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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7

Radios [time series]

2.115 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

105,000 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

11 (in addition, there are 17 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

400,000 (1992 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$4.1 billion (1995)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$418.7 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, Honduras had been pursuing a moderate economic reform program and had posted strong annual growth numbers. The storm has dramatically changed economic forecasts for Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Central America and the hardest hit by Mitch. Honduras sustained approximately $3 billion in damages and will probably see GDP shrink by 2% in 1999 and unemployment rise. Hardest hit was the all-important agricultural sector, which is responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to $445 million. However, significant aid has helped to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and bilateral creditors have offered substantial debt relief, and Tegucigalpa is currently under consideration for inclusion in the IMF-World Bank Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). Additional financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch level.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

2.734 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

4 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

2.73 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 12.09% hydro: 87.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period)--13.8076 (December 1998), 13.8076 (1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996), 10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

US 54%, Germany 7%, Belgium 5%, Japan 4%, Spain 3% (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$14.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

3% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 42.1% (1996)

Imports [time series]

$1.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

US 43%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%, Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

10% (1992 est.)

Industries [time series]

sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

14.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.3 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 37%, services 39%, industry 24% (1996)

Population below poverty line [time series]

50% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate [time series]

subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Coastline [time series]

820 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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; severe Hurricane Mitch damage

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 00 N, 86 30 W

Irrigated land [time series]

740 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

18 departments (departamentos, singular--departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro

Capital [time series]

Tegucigalpa

Constitution [time series]

11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville

Executive branch [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America--Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National Assembly

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Liberal Party or PLH [Raphael MELGAR, president]; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

National Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; National Union of Campesinos or UNC; General Workers Confederation or CGT; United Federation of Honduran Workers or FUTH; Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations or CCOP

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$33 million (1998)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

0.6% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,455,053 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 866,492 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 69,646 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 41% (male 1,262,190; female 1,217,752) 15-64 years: 55% (male 1,643,550; female 1,665,666) 65 years and over: 4% (male 98,715; female 109,454) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

30.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

40.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish, Amerindian dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.68 years male: 63.16 years female: 66.27 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

5,997,327 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.24% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

demarcation of boundary with El Salvador defined by 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision has not been completed; small boundary section left unresolved by ICJ decision not yet reported to have been settled; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption

Transportation

Airports [time series]

122 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 111 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 87 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 14,173 km paved: 3,126 km unpaved: 11,047 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 247 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 555,534 GRT/730,602 DWT ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 157, chemical tanker 4, container 7, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 25, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 4, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 5, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 6 ships, Vietnam 1, Singapore 3, North Korea 1 (1998 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira

Railways [time series]

total: 595 km narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km 0.914-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

465 km navigable by small craft