RESEARCH

COUNTRY: REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS

Honduras constitution was adopted in 1982 it establishes a presidential representative
democratic republic as head of both state and government it establishes a multi party
system and the separation of powers among executive legislative and judicial branches
with the executive holding more powers
POLITICAL PARTIES
The two major parties in Honduras are the Liberal Party (Partido LiberalPL) and the
National Party (Partido NacionalPN). Both descend from the old Liberal and
Conservative Parties from the 19th century. Although generally the National Party remains
more conservative in nature, the two parties are very close ideologically
RELIGION
The Roman Catholic Church reports a membership that comprises slightly more than 80%
of the country's total population. However, according to estimates based on a 2002 poll of
citizens 18 or older, only 63% of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholic.
Approximately 23% report themselves to be evangelical Christians, and 14% designate
themselves as belonging to other religious groups. The remainder were either "others" or
provided no answer. The primary religious groups include Roman Catholics, Jews, Greek
Orthodox, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonites, the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), the Union Church, and about 300 evangelical
Protestant churches (including the Abundant Life, Living Love, and the Grand Commission
church). There are small numbers of Muslims and Jews.
HISTORY
Tensions Flare Between Honduras and Nicaragu
After a decade of military rule, parliamentary democracy returned with the election of
Roberto Suazo Crdova as president in 1982. However, Honduras faced severe economic
problems and tensions along its border with Nicaragua. Contra rebels, waging a guerrilla
war against the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua, used Honduras as a training and staging area.
The U.S. also used Honduras for military exercises, and it built bases to train Honduran and
Salvadoran troops.
Military Coup Brings Instability
On June 28th, 2009, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was deposed in a military coup.
Zelaya had faced widespread criticism for attempting to extend presidential term limits by
holding a constitutional referendum, which the Supreme Court had ruled was illegal. A group
of countries, including the United States and Venezuelaan unlikely alliance, signed a
resolution condemning the actions of the Honduran military and demanded that Zelaya be

reinstated as president. The U.S. suspended military and development aid to Honduras after
the coup. Roberto Micheletti, with the backing of the Honduran Congress, courts, and army,
assumed leadership of the country. Zelaya, on the other hand, had the support of most of
Latin America's leftist governments, including the leaders of Argentina, Ecuador, and
Venezuela.
Fire in Prison Kills Hundreds
On Feb. 14, 2012, over 300 people were killed when a fire broke out at a prison in
Comayagua. According to officials, the cause was an inmate setting fire to his mattress. The
fire spread quickly, burning out of control for forty minutes. Most of the victims died in their
cells, waiting for rescue. Some inmates busted through the prison's roof and escaped. In an
attempt to rescue loved ones, relatives clashed with police at the prison gate.
LANGUAGE
The official language is Spanish. However, English is used widely, especially in northern
Honduras. The more important Amerindian languages include Miskito, Zambo, Paya, and
Xicaque.
ETHNIC GROUPS
The vast majority (90%) of the Honduran people are mestizo, a mixture of European and
Amerindian. About 7% of the population is purely Amerindian, the largest proportion being
in the Copn area near the Guatemalan border. Africans, about 2% of the population, live
mostly along the north coast. About 1% of the population is European, chiefly of Spanish
origin.
LOCATION
Situated in Central America, Honduras has a total area of 112,090 sq km (43,278 sq mi),
with a length of 663 km (412 mi) enewsw and 317 km (197 mi) nnwsse. Comparatively,
the area occupied by Honduras is slightly larger than the state of Tennessee. It is bounded
on the n and e by the Caribbean Sea, on the s by Nicaragua and the Gulf of Fonseca, on the
sw by El Salvador, and on the w by Guatemala, with a total boundary length of 2,340 km
(1,454 mi), of which 820 km (509 mi) is coastline.
TOPOGRAPHY
Honduras is mountainous, with the exception of the northern Ula and Agun river valleys
on the Caribbean Sea and the southern coastal area. There are four main topographic
regions: the eastern lowlands and lower mountain slopes, with 20% of the land area and no
more than 5% of the population; the northern coastal plains and mountain slopes, with 13%
of the land and about 20% of the population; the central highlands, with 65% of the area
and 70% of the population; and the Pacific lowlands and their adjacent lower mountain
slopes, with 2% of the area and 5% of the population.

GEOGRAPHY
Honduras, in the north-central part of Central America, has a Caribbean as well as a Pacific
coastline. Guatemala is to the west, El Salvador to the south, and Nicaragua to the east. The
second-largest country in Central America, Honduras is slightly larger than Tennessee.
Generally mountainous, the country is marked by fertile plateaus, river valleys, and narrow
coastal plains.
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
GUTEMALA
EL SALVADOR
ALLIES
Honduras is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO),
the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), theCentral American Integration
System (SICA), and the Central American Security Commission (CASQ). During 1995-96,
Honduras, a founding member of the United Nations, for the first time served as a nonpermanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Honduras is also a member of
the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for
the US-military
ECONOMY

Honduras is one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin America. The
economy has been based mostly on agriculture, and over a third of the labor force in 2001
were still involved in this sector. However, agriculture's contribution to the overall GDP
fell from 27% in 1998 to 18% in 2000 mainly due to the damage done to export crops by
Hurricane Mitch in October 1998. About 16% of the land is arable, located mostly along
the coastal plains. Coffee and bananas account for 65% of total Honduran export revenues.
The vast majority of banana holdings are controlled by two US companies, United Brands
and Standard Fruit, and most other profitable agricultural enterprises are owned by a small
number of private citizens. With its economy enormously dependent on banana production,
the country is vulnerable to weather and world market price variations. Honduras also has
extensive forest, marine, and mineral resources, although widespread slash-and-burn
agricultural methods continue to destroy forests. Hondurans, however, are becoming more
concerned about protecting their environmental patrimony, in part because of the benefits
of ecotourism.
EDUCATION
Public education is free and compulsory for six years (ages 6 to 12). After these six years
of primary education, students take three years of lower secondary school and two years of
upper secondary school. In the upper level, students choose between literary or scientific

tracks. Students may also choose to attend a three-year technical school at the upper level.
The academic year runs from February to November.
In 2001, about 21% of children between the ages of four and six were enrolled in some
type of preschool program. It is estimated that about 79% of all students complete their
primary education. The student-to-teacher ratio for primary school was at about 34:1 in
2003. As of 1998, there were 169,430 students enrolled in secondary schools.