Skip to main content
CountryReports

Select language

ENEnglishESEspañolZH中文HIहिन्दीFRFrançais
Sign In
Honduras flag

Honduras

Honduras

Capital:Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital
Population:8.0M
Currency:Lempira (HNL)
Language:Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Fishing boats in Guanaja, Honduras

Declare Your Relationship to Honduras

See full leaderboard →

CountryReports Community

  • Studying1
  • From Honduras1
  • Honduras heritage1
  • Visited0
  • Want to visit1

Quick Look Factsheet

A multi-page overview of Honduras.

Honduras Factsheet

Customs and Culture

About the People

Hondurans are people who are warm, friendly, courteous, and caring despite many hardships. Hondurans feel a sense of responsibility for family members who need help, and will often support them. If Hondurans are in a position to give someone a job, they will frequently hire a relative.

In Honduras, individual needs are considered more important than schedules, so being late for appointments or social events is common. Hand and body language are important forms of communication.

Cultural Attributes

Hondurans are people who are warm, friendly, courteous, and caring despite many hardships. Hondurans feel a sense of responsibility for family members who need help, and will often support them. If Hondurans are in a position to give someone a job, they will frequently hire a relative.

In Honduras, individual needs are considered more important than schedules, so being late for appointments or social events is common. Hand and body language are important forms of communication.

Fishing boats in Guanaja, Honduras

Land of Silver Hills and Warm Hearts

Greetings, Gestures & Visiting

Hondurans routinely begin conversations with a friendly “Buenos días” (good day). When sitting down to a meal with others, a Honduran will say “Buen provecho” (May it do you good!). Politeness is important, and these gestures are

appreciated.

Hondurans show their respect for education by giving professionals special titles. For example, they would say “Doctor Pérez,” “Teacher Cardona,” “Professor Nuñez,” or “Attorney Amador.” A non-professional man is addressed as Señor, a single adult woman as Señorita, and a married adult woman as Señora. Don and Doña are titles given to particularly well-respected men or women, respectively.

Hondurans usually have four names: two first names and two family names, one to represent the father's side of the family, and the other the mother's side. For example, if a woman's name was Elena María García Lopes, García would be the last name of her father's family, and Lopes her mother's family. When women marry, they may drop the final name and replace it with the name of their husband's family, preceded by “de.” For instance, if Elena María married a man whose father's name was Torrez, she would be known as Elena María García de Torrez.

Hondurans consider it rude to pass someone without a greeting. They also shake hands when they meet. Women may kiss when greeting each other. Waving the index finger is often used to say “no.” Clasping both hands indicates strong approval

Visiting others is commonly done and and appointment is not usually needed. Guests are usually offer light refreshment and refusing such is considered rude.

Men in the larger cities may wear a decorative shirt that hangs just below the waist called a "guayabera" rather then wearing more formal attire.

Western-style clothing is common throughout Honduras. In rural areas, shirts with English slogans are frequently worn even though the wearer probably does not speak English.

Diet

Common foods include plantains (similar to bananas), cassava and peppers. People enjoy tamales (made of ground corn and filled with meat and sauce) and tortillas con quesillo (tortillas filled with melted cheese). Other common dishes include tapado (a stew made from cassava and meat) and baleadas (tortillas folded over and filled with refried beans, crumbled cheese and cream). Street vendors sell crispy tajaditas (fried plantain chips) or sliced green mangoes sprinkled with salt and cumin.

Honduran breakfast foods include fried beans, eggs, cheese and fried bananas. At lunch or dinner, they may eat rice, tortillas, meat, cheese, salad or soup. Portions are smaller at supper, which is a lighter meal.

Children and adults also drink orchata, which is made from rice and seeds. Milk is usually mixed with fruit in a drink called licuados. Soft drinks are common, and frescos (drinks made from fruit, sugar and water) are popular

Common foods include plantains (similar to bananas), cassava and peppers. People enjoy tamales (made of ground corn and filled with meat and sauce) and tortillas con quesillo (tortillas filled with melted cheese). Other common dishes include tapado (a stew made from cassava and meat) and baleadas (tortillas folded over and filled with refried beans, crumbled cheese and cream). Street vendors sell crispy tajaditas (fried plantain chips) or sliced green mangoes sprinkled with salt and cumin.

Honduran breakfast foods include fried beans, eggs, cheese and fried bananas. At lunch or dinner, they may eat rice, tortillas, meat, cheese, salad or soup. Portions are smaller at supper, which is a lighter meal.

