Country Profile: Honduras

Honduras, located in Central America between Guatemala and Nicaragua, boasts a diverse geography characterized by mountainous terrain and a long Caribbean coastline. With a population estimated at approximately 9.5 million in 2024, it reflects a rich cultural heritage, primarily Mestizo, and operates as a presidential republic. The economy is primarily driven by agriculture, notably coffee and bananas, and relies heavily on remittances from abroad, contributing significantly to national income. Despite experiencing substantial challenges such as natural disasters and crime, Honduras is striving for economic recovery and development.

Geography

Honduras encompasses an area of 112,090 sq km, making it slightly larger than Tennessee. It has a diverse landscape, including mostly mountainous regions in the interior and narrow coastal plains along the Caribbean. The country is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and flooding, particularly affecting its eastern coast. Most of the population resides in the western mountainous half, with major urban centers in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.

1,575 km of land boundaries with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
823 km of coastline along the Caribbean Sea.
Cerro Las Minas, the highest point at 2,870 m.
32% of land is utilized for agriculture (2023 est.).

People and Society

Honduras has a population of approximately 9.5 million as of 2024, with the majority residing in urban areas. The predominant ethnic group is Mestizo, comprising 90% of the population. The nation is predominantly Spanish-speaking, and its religious landscape is diverse, with 55% identifying as Evangelical. The median age is around 26.1 years, reflecting a youthful demographic, while urban areas have grown to 60.2% of the total population.

65.7% of the population is aged between 15-64 years (2024 est.).
Infant mortality rate is 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.).
Life expectancy at birth is 73.1 years (2024 est.).
88.2% literacy rate (2024 est.).

Economy

Honduras features the second-fastest-growing economy in Central America, supported significantly by agriculture and remittances. The real GDP (purchasing power parity) was estimated at $71.297 billion in 2024, while the unemployment rate stands at 6.1%. Despite challenges like high poverty rates and crime, the economy has shown resilience, particularly in agricultural exports.

Real GDP per capita was $6,600 in 2024.
64.1% of the population lives below the poverty line (2023 est.).
1.5% of GDP is allocated to military expenditures (2024 est.).
Remittances accounted for 25.7% of GDP in 2024.

Government

Honduras is a presidential republic, with the capital city being Tegucigalpa. The government operates under a civil law system, and the latest constitution was approved in 1982. Citizens have universal and compulsory suffrage at the age of 18. The current president, Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya, has been in office since January 27, 2022.

18 departments make up the administrative divisions.
The National Congress, a unicameral legislature, has 128 seats.
27.3% of legislative positions are held by women.
Independence from Spain was achieved on September 15, 1821.

Military and Security

Honduras has an active military force comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Military Police, focused primarily on internal security and support against narcotics trafficking. Approximately 15,000 personnel are part of the armed forces, and military expenditures account for 1.5% of GDP.

18-22 years is the age for voluntary military service.
The military supports police operations to combat organized crime.
Military assistance and training are provided by the US.
La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) is identified as a notable terrorist group.

Energy

Electricity access in Honduras stands at 94.4% of the total population, with rural electrification at 86.8%. The country generates electricity from a mix of sources, including hydroelectric (33.2%) and fossil fuels (38.4%).

3.334 million kW of installed electricity generation capacity (2023 est.).
8.303 billion kWh of electricity consumed (2023 est.).
4 million kWh of electricity exported (2023 est.).
214.601 million kWh of electricity imported (2023 est.).

Environment

Honduras faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution from mining activities. It is a party to multiple international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

32% of land is used for agriculture (2023 est.).
53.3% of land is forested (2023 est.).
10.534 million metric tons of CO2 emitted (2023 est.).
The country is involved in biodiversity and climate change agreements.

Transportation

Honduras has a developing transportation infrastructure with 129 airports and 699 km of railways. The country maintains a merchant marine fleet of 489 vessels.

8 ports operational as of 2024.
The civil aircraft registration code is HR.
6 heliports registered as of 2025.
Transportation systems are crucial for agricultural exports and tourism.

Communications

The communication sector includes a range of services with approximately 58% of the population using the internet. The country has 7.92 million mobile cellular subscriptions.

444,000 fixed line telephone subscriptions (2023 est.).
476,000 broadband fixed subscriptions (2023 est.).
Numerous radio stations and privately owned TV networks enhance media diversity.
The internet country code for Honduras is .hn.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	9,529,188 (2024 est.)
Area	112,090 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$71.297 billion (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	16.642 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	19.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Unemployment Rate	6.1% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	73.1 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	88.2% (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures	1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions	10.534 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)