Introduction
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. Honduras has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast.
Geography
Area
total: 112,090 sq km
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km
Climate
subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Natural resources
timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
People and Society
Population
9,571,352 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, African descent 2%, White 1%
Languages
Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects
Religions
Evangelical/Protestant 48%, Roman Catholic 34%, other 1%, none 17% (2020 est.)
Population growth rate
1.28% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
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
Executive branch
chief of state: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice Presidents Salvador NASRALLA, Doris GUTIÉRREZ, and Renato FLORENTINO (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; CASTRO is Honduras' first female president
head of government: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice Presidents Salvador NASRALLA, Doris GUTIÉRREZ, and Renato FLORENTINO (since 27 January 2022)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members directly elected in 18 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
second-fastest-growing Central American economy; COVID-19 and two hurricanes crippled activity; high poverty and inequality; declining-but-still-high violent crime disruption; systemic corruption; coffee and banana exporter; enormous remittances
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$57.273 billion (2021 est.)
$50.894 billion (2020 est.)
$55.905 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$5,600 (2021 est.)
$5,000 (2020 est.)
$5,600 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
sugarcane, oil palm fruit, milk, bananas, maize, coffee, melons, oranges, poultry, beans
Industries
sugar processing, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars
Remittances
25.29% of GDP (2021 est.)
23.45% of GDP (2020 est.)
21.53% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$7.941 billion (2021 est.)
$6.269 billion (2020 est.)
$7.243 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
United States 53%, El Salvador 8%, Guatemala 5%, Nicaragua 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
clothing and apparel, coffee, insulated wiring, palm oil, shrimp, gold, bananas (2021)
Imports
$14.495 billion (2021 est.)
$9.928 billion (2020 est.)
$11.825 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
United States 42%, China 10%, Guatemala 8%, El Salvador 8%, Mexico 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, insulated wiring (2019)
Exchange rates
lempiras (HNL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
24.017 (2021 est.)
24.582 (2020 est.)
24.509 (2019 est.)
23.903 (2018 est.)
23.487 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, December 06, 2023