Children and adults also drink orchata, which is made from rice and seeds. Milk is usually mixed with fruit in a drink called licuados. Soft drinks are common, and frescos (drinks made from fruit, sugar and water) are popular

Traditional houses on Miami Beach

Family

Men in Honduras are encouraged to be strong, unemotional and assertive. Traditionally, they earn money to support the family. Today however, many women work outside the home. Many children in Honduras grow up in single-parent families headed by women.

Recreation

The Honduran national sport is soccer. Baseball is another very popular sport. Many girls prefer dancing to sports. Girls learn to dance at a very young age and often go on to take dance classes.

Other pastimes include checkers, chess and cards. Many men like to play billiards. Young girls play hopscotch, boys fly kites, and both boys and girls play marbles and hide-and-seek. Honduran children also play a type of "kick the can" called "cantarito".

In the game of "ldquo;enchute", children hold a stick that has a cup attached to it by a string. They try to catch the cup upside down on the stick by flipping the stick.

Student Life

On a school day the majority of students taking a bath, and have breakfast before going to school . Since schools do not provide lunch, students need to bring their own food. Schools have cafeterias for the children to “buy” what is provided by the Schools for them.

To get to school transportation is not provided by the school. Parents need to make their own arrangements for the students to get to school. The majority of students take public transportation. A small group is brought to school by their parents.

Classes start at 7:00 AM and end at 2:00 PM. Each class lasts 40 minutes and the students have a 20 minute recess break. The lunch time break is a 40 minute break. Students usually bring their own food. There is an average of 35 students per class but in some schools that number can increase to 40 students per class. The average school is about 50 years old and there are about 600 students per building. Students typically have desks, and books for studing however space, updated technology, professional development for teachers, computers and food services are lacking. Students speak Spanish in their classes. English is usually provided as a secondary language class. The Main subjects include Spanish, Social Studies, Math, Science, Spelling, Reading, Art. and Music. There are few opportunities to develop art and drama among students. The majority of students move to the secondary school. Some children dropout of school when they graduate from high school. College is for the more affluent. Generally, when students reach college age they need to begin working to help support their family. Dispciline is important in the schools and the majority of the schools are very strict. Principals have a lot of authority in disciplinary issues. All schools have uniforms and children have to wear them every day.

Some schools provide after school sports programs. Many children participate in these activities, soccer being the number one activity. Others students are involved in basketball. Not many schools provide extra curricular activities. There are many opportunities in the community but these have to be paid for by parents. The most fortunate children attend private lessons. Some afternoon activities include soccer, swimming lessons, ballet, or music. The majority spend the afternoon doing homework at home.

When children return home on a school day, students usually do homework since in most of the cases the work load is huge. They have something to eat first and then begin working on special assignments. They may have some time to play, eat supper, take a bath and go to bed usually around 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. For the weekend, the communities do not have parks where parents can take their children to play. Some neighborhoods have areas where children can play and ride their bicycles, but these are the wealthier areas. Most children spend time at home.

Holidays

  • Independence Day

    9/15

    Independence Day

  • Christmas

    12/25

    Christmas

    During Advent, bands of Garifuna women perform dances at various homes for which they receive monetary donations, and sweet liquors, such as guaro. Spanish Children perform pastorelas (nativity plays) employers grant aguinaldos (bonuses) to employees. On Christmas Eve, a masked dancer, the Warini ushers in Christmas by dancing from house to house with an entourage of singers and drummers and a din of firecrachers.

    The Christmas dinner usually features turkey with stuffing, lechonitos (suckling pig) and rompope (eggnog with liquor) At Midnight on New Year’s Eve, families burn an effigy of an undesirable person or object, a custom termed La Quema de los Años Viejos (burning the Old Year). The Warini close the season with dances on Epiphany.

Dates of Interest

  • December 25th

    During Advent, bands of Garifuna women perform dances at various homes for which they receive monetary donations, and sweet liquors, such as guaro. Spanish Children perform pastorelas (nativity plays) employers grant aguinaldos (bonuses) to employees. On Christmas Eve, a masked dancer, the Warini ushers in Christmas by dancing from house to house with an entourage of singers and drummers and a din of firecrachers. The Christmas dinner usually features turkey with stuffing, lechonitos (suckling pig) and rompope (eggnog with liquor) At Midnight on New Year’s Eve, families burn an effigy of an undesirable person or object, a custom termed La Quema de los Años Viejos (burning the Old Year). The Warini close the season with dances on Epiphany.

How do people greet each other in Honduras?

Hondurans greet warmly and politely, often opening with "Buenos días" (good day), and consider it rude to pass someone without a greeting. Handshakes are standard, and women may kiss when greeting each other.

