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HONDURAS
The Republic of Honduras
 Area:
112,492 sq km
Population: 7.2 million (UN 2005)
Capital City: Tegucigalpa (1.5 million)
People: Many Hondurans are descended from Spanish and other
mainly European immigrants, who settled in Honduras from the
sixteenth century. The population is made up of around: Mestizo
(mixed Maya and European) 90%; Amerindian 7%; black 2%; white
1%.
Languages: Officially Spanish, though many business
executives speak English. There are also indigenous dialects.
Religion(s): Roman Catholicism is the principal religion
(97%); and a Protestant minority.
Basic Economic Facts:
Currency:
Lempira
Nominal GDP: 7.2 billion US dollars
(2004 est.)
Nominal GDP per head: 850 US dollars (2004 est.)
Annual growth: 3.8% (2004 est.)
Inflation: 7.7 % (2004 est.)
Major industries: Sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood
products
Export partners: US 70%, Guatemala 2%, Canada 2% (2002)
Imports: US 55%, Mexico 4%, Republic of Korea 3% (2002)
Major Political Parties: Partido
Liberal (PL); Partido Nacional (PN); Partido Demócrata Cristiano
(PDC); Partido de Innovacion Nacional y Unidad-Social
Democrata (PINU-SD); Partido de Unificacion Democratica (PUD)
Government: Honduras has a republican system of government
consisting of three separate and independent branches: the
Executive Branch, headed by the President, who is advised by a
Cabinet of Ministers; the Legislative Branch; and the Judicial
Branch, headed by the Supreme Court. The President is directly
elected for a four-year term.
Head of State: : Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales
Prime Minister/Premier: Not applicable
Foreign Minister: Milton Jiménez Puerto
Membership of international groups/organisations:
Honduras’s memberships include: United Nations (UN) and its
specialized agencies; Organization of American States (OAS);
Central American Common Market; Central American Integration
System (SICA); plus numerous institutions and programs within
the UN and OAS systems.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Although Honduras has no official
motto, "NO PASARÁN" or "They shall not pass" became popular
during the 1969 war with El Salvador. This was an allusion
to the El Salvador's stated goal to reach the Honduran
Caribbean coast during their offensive.
- Along the northern coast are
communities of English speakers who have maintained a
separate culture, as some islands and sections along the
Caribbean coast were occupied by pirates and the British at
one time or another.
- In the 20th century, Garífunas became
part of Honduras' projected identity through theatrical
presentations such as
Louvavagu, in order to help boost
tourism.
- A Honduran can be called a Catracho
or Catracha. The word is derived from the last name
of Honduran General
Florencio Xatruch, who led Honduran armed forces in
defense of Honduran territories in
1857 against an attempted invasion led by North American
filibuster
William Walker. The nickname is considered
complimentary, not derogatory.
-
Salvador Moncada is, a world-renowned Honduran scientist
with authorship of more than 12 highly cited papers,
including his work on
nitric oxide. His research on heart-related drugs
includes the development of Viagra. Moncada works at the
University College of London and funds an NGO in
Tegucigalpa. He is married to Princess of Belgium Marie
Esmeralda.
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