HONDURAS
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| (See reference map III) |
LAND
12,150 km2; 27% forested, 30% pasture, 36% waste and built up, 7% cropland
Land boundaries: 1,530 km
WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm (fishing 200 nm; exclusive economic zone 200 nm)
Coastline: 820 km
PEOPLE
Population: 4,103,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 4.1%
Nationality: noun—Honduran(s); adjective—Honduran
Ethnic divisions: 90% mestizo, 7% Indian, 2% Negro, and 1% white
Religion: about 97% Roman Catholic
Language: Spanish
Literacy: 47% of persons 10 years of age and over (est. 1970)
Labor force: approx. 1 million (1980); 59.3% agriculture, 12.7% services, 12.5% manufacturing, 8.3% commerce, 3.0% transportation, 2.7% construction, 1.1% financial sector, 0.4% mining; 10.8% unemployed; 3% unspecified
Organized labor: 40% of urban labor force, 20% of rural work force (1981)
GOVERNMENT
Official name: Republic of Honduras
Type: republic
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Political subdivisions: 18 departments
Legal system: based on Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law; new constitution became effective in January 1982; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; legal education at University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa; accepts compulsory 1CJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September
Branches: constitution provides for elected President, unicameral legislature, and national judicial branch
Government leader: President Roberto SUAZO Córdova took office in January 1982
Suffrage: universal and compulsory over age 21
Elections: national election 29 November 1981 for president; members of unicameral legislature chosen by proportional representation and 281 municipal councils
Political parties and leaders: the armed forces have fulfilled their pledge to restore civilian government; they will monitor Suazo's administration closely, however, and could seize power once again; major political leaders—Liberal Party (PLH), Roberto Suazo Córdova (Rodista faction), Carlos Roberto Reina Idiaquez and Jorge Arturo Reina Idiaquez (ALIPO faction), Ramón Villeda Bermúdez and Conrado Napky Damas (FUL faction); National Party (PNH), Ricardo Zúniga Augustinus, Mario Rivera López; National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), Miguel Andonie Fernández, Enrique Aguilar Paz; Honduran Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Hernán Corrales Padilla; Communist Party of Honduras (PCH), Rigoberto Padilla Rush (uninscribed)
Voting strength (1981 election with 98% vote tally): PLH 633,365; PNH 486,092, PINU 29,133, PDCH 18,785; legislative seats (with 98% vote tally)—PLH 44, PNH 34, PINU 2-3, PDCH 1
Communists: about 1,500
Other political or pressure groups: National Association of Honduran Campesinos (ANACH), Council of Honduran Private Enterprise (COHEP), Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH), National Union of Campesinos (UNC), General Workers Confederation (CGT), United Federation of Honduran Workers (FUTH)
Member of: CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMCO, IMF, ISO, ITU, OAS, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WHO, WMO
ECONOMY
GDP: $2.5 billion (1980), $660 per capita; 62% private consumption, 13% government consumption, 30% domestic investment; -5% net foreign balance (1978); real growth rate, average 1975-79, 6.9%; real growth rate 1980, 2.5%
Agriculture: main crops—bananas, coffee, corn, beans, cotton, sugarcane, tobacco; caloric intake, 2,015 calories per day per capita (1977)
Fishing: catch 6,405 metric tons (1978); exports est. $0.8 million (1976); imports $0.8 million (1974)
Major industries: agricultural processing, textiles, clothing, wood products
Electric power: 178,000 kW capacity (1980); 970 million kWh produced (1980), 253 kWh per capita
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