Do

  • Say "Buenos días" to start conversations
  • Shake hands when you meet someone
  • Greet everyone you pass
  • Say "Buen provecho" when sitting down to a meal

Good to know

  • Show respect for education by using professional titles like "Doctor Pérez," "Teacher Cardona," "Professor Nuñez," or "Attorney Amador"
  • Address a non-professional man as Señor, a single woman as Señorita, and a married woman as Señora
  • Use Don or Doña for particularly well-respected men or women
  • Note that Hondurans usually have two first names and two family names (father's then mother's)

What are dining and food customs like in Honduras?

Meals feature plantains, cassava, peppers, tortillas, beans, cheese and meat, with dishes like tamales, baleadas and tapado; supper is a lighter meal with smaller portions.

Good to know

  • Try common dishes such as tamales, tortillas con quesillo, tapado and baleadas
  • Look for street vendors selling tajaditas (fried plantain chips) or salted green mangoes
  • Sample local drinks like orchata, licuados, frescos and soft drinks
  • Expect a lighter meal at supper

What should I know about visiting and social etiquette in Honduras?

Hondurans value politeness and hospitality, and visiting without an appointment is common. Individual needs come before schedules, so lateness to appointments and social events is common.

Do

  • Accept light refreshments offered as a guest
  • Be polite and courteous

Don’t

  • Don't refuse refreshments offered to you, as it is considered rude
  • Don't expect strict punctuality

How should I dress in Honduras?

Western-style clothing is common throughout Honduras. In larger cities, men may wear a decorative shirt called a "guayabera" instead of more formal attire.

Good to know

  • In rural areas, shirts with English slogans are commonly worn

What gestures should I be aware of in Honduras?

Hand and body language are important forms of communication in Honduras.

Good to know

  • Waving the index finger means "no"
  • Clasping both hands indicates strong approval

What is family life like in Honduras?

Family is central: Hondurans feel responsible for relatives in need and often hire them when able. Men are traditionally the breadwinners, though many women now work outside the home.

Good to know

  • Men are encouraged to be strong, unemotional and assertive
  • Many children grow up in single-parent families headed by women

What do people do for recreation in Honduras?

Soccer is the national sport and baseball is also very popular, while many girls prefer dancing and learn it from a young age.

Good to know

  • Other pastimes include checkers, chess and cards, and many men play billiards
  • Children play hopscotch, kites, marbles, hide-and-seek, "cantarito" (kick the can) and "enchute"

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Honduras

View all 23 photos

Travel and Tourism

Travel Alert Status
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Currency
Lempira (HNL)
Time Difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate
The climate in Honduras varies between the mountainous interior and the coastal lowlands and between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The interior is much cooler than the humid coast, and temperate Tegucigalpa has maximum temperatures averaging between 77°F and 86°F. The rainy season technically begins in May and lasts until October. This means that the interior and Pacific coast are relatively dry between November and April, but on the Caribbean coast it rains all year. The wettest months on the Caribbean coast are from September/October to January/February.
Airports
115
Premium Content

Read the full travel guide — health, safety, vaccinations, disease risk, sanitation, and transit details.

View full travel guide

Recipes

Featured Dish

Coconut Bread

Bread

Browse all 5 recipes

History

Historical Eras

  1. Pre-Columbian Era

    1000 BCE – 1502

    Honduras was home to several indigenous civilizations, most notably the Maya, whose ceremonial city of Copán flourished as a major center of art, astronomy, and hieroglyphic writing from roughly 400 to 800 CE. After the Maya decline, diverse peoples including the Lenca, Paya, and Tolupan inhabited the region. These societies maintained complex trade networks and agricultural systems across the rugged terrain.

  2. Spanish Colonial Period

    1502 – 1821

    Christopher Columbus arrived on the Honduran coast in 1502, and Spanish conquest began in earnest under Hernán Cortés's lieutenants from 1525, completing subjugation by 1539 after fierce indigenous resistance. Honduras became part of the Captaincy General of Guatemala and was exploited for silver mining, particularly around Tegucigalpa. The colonial economy relied on forced indigenous labor, and the population suffered catastrophic decline due to disease and exploitation over three centuries of Spanish rule.

  3. Independence & Federation

    1821 – 1840

    Following Napoleon's overthrow of the Spanish crown, Honduras declared independence in 1821, briefly joining the Mexican Empire before becoming a founding member of the United Provinces of Central America in 1823. The federation proved unstable, riven by liberal-conservative conflicts, and Honduras emerged as a fully sovereign republic in 1840. These early years established patterns of political fragility and vulnerability to regional interference that would define Honduran governance for generations.

