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Background Note: Honduras
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Republic of Honduras
Geography
Area: 112,090 sq. km. (43,278 sq. mi.); slightly larger than
Virginia.
Cities: Capital--Tegucigalpa (1,150,000); San Pedro Sula
(800,000-900,000).
Terrain: Mountainous.
Climate: Tropical to subtropical, depending on elevation.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Honduran(s).
Population (2006 est.): 7.3 million.
Growth rate (2006 est.): 2.16%.
Ethnic groups: 90% mestizo (mixed Indian and European); others
of European, Arab, African, or Asian ancestry; and indigenous
Indians.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant minority.
Language: Spanish.
Education (2003): Years compulsory--6. Attendance--88%
overall, 31% at junior high level. Literacy--76.2%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--29.64/1,000. Life
expectancy--66.2 yrs.
Work force: Services--42.2%; natural
resources/agriculture--35.9%; manufacturing--16.3%;
construction/housing--5.6%.
Government
Type: Democratic constitutional republic.
Independence: September 15, 1821.
Constitution: 1982; amended 1999.
Branches: Executive--president, directly elected to
4-year term. Legislative--unicameral National Congress,
elected for 4-year term. Judicial--Supreme Court of
Justice (appointed for a 7-year term by Congress and confirmed
by the president); several lower courts.
Political parties: National Party, Liberal Party, Innovation and
National Unity Party, Christian Democratic Party, and the
Democratic Unification Party.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at age 18.
Administrative subdivisions: 18 departments.
Economy (2006 est.)
GDP: $22.3 billion (PPP) or $9.3 billion (official exchange
rate).
Growth rate: 5.5%.
Per capita GDP: $2,900 (PPP).
Per capita income: $ 894.00
Natural resources: Arable land, forests, minerals, and
fisheries.
Agriculture (14.1% of GDP): Products--coffee, bananas,
shrimp and lobster, sugar, fruits, basic grains, and livestock.
Manufacturing (18% of GDP): Types--textiles and apparel,
cement, wood products, cigars, and foodstuffs.
Services (53.2% of GDP).
Trade: Exports (goods)--$1.95 billion: apparel, coffee,
shrimp, bananas, palm oil, gold, zinc/lead concentrates,
soap/detergents, melons, lobster, pineapple, lumber, sugar, and
tobacco. Major market--U.S. (54.4%). Imports (goods)--$5.00
billion: fabrics, yarn, machinery, chemicals, petroleum,
vehicles, processed foods, metals, agricultural products,
plastic articles, and paper articles. Major source--U.S.
(37.5%).
PEOPLE
About 90% of the population is mestizo. There also are small
minorities of European, African, Asian, Arab, and indigenous
Indian descent. Most Hondurans are Roman Catholic, but
Protestant churches are growing in number. While Spanish is the
predominant language, some English is spoken along the northern
coast and is prevalent on the Caribbean Bay Islands. Several
indigenous Indian languages and Garífuna (a mixture of
Afro-indigenous languages) are also spoken. The restored Mayan
ruins near the Guatemalan border in Copan reflect the great
Mayan culture that flourished there for hundreds of years until
the early 9th century. Columbus landed at mainland Honduras
(Trujillo) in 1502, and named the area "Honduras" (meaning
"depths") for the deep water off the coast. Spaniard Hernan
Cortes arrived in 1524.
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