The World Factbook (1982)/Honduras

by the Central Intelligence Agency

HONDURAS

(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

Exports: $835 million (f.o.b., 1980); bananas, coffee, lumber, meat, petroleum products

Imports: $1,019 million (c.i.f., 1980); manufactured products, machinery, transportation equipment, chemicals, petroleum

Major trade partners: exports—50% US, 9% CACM, 18% West Germany (1977); imports—43% US, 6% Venezuela, 12% CACM, 11% Japan, 4% West Germany (1977)

Aid: economic commitments—US, including Ex-Im, (FY70-80), $260 million loans; other Western (non-US) countries, ODA and ODF, (1970-79), $90.0 million; military-assistance from US (FY79-80), $23 million

Budget: (1980) expenditures $448 million, revenues $379 million

Monetary conversion rate: 2 lempiras=US$1 (official)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: 751 km total; 293 km 1.067-meter gauge, 458 km 0.914-meter gauge

Highways: 8,950 km total; 1,700 km paved, 5,000 km otherwise improved, 2,250 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 1,200 km navigable by small craft

Ports: 5 major (Puerto Cortes, La Ceiba, Tela, San Lorenzo, Puerto Castilla), 3 minor

Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft, including 1 leased in

Airfields: 217 total, 213 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: improved, but still inadequate; connection into Central American microwave net; 20,000 telephones (0.5 per 100 popl.); 104 AM, 12 FM, and 7 TV stations

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 874,000; 521,000 fit for military service; about 44,000 reach military age (18) annually

Military budget: proposed for fiscal year ending 31 December 1981, $45.2 million; about 6.7% of central government budget (includes the armed forces and other military)