  4. Republican Instability

    1840 – 1948

    Honduras endured chronic political instability throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, marked by frequent coups, caudillo rule, and repeated interventions by neighboring states. The economy fell under the overwhelming dominance of U.S. banana companies — chiefly United Fruit and Standard Fruit — whose commercial power often rivaled that of the Honduran government itself. This era of foreign economic control and weak institutions gave Honduras its enduring reputation as the archetypal "banana republic."

  5. Military Era

    1948 – 1982

    A series of military governments dominated Honduras from the late 1940s onward, punctuated by the brief but damaging Football War with El Salvador in 1969. Generals including Juan Alberto Melgar Castro and Policarpo Paz García cycled through power via coups, while the country remained economically underdeveloped and politically repressed. Paz García's signing of a peace treaty with El Salvador in 1980 helped pave the way for a transition toward civilian rule.

  6. Democratic & Modern Era

    1982 – present

    Honduras returned to elected civilian government in 1982, though democracy remained fragile amid Cold War pressures that turned the country into a staging ground for U.S.-backed Contra operations against Nicaragua. Hurricane Mitch devastated the nation in 1998, killing approximately 5,600 people and causing some $2 billion in damage, setting back decades of development. Honduras continues to grapple with poverty, migration, gang violence, and political instability, including a contested 2009 coup and ongoing governance challenges into the twenty-first century.

Overview

Altar with representation of Mayan death god, in Copán THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, Honduras has been an underdeveloped area. Its rugged topography and lack of good ports on the Pacific coast have combined to keep it relatively isolated from the mainstream of social and economic development. The capital, Tegucigalpa, is located high in the central mountains, removed from the isthmus’s main north-south transportation routes. The rugged topography and semi-isolation have provided Honduras some advantages as well as disadvantages. Unlike the neighboring republics of El Salvador and Guatemala, Honduras did not produce a totally dominant landholding oligarchy. It also escaped the turmoil over transisthmian transit routes that plagued Nicaragua and Panama. Finally, Honduras, alone among Central America’s republics, is not dominated by a single city. The isolation of the capital led to the rise of San Pedro Sula in the twentieth century as the nation’s commercial and industrial center. However, lack of development produced, for much of Honduras’s history, relatively weak social and political institutions. Much of the nation’s history has been marked by long periods of political instability, frequent military coups, and considerable government corruption and inefficiency. External powers have consistently exploited and aggravated these problems. Neighboring Central American nations have repeatedly intervened in Honduran internal affairs, giving Hondurans a strong fear of foreign attack. Countries outside the region also have manipulated Honduran politics from time to time to suit their own national interests. During the first half of the twentieth century, the Honduran economy was so dominated by the United Fruit Company and the Standard Fruit Company that company managers were frequently perceived as exercising as much power as the Honduran president. Increased nationalism and economic diversification have changed this situation in recent decades, but in the early 1990s, Honduras remained a nation highly sensitive to and dependent on external forces. Despite both national and international efforts, Honduras remained poor and vulnerable. In the 1980s, security concerns centered on the Nicaraguan border; in the early 1990s, concern centered on El Salvador because of its insurgency problems and its boundary dispute with Honduras. Both a product and a victim of its past, in the mid-1990s, Honduras was striving to find some means of gaining the benefits of modernization while avoiding the violent conflicts that wracked its neighbors in the 1980s.

Timeline of Key Events

  1. 1502

    Christopher Columbus lands in Honduras.

    Christopher Columbus lands in Honduras.

  2. 1525

    Spain begins conquest of Honduras.

    Spain begins conquest of Honduras.

  3. 1539

    Spain succeeds in the conquest of Honduras.

    Spain succeeds in the conquest of Honduras after bitter struggles with the native population.

  4. 1810

    Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon

    Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon.

  5. 1821

    Honduras gains independence from Spain.

    Honduras gains independence from Spain.

  6. 1821

    Honduras became a part of the Mexican empire.

    Honduras became a part of the Mexican empire.

  7. 1823

    Honduras breaks away from Mexico.

    Honduras breaks away from Mexico.

View full timeline (14 events)
Premium Content

Read the full history profile — narrative overview, defining eras, and the complete timeline in one place.

View expanded history

Interesting Facts

  • The name of the Honduran capital city, Tegucigalpa, comes from two indigenous words: teguz, which means hill, and galpa, which means silver. Tegucigalpa was once a silver mining town.

  • Honduras was originally known as Higüeras, the name of a native plant. Christopher Columbus named the land Honduras, which means “deep waters,” because he landed in a bay off the north coast of Honduras that was very deep.

