2019 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

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

Highest Point

Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

Lowest Point

Caribbean Sea 0 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

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

Border Countries

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

Total

1,575 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

28.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

9.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

15.7% (2011 est.)

Forest

45.3% (2011 est.)

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

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

0 14 Years

32.37% (male 1,518,526 /female 1,453,891)

15 24 Years

20.88% (male 977,899 /female 939,490)

25 54 Years

37.07% (male 1,724,257 /female 1,679,694)

55 64 Years

5.27% (male 229,066 /female 255,169)

65 Years And Over

4.41% (male 174,771 /female 230,003) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

22 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

7.1% (2012)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

73.2% (2011/12)

Current Health Expenditure

8.4% (2016)

Death Rate

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has 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

Elderly Dependency Ratio

7.1 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

14.2 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

59.8 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

52.7 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

83.8% of population

Improved Total

91.2% of population

Improved Urban

97.4% of population

Unimproved Rural

16.2% of population

Unimproved Total

8.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2.6% of population

Education Expenditures

6% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

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

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.3% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<1000 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

23,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

14.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

18.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

16.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

73 years

Male

69.6 years

Total Population

71.3 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

88.9% (2016)

Male

89%

Total Population

89%

Major Infectious Diseases

Degree Of Risk

high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

dengue fever and malaria (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

1.403 million TEGUCIGALPA (capital), 876,000 San Pedro Sula (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

65 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

23.7 years

Male

23 years

Total

23.3 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

20.4 years (2011/12 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Honduran

Noun

Honduran(s)

Net Migration Rate

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

21.4% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.31 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

9,182,766 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.56% (2018 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

77.7% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

82.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

86.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

22.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

17.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

13.3% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

11 years (2014)

Male

10 years

Total

10 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.03 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.9 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.76 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.01 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.61 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

12.1% (2017 est.)

Male

5.6%

Total

7.9%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

2.75% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

57.7% of total population (2019)

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

Geographic Coordinates

14 06 N, 87 13 W

Name

Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital

Time Difference

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

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

yes

Citizenship By Descent Only

yes

Dual Citizenship Recognized

yes

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

1 to 3 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the National Congress with at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Congress in its next annual session; constitutional articles, such as the form of government, national sovereignty, the presidential term, and the procedure for amending the constitution, cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2015; note - the 2015 amendment struck down several constitutional articles on presidential term limits (2018)

History

several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

Country Name

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

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Colleen A. HOEY (since August 2019)

Embassy

Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa M.D.C.

Fax

[504] 2236-9037

Mailing Address

American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa

Telephone

[504] 2236-9320, 2238-5114

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

Suite 700, 1250 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

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) 966-7702

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president

Chief Of State

President Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (since 27 January 2014); Vice Presidents Ricardo ALVAREZ, Maria RIVERA, and Olga ALVARADO (since 26 January 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

Election Results

Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado reelected president; percent of vote Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 43%, Salvador NASRALLA (Alianza de Oposicion conta la Dictadura) 41.4%, Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano (PL) 14.7%, other .9%

Elections Appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term; election last held on 26 November 2017 (next to be held in November 2021); 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, Maria RIVERA, and Olga ALVARADO (since 26 January 2018)

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

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

Highest Courts

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 nominated by each of their organizations; judges elected by Congress for renewable, 7-year terms

Subordinate Courts

courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace

Legal System

civil law system

Legislative Branch

Description

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

Election Results

percent of vote by party - PNH 47.7%, LIBRE 23.4%, PL 20.3%, AP 3.1%, PINU 3.1%, DC 0.8%, PAC 0.8%, UD 0.8%; seats by party - PNH 61, LIBRE 30, PL 26, AP 4, PINU 4, DC 1, PAC 1, UD 1; composition - men 101, women 27, percent of women 21.1%

Elections

last held on 27 November 2017 (next to be held on 28 November 2021)

National Anthem

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; national colors: blue, white

