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Central America and Caribbean :: Honduras

- ## Introduction :: HONDURAS

- 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.

- ## Geography :: HONDURAS

- 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
  Geographic coordinates:
  15 00 N, 86 30 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 112,090 sq km
  land: 111,890 sq km
  water: 200 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Tennessee
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,575 km
  border countries (3): Guatemala 244 km, El Salvador 391 km, Nicaragua 940 km
  Coastline:
  Caribbean Sea 669 km; Gulf of Fonseca 163 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
  Climate:
  subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
  Terrain:
  mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
  Natural resources:
  timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 28.8%
  arable land 9.1%; permanent crops 4%; permanent pasture 15.7%
  forest: 45.3%
  other: 25.9% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  878.5 sq km (2007)
  Total renewable water resources:
  95.93 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 2.12 cu km/yr (16%/23%/61%)
  per capita: 295.6 cu m/yr (2006)
  Natural hazards:
  frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
  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
  Geography - note:
  has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast

- ## People and Society :: HONDURAS

- Nationality:
  noun: Honduran(s)
  adjective: Honduran
  Ethnic groups:
  mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
  Languages:
  Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
  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.
  Population:
  8,746,673
  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 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34.18% (male 1,527,234/female 1,462,763)
  15-24 years: 21.14% (male 943,039/female 906,273)
  25-54 years: 35.73% (male 1,578,654/female 1,546,902)
  55-64 years: 4.85% (male 197,602/female 226,294)
  65 years and over: 4.09% (male 156,023/female 201,889) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 57.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 50.1%
  elderly dependency ratio: 7.7%
  potential support ratio: 13.1% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 22.3 years
  male: 21.9 years
  female: 22.7 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.68% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Birth rate:
  23.14 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Death rate:
  5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Net migration rate:
  -1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 54.7% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  TEGUCIGALPA (capital) 1.123 million; San Pedro Sula 852,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  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: 0.87 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 18.18 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 20.59 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 15.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 71 years
  male: 69.34 years
  female: 72.74 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Total fertility rate:
  2.78 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  73.2% (2011/12)
  Health expenditures:
  8.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Physicians density:
  0.37 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
  Hospital bed density:
  0.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 97.4% of population
  rural: 83.8% of population
  total: 91.2% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.6% of population
  rural: 16.2% of population
  total: 8.8% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 86.7% of population
  rural: 77.7% of population
  total: 82.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 13.3% of population
  rural: 22.3% of population
  total: 17.4% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.42% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  23,000 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  1,200 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  16.3% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  7.1% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 88.5%
  male: 88.4%
  female: 88.6% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years
  male: 11 years
  female: 12 years (2013)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 280,809
  percentage: 16% (2002 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 8%
  male: 5.5%
  female: 13.8% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113

- ## Government :: HONDURAS

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
  conventional short form: Honduras
  local long form: Republica de Honduras
  local short form: Honduras
  Government type:
  democratic constitutional republic
  Capital:
  name: Tegucigalpa
  geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W
  time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: none scheduled for 2013
  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
  Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended many times, last in 2012 (2013)
  Legal system:
  civil law system
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
  Executive branch:
  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
  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: Cabinet appointed by president
  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 in November 2017)
  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%
  Legislative branch:
  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)
  elections: last held on 24 November 2013 (next to be held in November 2017)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNH 48, LIBRE 37, PL 27, PAC 13, DC 1, UD 1, PINU 1
  Judicial branch:
  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, 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
  Political parties and leaders:
  Anti-Corruption Party or PAC [Salvador NASRALLA]
  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]
  Liberal Party or PL [Mauricio VILLEDA Bermudez]
  National Party of Honduras or PNH [Gladys Aurora LOPEZ]
  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
  Commiittee 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
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge Alberto MILLA Reyes (since 21 May 2014)
  chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 966-2604
  FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador James D. NEALON (since 21 August 2014)
  embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
  mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
  telephone: [504] 2236-9320, 2238-5114
  FAX: [504] 2236-9037
  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
  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
  National symbol(s):
  scarlet macaw, white-tailed deer; national colors: blue, white
  National anthem:
  name: "Himno Nacional de Honduras" (National Anthem of Honduras)
  lyrics/music: Augusto Constancio COELLO/Carlos HARTLING
  note: adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are sung