  • The Garífuna or Black Caribs are mixed-race descendants of Africans and Carib Indians from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, who were deported by the British and sent to Central America in the late 18th century.

  • In 1830, Francisco Morazán, a Honduran military leader, was elected president of the United Provinces of Central America. He worked to improve education, the justice system and regional economic development. Many streets, parks and towns in Honduras are named after Morazán, who is considered the father of Central America.

  • Although Honduras is a predominantly Roman Catholic country, many couples do not get married in a church. Some live common-law, and others prefer to have a civil ceremony.

  • Very few people have cars, because cars and gasoline are expensive. Most people in cities travel by taxi or bus. People in rural areas walk or get a ride in a pick-up truck.

Premium Content

See every fact — trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits gathered from across the country.

View all interesting facts

Geography and Environment

The Republic of Honduras is situated in the middle of six republics comprising, along with Belize, the Central American Isthmus between Mexico and Panama. Roughly triangular in shape, Honduras is the bend in Central America and has a 459-mile Caribbean coastline to the north and narrows in the south to 89 miles at the Gulf of Fonseca on the Pacific Ocean. It is bounded on the west by Guatemala, the southwest by El Salvador, and the east and southeast by Nicaragua. Honduras also has insular possessions, including the picturesque Bay Islands, formed by the summit of a submerged mountain range in the Caribbean. Farther northeast lie Swan Islands, previously used by the U.S. as a weather research station and now recognized as Honduran territory. Honduras has an estimated land area of 43,277 square miles, second largest of the six Central American republics, it ranks 14th in size among all Latin American nations. However, population distribution is unequal. The northeastern part is thinly inhabited. It comprises 45% of the entire national territory and only contains 9% of the population. Honduran topography is exceptionally rugged. The Central American Cordillera (mountain range) crosses Honduras from east to west, making it the most mountainous of the six republics. Three-quarters of the country is composed of rugged hills and mountains, ranging from about 900 feet to nearly 9,350 and averaging about 4,000 feet in height. Tegucigalpa is at 3,200 feet above sea level. Government estimates list 64% of the land surface as mountainous and 36% as plains and valleys. The highest mountain peaks are in the southwest. Lowlands make up the northern and eastern coastal plains, a narrow southern coastal plain, and the river valleys. The principal rivers are in the north and flow into the Caribbean. Geographically and commercially, the country consists of two general regions: the highlands of the interior and southern Honduras and the tropical, banana-producing North Coast. Southern coastal lowlands are grouped with the highland region because of their economic linkage with Tegucigalpa and their southwest central location.
Terrain
mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Climate
The climate in Honduras varies between the mountainous interior and the coastal lowlands and between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The interior is much cooler than the humid coast, and temperate Tegucigalpa has maximum temperatures averaging between 77ºF and 86ºF. The rainy season technically begins in May and lasts until October. This means that the interior and Pacific coast are relatively dry between November and April, but on the Caribbean coast it rains all year. The wettest months on the Caribbean coast are from September/October to January/February.
Natural Hazards
frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Current Environmental Issues
urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals
Premium Content

Read the full geography and environment profile — terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, land use, and international agreements.

View full geography

People & Demographics

Religion

Languages Spoken

Spanish, Amerindian dialects

  • Spanish

Population

Population
7,989,415
Population: Male/Female
Male: 4,591,247 Female: 4,937,941
Population Distribution
Most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; unlike other Central American nations, Honduras is the only one with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers - the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area
Urban Population
Urban population: 60.2% of total population Rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change
Population in Major Urban Areas
1.568 million TEGUCIGALPA (capital), 982,000 San Pedro Sula
Nationality Noun
Noun: Honduran(s) Adjective: Honduran
Ethnic Groups
Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and European) 90%, Indigenous 7%, African descent 2%, White 1%
Language Note
Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects

Demographic Profile

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has one of the world's highest murder rates. More than half of the population lives in poverty and per capita income is one of the lowest in the region. Poverty rates are higher among rural and indigenous people and in the south, west, and along the eastern border than in the north and central areas where most of Honduras' industries and infrastructure are concentrated. The increased productivity needed to break Honduras' persistent high poverty rate depends, in part, on further improvements in educational attainment. Although primary-school enrollment is near 100%, educational quality is poor, the drop-out rate and grade repetition remain high, and teacher and school accountability is low.

Honduras' population growth rate has slowed since the 1990s and is now 1.2% annually with a birth rate that averages 2.1 children per woman and more among rural, indigenous, and poor women. Honduras' young adult population - ages 15 to 29 - is projected to continue growing rapidly for the next three decades and then stabilize or slowly shrink. Population growth and limited job prospects outside of agriculture will continue to drive emigration. Remittances represent about a fifth of GDP.

