Honduras

World Book Index

Introduction

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. The Honduran economy has slowly rebounded after COVID-19 and severe storms in 2020 and 2021.

Geography

Area
total : 112,090 sq km
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km

Climate
subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Natural resources
timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower

People and Society

Population
total: 9,529,188 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and European) 90%, Indigenous 7%, African descent 2%, White 1%

Languages
Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects

Religions
Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)

Population growth rate
1.29% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Tegucigalpa

Executive branch
chief of state: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022)
head of government: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Leonardo VALENZUELA NEDA (since 10 June 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Colleen Anne HOEY (since 23 June 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
second-fastest-growing Central American economy; COVID-19 and two hurricanes crippled activity; high poverty and inequality; declining-but-still-high violent crime disruption; systemic corruption; coffee and banana exporter; enormous remittances

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$71.297 billion (2024 est.)
$68.85 billion (2023 est.)
$66.473 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$6,600 (2024 est.)
$6,500 (2023 est.)
$6,400 (2022 est.)

Exports
$9.352 billion (2024 est.)
$9.805 billion (2023 est.)
$9.51 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
USA 49%, Nicaragua 8%, El Salvador 7%, Guatemala 5%, Mexico 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities
garments, coffee, insulated wire, palm oil, shellfish (2023)

Imports
$18.235 billion (2024 est.)
$17.926 billion (2023 est.)
$18.101 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
USA 36%, China 14%, Guatemala 8%, Mexico 6%, El Salvador 6% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cotton yarn, garments, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.645, ranking it 139th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 58th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 6.03. (more information)