Honduras

Honduras, situated in the heart of Central America, is a nation of striking geographical contrasts and cultural richness. Bordered by Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, with coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it serves as a strategic bridge between North and South America. Known for its mountainous terrain, fertile valleys, and tropical forests, Honduras combines deep indigenous roots, colonial heritage, and modern challenges shaped by social inequality, migration, and environmental vulnerability.

Historical Background

Originally part of the Spanish Empire, Honduras declared independence in 1821 along with other Central American territories. It briefly joined the Federal Republic of Central America before becoming a fully sovereign republic in 1838.
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw the rise of foreign economic domination, particularly by U.S. banana companies such as United Fruit Company and Standard Fruit, leading to the country’s reputation as a “banana republic.” Mining and agricultural concessions, coupled with weak state institutions, entrenched dependency and inequality.
Throughout much of the 20th century, Honduras alternated between military and civilian rule, with coups, authoritarian governance, and U.S. influence shaping its political landscape. In 1982, a new Constitution restored civilian government, though the country also became a staging ground for U.S.-backed Contra forces fighting the Sandinistas in neighboring Nicaragua.
The 21st century brought renewed turbulence. The 2009 coup d’état ousted President Manuel Zelaya, polarising Honduran society. His wife, Iris Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, later became Honduras’s first female president in January 2022, leading the LIBRE Party on a platform of social reform and anti-corruption.
Honduras has also endured severe natural disasters, notably Hurricane Mitch (1998), which killed over 5,600 people and devastated infrastructure. More recently, Hurricanes Eta and Iota (2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic compounded existing economic and social crises. Yet, despite these setbacks, Honduras has shown resilience, with gradual recovery and growing emphasis on renewable energy and regional cooperation.

Geography and Environment

Location: Central America, bordered by Guatemala (244 km), El Salvador (391 km), and Nicaragua (940 km).Area: 112,090 sq km (slightly larger than Tennessee, USA).Coastline: 823 km (Caribbean 669 km; Pacific 163 km).Capital: Tegucigalpa (metropolitan area includes Comayagüela).
Topography: Predominantly mountainous, with narrow coastal plains and fertile river valleys.Highest point: Cerro Las Minas (2,870 m) in the Celaque Range.
Climate: Subtropical in the lowlands; temperate in the highlands. Rainy season from May to November; dry season from December to April.
Natural resources: Timber, gold, silver, copper, zinc, iron ore, coal, fish, and hydroelectric power potential.
Environmental issues:

• Deforestation due to illegal logging and agricultural expansion.
• Soil erosion and water pollution from mining.
• Extreme vulnerability to hurricanes, floods, and landslides.

Notable ecosystems:

• Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site) — one of the largest remaining tropical rainforests in Central America, home to rich biodiversity and Indigenous communities.

People and Society

Population (2024 est.): 9.53 millionMedian age: 25.7 yearsPopulation growth: 1.29%Urban population: 60.2%Major cities: Tegucigalpa (1.57 million), San Pedro Sula (982,000), La Ceiba
Ethnic composition:

• Mestizo: 90%
• Indigenous: 7% (including Lenca, Miskito, Ch’orti’, Pech, and Tolupan)
• African descent (Garifuna): 2%
• White/Other: 1%

Languages:

• Spanish (official)
• Indigenous languages: Garifuna, Miskito, and others

Religions (2023):

• Evangelical Protestant: 55%
• Roman Catholic: 33.4%
• None: 10.1%
• Others: 1.5%

Social indicators:

• Life expectancy: 73.1 years (male 69.6, female 76.8)
• Fertility rate: 2.33 children per woman
• Literacy rate: 89%
• Education expenditure: 4% of GDP
• School life expectancy: 10 years
• Maternal mortality: 47 deaths per 100,000 live births
• Infant mortality: 15.4 per 1,000 live births
• Health expenditure: 9.2% of GDP
• Physician density: 0.49 per 1,000 people

Access to clean water and sanitation is relatively high (urban: 99%; rural: 91%). However, inequality between urban and rural areas persists, contributing to migration pressures.

Government and Politics

Official name: Republic of Honduras (República de Honduras)Government type: Presidential republicIndependence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)Constitution: Adopted 1982
Head of State and Government: President Iris Xiomara Castro de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022)

• Term: 4 years (re-election prohibited).
• Next election: November 2025.

Legislature: National Congress (Congreso Nacional) — 128 members elected by proportional representation.
Current party composition (2021 elections):

• LIBRE (Liberty and Refoundation): 50 seats
• National Party (PNH): 44
• Liberal Party (PL): 22
• Salvador de Honduras Party (PSH): 10
• Others: 2

Judiciary: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) — 15 justices elected by Congress for 7-year terms.Legal system: Civil law tradition derived from Spanish law.
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos).
National symbols:

• Flag: Blue-white-blue with five stars representing Central American unity.
• National animals: Scarlet macaw and white-tailed deer.
• National anthem: “Himno Nacional de Honduras” (adopted 1915).
• National colors: Blue and white.

Economy

Honduras is a developing, open-market economy reliant on agriculture, manufacturing, and remittances. It remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, though growth has been steady in recent years.
Key indicators (2024):

• GDP (nominal): $37.1 billion
• GDP (PPP): $71.3 billion
• GDP per capita (PPP): $6,600
• Real growth rate: 3.6%
• Inflation: 4.6%
• Unemployment: 6.1%
• Poverty rate: 64.1%
• Gini index: 46.8 (high inequality)
• Remittances: 25.7% of GDP

Sectoral composition (2024):

• Agriculture: 11.2%
• Industry: 26.1%
• Services: 58.4%

Main exports: Garments, coffee, palm oil, shrimp, electrical wiring.Main imports: Refined petroleum, vehicles, medicines, cotton yarn.Major trade partners: United States (49%), Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico.Currency: Lempira (HNL) — 24.8 HNL per USD (2024).
The maquila (assembly) sector remains a major employer, while coffee, sugar, and bananas sustain rural livelihoods. Remittances from Hondurans abroad—especially in the United States—are the largest single source of foreign income.
Challenges: High inequality, corruption, limited industrial diversification, and vulnerability to external shocks and natural disasters.

Infrastructure and Energy

Electricity access: 94.4% (urban 100%, rural 86.8%)Installed capacity: 3.33 million kWEnergy mix:

• Hydroelectric: 33%
• Fossil fuels: 38%
• Solar/wind: 15%
• Biomass: 11%

Honduras is a regional leader in solar energy, especially in Choluteca Department, and has expanded rural electrification and renewable capacity.
Transportation:

• Airports: 129 (including Palmerola and Ramón Villeda Morales International)
• Ports: 8 major ports — notably Puerto Cortés, a major Caribbean hub.
• Railways: 699 km (largely inactive).

Communications:

• Internet users: 58% of population
• Mobile subscriptions: 7.9 million (2023)
• Broadband penetration: 4 per 100 inhabitants

Defence and Security

Armed Forces (FFAA): Army, Navy, Air Force, and Military Police of Public Order (PMOP).Personnel: ~15,000 active-duty members (2025).Military expenditure: 1.5% of GDP (2024).Service: Voluntary; men and women aged 18–22; term 24–36 months; women comprise 9% of the force.
Security challenges:

• Gang violence (MS-13, Barrio 18)
• Drug trafficking and organised crime
• Corruption and weak judicial institutions

The PMOP, created in 2013, supports civilian police operations.The U.S. Joint Task Force Bravo operates from Soto Cano Air Base, focusing on counter-narcotics, training, and humanitarian aid.