2017 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

land

111,890 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

823 km (Caribbean Sea 669 km, Gulf of Fonseca 163 km)

Elevation

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

elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point

Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

mean elevation

684 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

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

900 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

1,575 km Guatemala 244 km, El Salvador 391 km, Nicaragua 940 km

border countries (3)

Guatemala 244 km, El Salvador 391 km, Nicaragua 940 km

total

1,575 km

Land use

28.8% arable land 9.1%; permanent crops 4%; permanent pasture 15.7% 45.3% 25.9% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

28.8%

forest

45.3%

other

25.9% (2011 est.)

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

Population - distribution

most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; unlike other Central American nations, Honduras is the only one with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers - the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area

Terrain

mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Age structure

32.95% (male 1,521,300/female 1,456,727) 21% (male 968,013/female 930,060) 36.63% (male 1,675,574/female 1,635,241) 5.13% (male 218,342/female 245,447) 4.29% (male 167,957/female 220,080) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

32.95% (male 1,521,300/female 1,456,727)

15-24 years

21% (male 968,013/female 930,060)

25-54 years

36.63% (male 1,675,574/female 1,635,241)

55-64 years

5.13% (male 218,342/female 245,447)

65 years and over

4.29% (male 167,957/female 220,080) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

22.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

7.1% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

73.2% (2011/12)

Death rate

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Demographic profile

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has the one of the world's highest murder rates. 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

59.8 52.7 7.1 14.2 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

7.1

potential support ratio

14.2 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

59.8

youth dependency ratio

52.7

Drinking water source

urban: 97.4% of population rural: 83.8% of population total: 91.2% of population urban: 2.6% of population rural: 16.2% of population total: 8.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural

16.2% of population

total

8.8% of population (2015 est.)

urban

2.6% of population

Education expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

8.7% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

21,000 (2016 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

17.2 deaths/1,000 live births 19.4 deaths/1,000 live births 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

19.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

17.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects

Life expectancy at birth

71.2 years 69.5 years 72.9 years (2017 est.)

female

72.9 years (2017 est.)

male

69.5 years

total population

71.2 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 89% 89% 88.9% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

88.9% (2015 est.)

male

89%

total population

89%

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

Major urban areas - population

TEGUCIGALPA (capital) 1.123 million; San Pedro Sula 852,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

129 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

23 years 22.6 years 23.3 years (2017 est.)

female

23.3 years (2017 est.)

male

22.6 years

total

23 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.4 years median age a first birth among women 25-29 (2011/12 est.)

note

median age a first birth among women 25-29 (2011/12 est.)

Nationality

Honduran(s) Honduran

adjective

Honduran

noun

Honduran(s)

Net migration rate

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.4% (2016)

Population

9,038,741 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 2017 est.)

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 2017 est.)

Population distribution

most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; unlike other Central American nations, Honduras is the only one with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers - the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area

Population growth rate

1.6% (2017 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 41%, atheist 1%, other 2%, none 9% (2014 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 86.7% of population rural: 77.7% of population total: 82.6% of population urban: 13.3% of population rural: 22.3% of population total: 17.4% of population (2015 est.)

rural

22.3% of population

total

17.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban

13.3% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 11 years 12 years (2014)

female

12 years (2014)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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

0.88 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.67 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

14.2% 7.6% 25.6% (2015 est.)

female

25.6% (2015 est.)

male

7.6%

total

14.2%

Urbanization

55.9% of total population (2017) 2.85% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.85% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

55.9% of total population (2017)

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)

geographic coordinates

14 06 N, 87 13 W

name

Tegucigalpa

time difference

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

Citizenship

yes yes yes 1 to 3 years

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

1 to 3 years

Constitution

several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended many times, last in 2012; note - in 2015, the Honduran Supreme Court struck down several constitutional articles on presidential term limits (2016)

