Honduras – country information

Country name	Honduras
Official name	Republic of Honduras
Capital	Tegucigalpa
Continent	North America
Area	112,088 km2
Population	8,555,072 (2013)
Foundation of a state	15/9/1821
The highest mountains	Las Minas 2865 m
Longest rivers	Patuca 525 km
State system	a pluralistic presidential republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Tegucigalpa 750,000 (capital), San Pedro Sula 350,000, La Ceiba 90,000
Official language	Spanish
Ethnicity/National Composition	mestizo 90.5%, Indians 6.5%, blacks 2%, whites 1%
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholics 85%, Protestants 10%, others 5%
Currency	1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$4,744 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	69.33 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture, forestry and fishing 22%, mining 2%, industry 20.5%, construction 4.5%, services 51%

Honduras – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
Guatemala	Guatemala	108,889 km2	15,806,675
Nicaragua	Managua	130,000 km2	6,071,045
El Salvador	San Salvador	21,041 km2	6,340,000

Country overview

Honduras stretches along the coast of the Caribbean Sea, but it also includes a piece of the Pacific coast.

According to Abbreviationfinder, Honduras is a country in Central America. Common borders in the southeast – with Nicaragua, in the southwest – with El Salvador, in the west – with Guatemala. The capital is Tegucigalpa.

This name was supposedly given to the country by Christopher Columbus, when he managed to survive a storm off the coast of the future country. “Thank God, we have left these depths” (Gracias a Dios que hemos salido de estas honduras) – said the navigator.

The climate is tropical-trade wind. The average temperature is +22*С.

Resorts and attractions in Honduras

Copan is one of the major centers of Mayan culture. Here are the main attractions of the country – the ruins of the Mayan civilization.
Fish Rain Festival (Festival de la Lluvia de Peces) – It is celebrated in the city of Yoro. The occurrence of the phenomenon lies in the fact that strong winds lift fish and other living creatures into the air from the water and carry them over long distances, where they fall from the sky during heavy rain under the roar of thunder and the brilliance of lightning.

Animal rain falls in Honduras every year from May to July.

Country data

Location: Central America

Time zone: CET – 7 (during summer time: CET – 8)

Total area: 112,090 km²

Land area: 111,890 km²

Water area: 200 km²

Length of the state border: 1,575 km

Bordering countries:
El Salvador: 391 km
Guatemala: 244 km
Nicaragua: 940 km

Coastline: 832 km

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Regions: 18
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

Electric current: 110 V / 60 Hz

Telephone code: 00 504 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

Population

Population: approx. 8.6 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.7% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 77

Life expectancy: 69 (male), 73 (female)

Official language: Spanish

Religions:

• 97% Roman Catholic
• 3% other

Climate

The climate is tropical to subtropical and warm and humid. There is a dry season from November to April. In the remaining months it rains quite a lot.

The hurricane season usually lasts from June to October.

One can distinguish the prevailing climatic zones best according to the altitude:

Up to 600 meters:

• Daytime temperatures around 25 ° C
• high humidity

From 600 to 1,600 meters:

• temperate climate zone
• Temperatures around 20 ° C

Over 1,600 meters:

• cool climate zone
• Temperatures around 10 ° C

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Lempira (HNL)

Classification: 1 Lempira = 100 Centavos

ATMs: Only occasionally available in the largest cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted in larger hotels and shops. However, cash payments are common almost everywhere.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts. There is a declaration obligation for all imported foreign currencies, since the amount of the export is limited to the declared import.

As a foreign currency, you should only carry US dollars with you, as other currencies are almost impossible to exchange.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 250 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

The months June to November are hurricane season. Corresponding impairments in the electricity and water supply as well as disruptions to the infrastructure must be expected.

Behavioral advice

The crime rate has risen sharply in recent years.

Thefts and robberies are very common. The threshold for using firearms is also very low.

Since there are always attacks on tourists, you should pay attention to the following information:

• Do not wear jewelry or cash visibly
• Deposit cash and papers in the hotel safe
• Carry a copy of identification documents with you
• only carry the money you need for the day
• Don’t go out alone after dark

Economy

The country’s main export products are bananas and coffee. These products rule the country’s economy and politics.

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Central America, with a very high unemployment rate and high foreign debt.

Industries: wood processing, coffee, textiles, sugar growing

Natural resources: fish, gold, wood, coal, copper, silver

Land use:

• Usable land: 15%
• Grain cultivation: 3%
• Pasture area: 14%
• Forests: 54%
• other: 14%

Plants

Large parts of the country are covered with forests. These mainly consist of chestnut, pine, mahogany, palm, pine and cedar trees.

In the south of the country there are mainly bush landscapes in which different grasses and cactus species grow.

About 10% of the land area is under nature protection.

Animals

In the tropical rainforests and the large swamps, the fauna is still particularly diverse. Big game can be found here as well as reptiles and insects.

The waters are still very well preserved with many fish and coral species.