Country Profile: Honduras

Honduras, located in Central America, is bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. With a population of approximately 9.5 million, the nation has a diverse ethnic composition and is predominantly Mestizo. Following periods of military rule, Honduras has established a presidential republic, currently led by President Iris Xiomara Castro de Zelaya. The economy, which is recovering from setbacks caused by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, is marked by high poverty rates and reliance on agriculture, particularly coffee and bananas.

Geography

Honduras features a diverse topography dominated by mountainous regions with narrow coastal plains along the Caribbean Sea. The country's terrain includes significant natural resources, including forests and minerals. It has a total area of 112,090 square kilometers and a climate that ranges from subtropical in the lowlands to temperate in the mountains.

823 km of coastline along the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Fonseca.
32% of land designated for agriculture (2023 est.).
53.3% of land covered by forests (2023 est.).
Cerro Las Minas, the highest point, reaches 2,870 m.

People and Society

Honduras has an estimated population of 9.5 million, with a relatively young median age of 25.7 years. The society is primarily Mestizo (90%) with significant Indigenous (7%) and Afro-descendant populations. The country has a literacy rate of 88.2%, and religions predominantly include Evangelical (55%) and Roman Catholic (33.4%).

60.2% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).
19.9 births per 1,000 population (2024 est.).
73.1 years is the life expectancy at birth (2024 est.).
1.29% population growth rate (2024 est.).

Economy

Honduras is recognized as the second-fastest-growing economy in Central America, heavily relying on remittances and agricultural exports. Despite facing challenges such as high poverty rates and systemic corruption, sectors like coffee and garment production drive its economic recovery.

$71.297 billion estimated GDP (2024 est.).
6.1% unemployment rate (2024 est.).
64.1% of the population lives below the poverty line (2023 est.).
25.7% of GDP is attributed to remittances (2024 est.).

Government

As a presidential republic, Honduras is governed by a system where the President is both the head of state and government. The National Congress consists of 128 directly elected members, and universal suffrage is mandated at the age of 18. The current president, Iris Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, took office in January 2022.

The capital city is Tegucigalpa.
18 administrative divisions (departments).
The latest constitution was approved on January 11, 1982.
Next presidential election is scheduled for November 30, 2025.

Military and Security

Honduras maintains an active military force of approximately 15,000 personnel, focusing primarily on internal security and support to civil authorities against organized crime and drug trafficking. The military is structured into the Army, Navy, and Air Force, alongside a Military Police unit.

1.5% of GDP allocated to military expenditures (2024 est.).
Voluntary military service for ages 18-22, with no conscription.
The Military Police of Public Order assists in domestic security efforts.
Military cooperation exists with neighboring Central American countries for border security.

Energy

Honduras has made significant strides in electrification, with nearly all urban areas having access to electricity. The energy generation mix includes hydroelectric, fossil fuels, and renewable sources like solar and wind.

94.4% of the population has access to electricity (2022 est.).
Total installed capacity stands at 3.334 million kW (2023 est.).
38.4% of electricity generation comes from fossil fuels (2023 est.).
Energy consumption per capita is approximately 16.642 million Btu/person (2023 est.).

Environment

Honduras faces various environmental challenges, including deforestation and land degradation due to agricultural practices and mining activities. The nation is party to multiple international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

53.3% of land is forested (2023 est.).
92.164 billion cubic meters are available as total renewable water resources (2022 est.).
Major environmental issues include soil erosion and water pollution from mining activities.
10.534 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (2023 est.).

Transportation

Honduras boasts a variety of transportation infrastructure, including a network of roads, ports, and an extensive merchant marine fleet. The country also has multiple airports facilitating both domestic and international travel.

129 airports are operational as of 2025.
Railways stretch over 699 km (2014).
The merchant marine consists of 489 vessels (2023).
8 ports facilitate shipping activities (2024).

Communications

Honduras has a growing communications sector, with increasing access to mobile and internet services among the population. The country supports multiple broadcast media platforms.

58% of the population are internet users (2023 est.).
7.92 million mobile cellular subscriptions (2023 est.).
444,000 fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2023 est.).
476,000 broadband fixed subscriptions (2023 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	9,529,188 (2024 est.)
Area	112,090 sq km
GDP	$71.297 billion (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption	16.642 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	19.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Unemployment	6.1% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	73.1 years (2024 est.)
Literacy	88.2% (2024 est.)
Gini Index	46.8 (2023 est.)
Urban Population	60.2% (2023)