Country name

Republic of Honduras Honduras Republica de Honduras Honduras the name means "depths" in Spanish and refers to the deep anchorage in the northern Bay of Trujillo

conventional long form

Republic of Honduras

conventional short form

Honduras

etymology

the name means "depths" in Spanish and refers to the deep anchorage in the northern Bay of Trujillo

local long form

Republica de Honduras

local short form

Honduras

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Heide B. FULTON (since June 2017) 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Heide B. FULTON (since June 2017)

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 Marlon Ramsses TABORA Munoz (since 24 April 2017) Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 966-2604 [1] (202) 966-9751 Dallas, McAllen (TX) Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Marlon Ramsses TABORA Munoz (since 24 April 2017)

consulate(s)

Dallas, McAllen (TX)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 966-9751

telephone

[1] (202) 966-2604

Executive branch

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 President Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (since 27 January 2014); Vice Presidents Ricardo ALVAREZ, Rossana GUEVARA, and Lorena HERRERA (since 27 January 2014) Cabinet appointed by president president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 4-year term; election last held on 24 November 2013 (next to be held on 26 November 2017); note - in 2015, the Constitutional Chamber of the Honduran Supreme Court struck down the constitutional provisions on presidential term limits Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado elected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 36.9%, Xiomara CASTRO (LIBRE) 28.8%, Mauricio VILLEDA (PL) 20.3%, Salvador NASRALLA (PAC) 13.4%, other 0.6%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president

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

election results

Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado elected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 36.9%, Xiomara CASTRO (LIBRE) 28.8%, Mauricio VILLEDA (PL) 20.3%, Salvador NASRALLA (PAC) 13.4%, other 0.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 4-year term; election last held on 24 November 2013 (next to be held on 26 November 2017); note - in 2015, the Constitutional Chamber of the Honduran Supreme Court struck down the constitutional provisions on presidential term limits

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)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of cerulean blue (top), white, and cerulean blue, with five cerulean, 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

note

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

three equal horizontal bands of cerulean blue (top), white, and cerulean blue, with five cerulean, 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

Government type

presidential 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, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC (suspended), IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), 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 (15 principal judges - including the court president - and 7 alternates; court organized into civil, criminal, constitutional, 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, and 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 (15 principal judges - including the court president - and 7 alternates; court organized into civil, criminal, constitutional, 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, and 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 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) last held on 24 November 2013 (next to be held on 26 November 2017) percent of vote by party - PNH 33.6%, LIBRE 27.5%, PL 17.0%, PAC 15.2%, PINU 1.9%, UD 1.7%, DC 1.6%, other 1.5%; seats by party - PNH 48, LIBRE 37, PL 27, PAC 13, PINU 1, UD 1, DC 1; note - seats by party as of 6 January 2016 - PNH 49, PL 27, LIBRE 31, PAC 13, VAMOS 4, PINU 1, UD 1, independents 2

description

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PNH 33.6%, LIBRE 27.5%, PL 17.0%, PAC 15.2%, PINU 1.9%, UD 1.7%, DC 1.6%, other 1.5%; seats by party - PNH 48, LIBRE 37, PL 27, PAC 13, PINU 1, UD 1, DC 1; note - seats by party as of 6 January 2016 - PNH 49, PL 27, LIBRE 31, PAC 13, VAMOS 4, PINU 1, UD 1, independents 2

elections

last held on 24 November 2013 (next to be held on 26 November 2017)

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)

note

adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are sung

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

scarlet macaw, white-tailed deer; national colors: blue, white

scarlet macaw, white-tailed deer; national colors

blue, white

Political parties and leaders

Anti-Corruption Party or PAC [Marlene ALVARENGA] 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] Go Solidarity Movement or VAMOS [Augusto CRUZ Asensio] Liberal Party or PL [Mauricio VILLEDA Bermudez] National Party of Honduras or PNH [Gladis Aurora LOPEZ] Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Guillermo VALLE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Beverage and Related Industries Syndicate or STIBYS Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH Committee of the Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras or COFADEH 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 OR MUCA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$4.322 billion $4.913 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$4.913 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$4.322 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.25% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

19.33% (31 December 2016 est.) 20.66% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-811 million (2016 est.) $-1.144 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$7.852 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $7.584 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47.1 (2014) 45.7 (2009)

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. Honduras’s economy depends heavily on US trade and remittances. The US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement 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 15% of foreign direct investment is from US firms. The economy registered modest economic growth of 3.1%-3.6% from 2010 to 2016, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 65% of the population in poverty. In 2016, Honduras faced rising public debt but its economy has performed better than expected due to low oil prices and improved investor confidence. The IMF continues to monitor the three-year standby arrangement signed in December 2014, aimed at easing Honduras’s poor fiscal position.