Education

Literacy Definition
Age 15 and over can read and write

Classes start at 7:00 AM and end at 2:00 PM. Each class lasts 40 minutes and the students have a 20 minute recess break. The lunch time break is a 40 minute break. Students usually bring their own food. There is an average of 35 students per class but in some schools that number can increase to 40 students per class. The average school is about 50 years old and there are about 600 students per building. Students typically have desks, and books for studing however space, updated technology, professional development for teachers, computers and food services are lacking.

Students speak Spanish in their classes. English is usually provided as a secondary language class. The Main subjects include Spanish, Social Studies, Math, Science, Spelling, Reading, Art. and Music. There are few opportunities to develop art and drama among students. The majority of students move to the secondary school. Some children dropout of school when they graduate from high school. College is for the more affluent. Generally, when students reach college age they need to begin working to help support their family.

Dispciline is important in the schools and the majority of the schools are very strict. Principals have a lot of authority in disciplinary issues. All schools have uniforms and children have to wear them every day.

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth
Ttotal population: 73.1 years Male: 69.6 years Female: 76.8 years
Major Infectious Diseases — degree of risk
Degree of risk: High Food or waterborne diseases: Bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever Vectorborne diseases: Dengue fever
Alcohol consumption per capita
Total: 2.73 liters of pure alcohol Beer: 1.6 liters of pure alcohol Wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol Spirits: 1.09 liters of pure alcohol Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol
Child Marriage
Women married by age 15: 9.2% Women married by age 18: 34% Men married by age 18: 10%
Infant Mortality Rate
Total: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth
Ttotal population: 73.1 years Male: 69.6 years Female: 76.8 years
Median Age
Total: 25.7 years Male: 24.8 years Female: 26.6 years
Age Structure
0-14 years: 28.7% (male 1,378,026/female 1,353,238) 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,980,393/female 3,282,159) 65 years and over: 5.6% (male 232,828/female 302,544)
Infant Mortality Rate
Total: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births Male: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births Female: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Premium Content

Read the full people and society profile — demographics, health, education, religion, languages, and notable people.

View full people and society

Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name
Honduras
Full Country Name
Republic of Honduras
Local - Long
Republica de Honduras
Local - Short
Honduras

Government Structure

Government Type
democratic constitutional republic
Legal System
rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice President Salvador NASRALLA (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice President Salvador NASRALLA (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025) election results: Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (LIBRE) elected president - 51.1%, Nasry ASFURA (PNH) 36.9%, Yani ROSENTHAL (PL) 10.0%, other 2.0%
Legislative Branch
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members are elected proportionally to the number of votes their party's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 62, PN 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU 2
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Constitution
11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended 1995
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National Holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Capital City

Capital Name
Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital
Capital - geographic coordinate
14 06 N, 87 13 W
Capital Time Difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

hile most sources agree that Tegucigalpa is of Nahuatl derivation, there is no consensus on its original meaning

Military

Branches: Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH)

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa

Avenida La Paz in Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Telephone: 011-504-2236-9320 or 011-504-2238-5114

Emergency after-hours telephone: 011-504-2236-8497

American Citizens Services Unit Fax: 011-504-2238-4357

American Citizens Services Unit Office hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Consular Section is closed the first Tuesday of every month.

To provide better customer service and reduce wait times, the Consular Section in Tegucigalpa uses an online appointment system for passport renewals for minors (under age 16), first-time passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Appointments are required to submit your application for these services. You can find more information, including how to schedule an appointment, at the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services website. We accept walk-ins for adult passport renewals, additional passport pages, notaries and general inquiries only from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. In case of an emergency involving a U.S. citizens, please call the American Citizen Services unit at 011-504-2238-5114 extension 4400.

Consular Agency in San Pedro Sula

Banco Atlantida Building (across from Central Park) – 11th Floor

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Telephone: 011-504-2558-1580

Office hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Consular Agent in San Pedro Sula assists the U.S. Embassy in protecting the interests of U.S. citizens in Honduras. The Consular Agent may execute notarials and accept applications for passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. The Consular Agent may also assist U.S. citizens with emergency situations such as arrests and deaths in Honduras. The Consular Agent does not provide visa information or services of any kind.

Premium Content

Read the full government profile — flag symbolism, national anthem, and other national symbols.