- ## Economy :: HONDURAS

- 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 (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 15% of foreign direct investment is from US firms. The economy registered modest economic growth of 2.6%-4.0% from 2010 to 2014, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 65% of the population in poverty. Honduras signed a three-year IMF stand-by arrangement in December 2014 that will help ease its poor fiscal position. In November 2014 along with his counterparts from El Salvador and Guatemala, President HERNANDEZ announced the “Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle.” This plan seeks to address the challenges facing the three Northern Triangle countries, including steps the governments will take to stimulate economic growth, increase transparency and fiscal responsibility, reduce violence, modernize the justice system, improve infrastructure, and promote educational opportunities over the next several years.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $39.08 billion (2014 est.)
  $37.91 billion (2013 est.)
  $36.88 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 113
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $19.51 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.1% (2014 est.)
  2.8% (2013 est.)
  4.1% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $4,700 (2014 est.)
  $4,600 (2013 est.)
  $4,500 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Gross national saving:
  14.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  10.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
  16.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 80.8%
  government consumption: 16.1%
  investment in fixed capital: 25.2%
  investment in inventories: 0.7%
  exports of goods and services: 48.2%
  imports of goods and services: -71.1%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 14%
  industry: 27.4%
  services: 58.7% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  bananas, coffee, citrus, corn, African palm; beef; timber; shrimp, tilapia, lobster, sugar, oriental vegetables
  Industries:
  sugar, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2.8% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Labor force:
  3.579 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 39.2%
  industry: 20.9%
  services: 39.8% (2005 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  4.5% (2014 est.)
  4.5% (2013 est.)
  note: about one-third of the people are underemployed
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Population below poverty line:
  60% (2010 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 0.4%
  highest 10%: 42.4% (2009 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  57.7 (2007)
  53.8 (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Budget:
  revenues: $3.354 billion
  expenditures: $4.335 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  17.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -5.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Public debt:
  44.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  43.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.1% (2014 est.)
  5.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Central bank discount rate:
  6.25% (31 December 2010)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  17.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
  20.08% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Stock of narrow money:
  $2.006 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.934 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Stock of broad money:
  $7.623 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $7.11 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $11.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $10.81 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$1.444 billion (2014 est.)
  -$1.655 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Exports:
  $8.52 billion (2014 est.)
  $7.833 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Exports - commodities:
  coffee, apparel, coffee, shrimp, automobile wire harnesses, cigars, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber
  Exports - partners:
  US 35.2%, Germany 8.4%, El Salvador 8%, Guatemala 6.3%, Nicaragua 5.9%, Mexico 4.4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $11.79 billion (2014 est.)
  $11.03 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Imports - commodities:
  communications equipment, machinery and transport, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  US 43.3%, Guatemala 9.4%, China 7.6%, Mexico 5.6%, El Salvador 5.1% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $2.934 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.009 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Debt - external:
  $7.111 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $6.636 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Exchange rates:
  lempiras (HNL) per US dollar -
  21.1 (2014 est.)
  20.494 (2013 est.)
  19.64 (2012 est.)
  18.895 (2011 est.)
  18.9 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: HONDURAS

- Electricity - production:
  6.713 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Electricity - consumption:
  5.091 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Electricity - exports:
  237 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Electricity - imports:
  76 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  1.815 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  60% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  29.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  10.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Crude oil - production:
  20 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  58,220 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  46,370 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  10.33 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101

- ## Communications :: HONDURAS

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 530,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 7.7 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Telephone system:
  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
  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
  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)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .hn
  Internet users:
  total: 1.7 million
  percent of population: 19.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103

- ## Transportation :: HONDURAS

- Airports:
  103 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 13
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 4
  under 914 m: 3 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 90
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 16
  under 914 m:
  73 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 699 km
  narrow gauge: 164 km 1.067-m gauge; 115 km 1.057-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Roadways:
  total: 14,742 km
  paved: 3,367 km
  unpaved: 11,375 km (1,543 km summer only)
  note: an additional 8,951 km of non-official roads used by the coffee industry (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Waterways:
  465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Merchant marine:
  total: 88
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

- ## Military :: HONDURAS

- Military branches:
  Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,045,914
  females age 16-49: 1,991,418 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,525,578
  females age 16-49: 1,539,688 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 95,895
  female: 92,087 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.05% of GDP (2012)
  1.13% of GDP (2011)
  1.05% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 96

- ## Transnational Issues :: HONDURAS

- 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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: at least 29,400 (violence, extortion, threats, forced recruitment by urban gangs) (2013)
  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

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