Exchange rates

lempiras (HNL) per US dollar - 22.995 (2016 est.) 22.995 (2015 est.) 22.098 (2014 est.) 21.137 (2013 est.) 19.64 (2012 est.)

Exports

$7.841 billion (2016 est.) $8.188 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 36.7%, Germany 10.7%, El Salvador 8.6%, Guatemala 6.5%, Netherlands 5.4%, Nicaragua 5.3% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

77.5% 14.5% 21.8% 1.5% 42.7% -58% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

42.7%

government consumption

14.5%

household consumption

77.5%

imports of goods and services

-58% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.8%

investment in inventories

1.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

13.5% 28.2% 58.3% (2016 est.)

agriculture

13.5%

industry

28.2%

services

58.3% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,300 (2016 est.) $5,200 (2015 est.) $5,000 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.6% (2016 est.) 3.6% (2015 est.) 3.1% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$21.37 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$43.17 billion (2016 est.) $41.14 billion (2015 est.) $39.27 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

19.5% of GDP (2016 est.) 19.3% of GDP (2015 est.) 15.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1.2% 38.4% (2014)

highest 10%

38.4% (2014)

lowest 10%

1.2%

Imports

$10.56 billion (2016 est.) $11.1 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

communications equipment, machinery and transport, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

US 32.8%, China 14.1%, Guatemala 8.9%, Mexico 7.3%, El Salvador 5.7% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2016 est.) 3.2% (2015 est.)

Labor force

3.677 million (2016 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

29.6% (2014)

Public debt

47.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 45.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.814 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $3.755 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$8.602 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $8.043 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$12.65 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $11.85 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.455 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $2.326 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.3% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.) about one-third of the people are underemployed

note

about one-third of the people are underemployed

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

10 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

7.215 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

536 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

45.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

25.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

32% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

679 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.499 million kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

8.367 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

900,000 82% 97% 66% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

66% (2013)

electrification - total population

82%

electrification - urban areas

97%

population without electricity

900,000

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

52,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

13,160 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

64,820 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 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 users

2,667,978 30.0% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

30.0% (July 2016 est.)

total

2,667,978

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 90 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 (2016)

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 90 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 (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

442,929 5 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

442,929

Telephones - mobile cellular

7,832,802 88 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

88 (July 2016 est.)

total

7,832,802

Airports

103 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

3 (2017)

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 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

73 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

16

total

90

under 914 m

73 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HR (2016)

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)

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)

total

88

National air transport system

251,149 502,372 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

502,372 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

251,149

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

10

number of registered air carriers

5

Ports and terminals

La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

major seaport(s)

La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Railways

699 km 164 km 1.067-m gauge; 115 km 1.057-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)

narrow gauge

164 km 1.067-m gauge; 115 km 1.057-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)

total

699 km

Roadways

14,742 km 3,367 km 11,375 km (1,543 km summer only) an additional 8,951 km of non-official roads used by the coffee industry (2012)

note

an additional 8,951 km of non-official roads used by the coffee industry (2012)

paved

3,367 km

total

14,742 km

unpaved

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

Waterways

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

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

1.59% of GDP (2016) 1.52% of GDP (2015) 1.62% of GDP (2014) 1.55% of GDP (2013) 1.15% 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

190,000 (violence, extortion, threats, forced recruitment by urban gangs) (2016)

IDPs

190,000 (violence, extortion, threats, forced recruitment by urban gangs) (2016)