View full government details

Economy

Honduras remains one of the poorest and most unequal countries in Latin America, with high rates of poverty, underemployment, and income inequality. Roughly half the population lives below the national poverty line, and the country continues to grapple with persistent emigration pressures, organized crime, and vulnerability to natural disasters, including the devastating impact of Hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020.

The economy is heavily dependent on remittances, which account for more than a quarter of GDP, as well as on exports of coffee, bananas, palm oil, shrimp, and apparel manufactured in maquiladora free-trade zones. The United States is by far Honduras's largest trading partner under the CAFTA-DR free trade agreement, making the economy highly sensitive to US economic conditions and commodity price fluctuations.

After contracting sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Honduran economy rebounded, with GDP growth averaging around 3 to 4 percent in recent years. However, structural challenges persist, including weak institutions, corruption, limited tax revenues, an underdeveloped energy sector, and one of the highest homicide rates in the region. The government of President Xiomara Castro, who took office in 2022, has pursued social spending increases and renegotiated agreements with the IMF, securing a new financing arrangement in 2023 aimed at supporting macroeconomic stability, climate resilience, and poverty reduction.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code
Lempira (HNL)
GDP — official exchange rate
$7,812,000,000 (USD)
GDP Real Growth Rate
4.2%
Gini Index
55

Banknotes

Honduras Money - Front
Honduras Money - Front
Honduras Money - Back
Honduras Money - Back

Budget & Public Finance

Fiscal Year
calendar year
Annual Budget
$4,938,000,000 (USD)
Public Debt (% of GDP)
70.5%
External Debt
$4,675,000,000 (USD)
Investment (% of GDP)
27%
Economic Aid
$557,800,000 (USD)
Current Account Balance
-$456,000,000 (USD)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange
$2,147,483,647 (USD)

Labor, Industry & Trade

Labor Force by Occupation
agriculture 34%; industry 21%; services 45%
Household Income — highest 10%
42.7%
Industries
sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Agriculture Products
bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp
Export Commodities
coffee, bananas, shrimp, lobster, meat; zinc, lumber
Export Partners
US 69%, El Salvador 3%, Guatemala 2%
Import Commodities
machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs
Import Partners
US 53.3%, Mexico 4.3%, El Salvador 4.2%

Energy

Oil Production
0 bbl/day
Oil Consumption
37,000 bbl/day
Oil Reserves
0 bbl/day
Natural Gas Production
0 cu m
Natural Gas Consumption
0 cu m
Natural Gas Imports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Exports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Reserves
0 cu m

Communications

Telephone System
General assessment: Fixed-line connections are increasing but still limited; competition among multiple providers of mobile-cellular services is contributing to a sharp increase in subscribership Domestic: Beginning in 2003, private sub-operators allowed to provide fixed-lines in order to expand telephone coverage contributing to a small increase in fixed-line teledensity; mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 100 per 100 persons International: Country code - 504; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Internet Country Code
.hn

News & Weather

Current Weather

Loading current conditions…
Loading forecast…

Latest News

News via Google News

Climate Overview

The climate in Honduras varies between the mountainous interior and the coastal lowlands and between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The interior is much cooler than the humid coast, and temperate Tegucigalpa has maximum temperatures averaging between 77°F and 86°F. The rainy season technically begins in May and lasts until October. This means that the interior and Pacific coast are relatively dry between November and April, but on the Caribbean coast it rains all year. The wettest months on the Caribbean coast are from September/October to January/February.

Videos

1 curated YouTube videos.

