Honduras Statistics


HONDURAS - STATISTICS
Location:	Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the 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
Area-comparative:	Slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:	Total: 1,520 km Border Countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km
Coastline:	820 km
Climate:	Subtropical in lowlands, Temperate in mountains
Terrain:	mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Population:	5,997,000 ( est.)
Ethnic Groups:	mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions:	Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages:	Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Capital:	Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions:	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
Independence:	15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Economy-overview:	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.
Currency:	1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:	Lempiras (L) per US$1 (Current) 16.50