Political Parties And Leaders

Alliance against the Dictatorship or Alianza de Oposicion conta la Dictadura [Salvador NASRALLA] (electoral coalition) Anti-Corruption Party or PAC [Marlene ALVARENGA] Christian Democratic Party or DC [Lucas AGUILERA] Democratic Unification Party or UD [Alfonso DIAZ] Freedom and Refoundation Party or LIBRE [Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales] Honduran Patriotic Alliance or AP [Romeo VASQUEZ Velasquez] Liberal Party or PL [Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano] National Party of Honduras or PNH [Reinaldo SANCHEZ Rivera] Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Guillermo VALLE]

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

Expenditures

5.283 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

4.658 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2010

6.25%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

19.33%

31 December 2017

19.26%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$587 million

2017

-$380 million

Debt External

31 December 2016

$7.852 billion

31 December 2017

$8.625 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2009

45.7

2014

47.1

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%-4.0% from 2010 to 2017, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 65% of the population in poverty. In 2017, Honduras faced rising public debt, but its economy has performed better than expected due to low oil prices and improved investor confidence. Honduras signed a three-year standby arrangement with the IMF in December 2014, aimed at easing Honduras’s poor fiscal position.

Exchange Rates

2013

21.137

2014

22.098

2015

22.995

2016

22.995

2017

23.74

Currency

lempiras (HNL) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$7.841 billion

2017

$8.675 billion

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

US 34.5%, Germany 8.9%, Belgium 7.7%, El Salvador 7.3%, Netherlands 7.2%, Guatemala 5.2%, Nicaragua 4.8% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

43.6% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

13.8% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

77.7% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-58.9% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

23.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.7% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

14.2% (2017 est.)

Industry

28.8% (2017 est.)

Services

57% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$22.98 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$5,300

2016

$5,400

2017

$5,600

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$42.58 billion

2016

$44.18 billion

2017

$46.3 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

3.8%

2016

3.8%

2017

4.8%

Gross National Saving

2015

20.5% of GDP

2016

20.6% of GDP

2017

22.1% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

38.4% (2014)

Lowest 10

1.2%

Imports

2016

$10.56 billion

2017

$11.32 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

US 40.3%, Guatemala 10.5%, China 8.5%, Mexico 6.2%, El Salvador 5.7%, Panama 4.4%, Costa Rica 4.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

4.5% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

2.7%

2017

3.9%

Labor Force

3.735 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

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

2016

38.5% of GDP

2017

39.5% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$3.814 billion

31 December 2017

$4.708 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$2.455 billion

31 December 2017

$2.827 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$12.67 billion

31 December 2017

$13.3 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$2.455 billion

31 December 2017

$2.827 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

6.3%

2017

5.6%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

9.436 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

72.2% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

87.6% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

100% (2016)

Population Without Electricity

2 million (2017)

Electricity Consumption

7.22 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

536 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

40% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

34% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

195 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

2.546 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

8.501 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

59,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

12,870 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

56,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

3 (2017 est.)

Total

232,990

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

Internet Country Code

.hn

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

30% (July 2016 est.)

Total

2,667,978

Telephone System

Domestic

private sub-operators allowed to provide fixed lines in order to expand telephone coverage contributing to a small increase in fixed-line teledensity 5 per 100; mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 91 per 100 persons (2018)

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; demand for broadband increasing and some investment needed in network upgrades; mobile penetration below regional average (2018)

International

country code - 504; landing points for both the ARCOS and the MAYA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable systems 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 (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

5 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

491,107

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

91 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

8,233,499

Airports

103 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

3 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

3 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

4 (2017)

Total

13 (2017)

Under 914 M

3 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

1 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

16 (2013)

Total

90 (2013)

Under 914 M

73 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

HR (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

container ship 1, general cargo 249, oil tanker 89, other 211 (2018)

Total

550

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

502,372 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

251,149 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

10 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

5 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Railways

Narrow Gauge

164 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

Total

699 km (2014)

Roadways

Paved

3,367 km (2012)

Total

14,742 km (2012)

Unpaved

11,375 km (1,543 km summer only) (2012)

Waterways

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

Military And Security Forces

Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army, Honduran Naval Force (FNH; includes marines), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH), Honduran Public Order Military Police (PMOP) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

4.62% of GDP

2015

1.68% of GDP

2016

1.68% of GDP

2017

1.74% of GDP

2018

1.71% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription (2018)

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)