Honduras National Flag

Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821.  After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982.   Since then, civilian leaders have sought to curb the power of the military - with varying degrees of success.

The country has a youthful population -  50% of Hondurans are under the age of 19. But endemic poverty, chronic unemployment and the prospects offered by drug trafficking have contributed to a virulent crime wave conducted mainly by youth gangs known as "maras".   The maras are said to have tens of thousands of members and use threats and violence to control poorer districts in towns and cities.

Honduras was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. At least 5,000 people were killed and 70% of the country's crops were destroyed. The damage was estimated at $3bn, setting development back by decades.

Thousands of Hondurans leave the country each year, most of them for the US. The money sent home by the overseas workers is an important source of income for many families.

Facts

Full name: Republic of Honduras

Population: 7.1 million (UN, 2007)

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Area: 112,492 sq km (43,433 sq miles)

Major languages: Spanish, indigenous languages, English

Major religion: Roman Catholic

Life expectancy: 67 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 lempira = 100 centavos

Main exports: Coffee, bananas, shellfish, meat, timber, gold and other minerals

GNI per capita: US$1,190 (World Bank, 2006)

Infant mortality – 30 deaths/1000 births

65,000 living with HIV / Aids -  HIV/AIDS is increasing faster than in any other Latin country.

There is no primary health care for the majority

High levels of disease