  • Source: YouTube

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Honduras?
The population of Honduras is approximately 8.0M.
How do people greet each other in Honduras?
Hondurans greet warmly and politely, often opening with "Buenos días" (good day), and consider it rude to pass someone without a greeting. Handshakes are standard, and women may kiss when greeting each other. Do: Say "Buenos días" to start conversations Shake hands when you meet someone Greet everyone you pass Say "Buen provecho" when sitting down to a meal Show respect for education by using professional titles like "Doctor Pérez," "Teacher Cardona," "Professor Nuñez," or "Attorney Amador" Address a non-professional man as Señor, a single woman as Señorita, and a married woman as Señora Use Don or Doña for particularly well-respected men or women Note that Hondurans usually have two first names and two family names (father's then mother's)
What are dining and food customs like in Honduras?
Meals feature plantains, cassava, peppers, tortillas, beans, cheese and meat, with dishes like tamales, baleadas and tapado; supper is a lighter meal with smaller portions. Try common dishes such as tamales, tortillas con quesillo, tapado and baleadas Look for street vendors selling tajaditas (fried plantain chips) or salted green mangoes Sample local drinks like orchata, licuados, frescos and soft drinks Expect a lighter meal at supper
What should I know about visiting and social etiquette in Honduras?
Hondurans value politeness and hospitality, and visiting without an appointment is common. Individual needs come before schedules, so lateness to appointments and social events is common. Do: Accept light refreshments offered as a guest Be polite and courteous Don't: Don't refuse refreshments offered to you, as it is considered rude Don't expect strict punctuality
How should I dress in Honduras?
Western-style clothing is common throughout Honduras. In larger cities, men may wear a decorative shirt called a "guayabera" instead of more formal attire. In rural areas, shirts with English slogans are commonly worn
What gestures should I be aware of in Honduras?
Hand and body language are important forms of communication in Honduras. Waving the index finger means "no" Clasping both hands indicates strong approval
What is family life like in Honduras?
Family is central: Hondurans feel responsible for relatives in need and often hire them when able. Men are traditionally the breadwinners, though many women now work outside the home. Men are encouraged to be strong, unemotional and assertive Many children grow up in single-parent families headed by women
What do people do for recreation in Honduras?
Soccer is the national sport and baseball is also very popular, while many girls prefer dancing and learn it from a young age. Other pastimes include checkers, chess and cards, and many men play billiards Children play hopscotch, kites, marbles, hide-and-seek, "cantarito" (kick the can) and "enchute"
What is the capital of Honduras?
Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras, though the Honduran constitution formally designates the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela together as the capital of the republic. In practice, virtually all governmental institutions are located on the Tegucigalpa side. The city's name derives from two indigenous words — teguz (hill) and galpa (silver) — reflecting its origins as a colonial-era silver mining town.
Where is Honduras located?
Honduras is located in Central America, positioned at the heart of the isthmus connecting North and South America. It is the second-largest country in Central America and borders the Caribbean Sea to the north and northeast, and the Gulf of Fonseca — an inlet of the Pacific Ocean — to the south. Its name, attributed to Christopher Columbus upon his arrival on the north coast, means deep waters in Spanish, a reference to the exceptionally deep bay where he landed.
What countries border Honduras?
Honduras shares land borders with three countries: Guatemala to the west, El Salvador to the southwest, and Nicaragua to the southeast. These borders place Honduras squarely within the volatile and historically interconnected region of northern Central America. During the 1980s, Honduras served as a strategic corridor for regional conflicts, sheltering anti-Sandinista contra forces operating against Nicaragua and supporting Salvadoran government troops fighting leftist guerrillas.
What is the predominant religion in Honduras?
Roman Catholicism is by far the dominant religion in Honduras, practiced by approximately 97 percent of the population. The remaining roughly 3 percent adhere to other faiths, including various Protestant denominations that have gained a modest presence in recent decades. The Catholic Church has historically played a significant role in Honduran social and cultural life, influencing education, community organization, and the observance of major national holidays and festivals.
What is the currency of Honduras?
The official currency of Honduras is the lempira, with the ISO currency code HNL. The lempira is named after Lempira, a 16th-century indigenous Lenca chieftain who resisted Spanish conquest and is celebrated as a national hero. The currency has been in use since 1931, replacing the peso, and remains the sole legal tender throughout the country for all domestic transactions.
What language is spoken in Honduras?
Spanish is the official language of Honduras and is spoken by the vast majority of the population. A number of Amerindian dialects are also recognized and spoken by indigenous communities, including the Lenca, Miskito, and Ch'orti' peoples. Additionally, the Garífuna — descendants of Africans and Carib Indians who were deported from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent by the British in the late 18th century — maintain their own distinct Garífuna language along the Caribbean coast.
What is Honduras known for?
Honduras is known internationally for several distinctive features: the ancient Maya ruins of Copán, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its intricately carved stelae and hieroglyphic stairway; the Bay Islands, particularly Roatán, which offer some of the Caribbean's most biodiverse coral reef diving; the export of coffee and bananas, which remain cornerstones of the national economy; and the living culture of the Garífuna people, whose music, dance, and cuisine along the Caribbean coast are recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
What is the terrain and geography of Honduras like?
Honduras is a predominantly mountainous country, with rugged interior highlands covering much of its territory. Narrow coastal plains border the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Gulf of Fonseca to the south. The interior is characterized by river valleys, pine-oak forests, and high plateaus. The Caribbean lowlands in the northeast, known as La Mosquitia, form one of the largest intact tropical rainforests in Central America and remain among the most sparsely populated and biodiverse regions in the hemisphere.

Last reviewed 2026

Video LibraryCompareArticlesGlobal ContentActivitiesLessonsRecipesBlogInternet CitationGlossary