has held no offenders accountable for the forced labor or forced prostitution of adults; most trafficking offenders are prosecuted under non-trafficking statutes that prescribe lower penalties; government efforts to identify, refer, and assist trafficking victims are inadequate, and most services for victims are provided by NGOs without government funding (2013)

current situation

Honduras is a source and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Honduran women and girls, and, to a lesser extent, women and girls from neighboring countries, are forced into prostitution in urban and tourist centers; Honduran women and girls are also exploited in sex trafficking in other countries in the region, including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the US; Honduran adults and children are subjected to forced labor in Guatemala, Mexico, and the US and domestically in agriculture and domestic service; gangs coerce some young men to transport drugs or be hit men

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Honduras does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government maintains limited law enforcement efforts against child sex trafficking offenders but has held no offenders accountable for the forced labor or forced prostitution of adults; most trafficking offenders are prosecuted under non-trafficking statutes that prescribe lower penalties; government efforts to identify, refer, and assist trafficking victims are inadequate, and most services for victims are provided by NGOs without government funding (2013)