GDP

Trading Economics

Unemployment Rate

World Factbook - Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Imports and Exports

In 1998 Hurricane Mitch hits Honduras directly and becomes the most deadly Hurricane in 200 years. 

"At least 70 percent of crops destroyed, including 80 percent of the banana crop. Crop losses estimated at $900 million. Large warehouses and storage rooms for coffee flooded. Maize and corn crops devastated. The damage by Mitch to Honduran agricultural production will take years for recovery."

Here is a graph of Supply and Demand before and after Hurricane Mitch. 

The supply dropped greatly so naturally the demand is greater. The crops are still recovering from the devastating storm. The banana crop is at about 57% of where it was before the hurricane. 

Hurricane Mitch

Socio-Cultural Context

"Linguistic Affiliation: Spanish is the dominant national language. Although originally imposed by the conquistadores, it has been widely spoken in Honduras for over two hundred years. Almost all residents speak Spanish, although some also speak English or one of the Native American languages discussed in the previous paragraph. Honduran Spanish has a distinct accent. Hondurans use some words that are not heard in other Spanish-speaking countries, and this gives their speech a distinctive character."

"Emergence of a Nation: Francisco Morazán led the fight for independence from Spain (achieved in 1821) and resistance to the breakup of Central America (1830). In 1855, North American soldiers of fortune (filibusterers) led by William Walker tried to convert Central America into a United States colony. They held Nicaragua until they were expelled in 1857 by Nicaraguan regular troops and volunteer fighters. In 1860 Walker invaded Honduras, at Trujillo, where he ended up before an army firing squad. United States banana companies dominated Honduran politics after 1911. Fruit companies were able to choose presidents and as late as the 1970s were powerful enough to refuse to pay higher taxes imposed on banana exports by the military government. A 1920 letter by a U.S. fruit company executive describing how easily Honduran politicians could be bribed and dominated is still a source of national embarrassment."

"National Identity: Because of the relationship of Honduras with the United States, the national culture often is defined in opposition to that of the United States. Hondurans feel an affinity with other Latin Americans and Central Americans, although this is mixed with fear and resentment of some neighboring countries, especially El Salvador and Nicaragua."

"The Spanish conquest was a violent episode of genocide and slavery. It produced a people with blended European, native American, and African ancestry. Many Latin American countries have a similar large ethnic group called mestizos or criollos, but what is unusual about Honduras is that the Spanish-speaking people of mixed ancestry, who make up about 88 percent of the population, proudly call themselves indios (Indians). Hondurans call indigenous peoples indígenas, not indios."

"Ethnic Relations: Music, novels, and television shows circulate widely among Spanish-speaking countries and contribute to a sense of Latin culture that transcends national boundaries. Ethnic relations are sometimes strained. For centuries, most indigenous peoples lost their land, and the nation did not value their languages and cultures. The Indian and Garífuna people have organized to insist on their civil and territorial rights.

The Bay Islanders (including those of British decent and those of African descent) have ties with the United States. Because the Islanders speak English, they are able to work as sailors on international merchant ships, and despite their isolation from the national culture, they earn a higher income than other residents."

"Arab-Hondurans are descended from Christian Arabs who fled Muslim persecution in the early twentieth century after the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. Many have successful businesses. Some Hispanic-Hondurans envy the economic status of Arab-Hondurans, who are usually called turcos, a name they dislike since they are not of Turkish descent. (Many of the original Arab immigrants carried passports of the Ottoman Empire, whose core was Turkey.)"

Culture of Honduras

Government and Politics

"Technically a multi-party system, with five parties, the political system of Honduras operates more as a two-party system with the Liberal Party of Honduras (PLH) and the conservative National Party of Honduras (PNH) dominating the political field. Since free elections were established by the 1982 Constitution, all presidents have been members of either the PLH or the PNH."

"The government consists of three main branches: the executive branch, lead by the chief of state and head of government, current president is Porfirio Lobo Sosa; the legislative branch, run by the unicameral National Congress of Honduras; and the judicial branch, composed of nine Supreme Court Judges."

"In the highly contested 2006 election, Manuel Zelaya became the fifth PLH president of Honduras. During his first year as president, Zelaya’s leadership style caused several members of his cabinet to quit and, in a move that closely resembled past actions of Venezuelan president and ally Hugo Chavez, Zelaya forced all TV and radio stations in Honduras to broadcast government propaganda for two hours a day. Zelaya’s continual relationship with anti-U.S. leftist leaders such as Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Bolivia’s Evo Morales has weakened the country's relationship with the United States."

- His desire for a Socialist/ Communist government infuriated the upper classes while the lower class could only benefit from this. He was arrested by the military for a coup d'etat and exiled to Costa Rica. He returned to Honduras clandestinely but was found and exiled to the Dominican Republic. 

- These recent problems have caused political unrest in Honduras. 

Honduran Politics

Urban vs. Rural

San Pedro Sula (2nd most populated city in Honduras) San Pedro Sula

Soccer Stadium we passed on our way to the San Juaquin (the village). Estadio Olimpico

This is a good example of the extreme poverty in the villages outside of the major cities. This picture was taken inside the village San Juaquin where our mission set up. 

These homes are made out of whatever the owners can find and are often set up on the edges of mountains and roads.

Demografía de Honduras

Population: 8,143,564 
49% of population live in urban areas
Growth Rate: 1.888%
Birth Rate: 25.14 (1000 Population)
Death Rate: 5.02 (1000 Population)
Life Expectancy: 70.61 years
Ethnicity: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, Black 2%, White 1%
Literacy: 80% of people over age of 15 can read and write


CIA World Fact Book - Honduras