Changes

==Geography==

==Geography==

Honduras is located roughly in the middle of [[Central America]], sharing borders with [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], and [[Nicaragua]]; its water boundaries are the [[Caribbean Sea]] and the Golfo de Fonseca, an arm of the [[Pacific Ocean]].

Honduras is located roughly in the middle of [[Central America]], sharing borders with [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], and [[Nicaragua]]; its water boundaries are the [[Caribbean Sea]] and the Golfo de Fonseca, an arm of the [[Pacific Ocean]].

*Area: 112,090 km². (43,278 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Virginia.

*Area: 112,090 km². (43,278 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Virginia.

*Cities: Tegucigalpa (capitol; pop. 1,150,000); San Pedro Sula (800,000-900,000).

*Cities: Tegucigalpa (capitol; pop. 1,150,000); San Pedro Sula (800,000-900,000).

*Terrain: Mountainous.

*Terrain: Mountainous.

*Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant minority.

*Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant minority.

*Language: Spanish.

*Language: Spanish.

*Education (2003): Years compulsory--6. Attendance--88% overall, 31% at junior high level. Literacy--76.2%.

*Education (2003): Years compulsory—6. Attendance—88% overall, 31% at junior high level. Literacy—76.2%.

*Health: Infant mortality rate--29.64/1,000. Life expectancy--66.2 yrs.

*Health: Infant mortality rate—29.64/1,000. Life expectancy—66.2 yrs.

*Work force: Services--42.2%; natural resources/agriculture--35.9%; manufacturing--16.3%; construction/housing--5.6%.

*Work force: Services—42.2%; natural resources/agriculture—35.9%; manufacturing—16.3%; construction/housing—5.6%.

==Government==

==Government==

The 1982 constitution provides for a strong executive, a unicameral National Congress, and a judiciary appointed by the National Congress. The president is directly elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. The Congress also serves a 4-year term; congressional seats are assigned the parties' candidates in proportion to the number of votes each party receives in the various departments. The judiciary includes a Supreme Court of Justice (one president and 14 magistrates chosen by Congress for a seven-year term), courts of appeal, and several courts of original jurisdiction--such as labor, tax, and criminal courts. For administrative purposes, Honduras is divided into 18 departments, with municipal officials selected for 4-year terms.  

The 1982 constitution provides for a strong executive, a unicameral National Congress, and a judiciary appointed by the National Congress. The president is directly elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. The Congress also serves a 4-year term; congressional seats are assigned the parties' candidates in proportion to the number of votes each party receives in the various departments. The judiciary includes a Supreme Court of Justice (one president and 14 magistrates chosen by Congress for a seven-year term), courts of appeal, and several courts of original jurisdiction—such as labor, tax, and criminal courts. For administrative purposes, Honduras is divided into 18 departments, with municipal officials selected for 4-year terms.  

===Political Conditions===

===Political Conditions===

===Political Parties===  

===Political Parties===  

The two major parties are the slightly left-of-center Liberal Party and the slightly-right-of-center National Party. The three much smaller registered parties--the Christian Democratic Party, the Innovation and National Unity Party, and the Democratic Unification Party--hold a few seats each in the Congress, but have never come close to winning the presidency.  

The two major parties are the slightly left-of-center Liberal Party and the slightly-right-of-center National Party. The three much smaller registered parties—the Christian Democratic Party, the Innovation and National Unity Party, and the Democratic Unification Party—hold a few seats each in the Congress, but have never come close to winning the presidency.  

===Principal Government Officials===  

===Principal Government Officials===  

*President--Juan Orlando Hernández

*President—Juan Orlando Hernández

*Vice president--María Antonieta de Bográn

*Vice president—María Antonieta de Bográn

*Minister of Foreign Relations--Milton Jimenez Puerto

*Minister of Foreign Relations—Milton Jimenez Puerto

*President of Congress--Juan Orlando Hernández

*President of Congress—Juan Orlando Hernández

*Ambassador to the United States--Roberto Flores Bermúdez

*Ambassador to the United States—Roberto Flores Bermúdez

*Ambassador to the United Nations--Ivan Romero Martinez

*Ambassador to the United Nations—Ivan Romero Martinez

*Ambassador to the OAS--Carlos Sosa Coello

*Ambassador to the OAS—Carlos Sosa Coello

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

[[File:Central America.jpg|right|240px]]

[[File:Central America.jpg|right|240px]]

Honduras is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Conference of Central American Armed Forces (CFAC), and the Central American Security Commission (CASC). During 1995-96, Honduras--a founding member of the United Nations--served as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council for the first time. Honduras is currently a member of the UN Human Rights Commission. Honduras is a party to all UN and OAS counterterrorism conventions and protocols.  

Honduras is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Conference of Central American Armed Forces (CFAC), and the Central American Security Commission (CASC). During 1995-96, Honduras—a founding member of the United Nations—served as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council for the first time. Honduras is currently a member of the UN Human Rights Commission. Honduras is a party to all UN and OAS counterterrorism conventions and protocols.  

Honduras is a strong proponent of Central American cooperation and integration, and continues to work towards the implementation of a regional customs union and Central American passport, which would ease border controls and tariffs among Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.  

Honduras is a strong proponent of Central American cooperation and integration, and continues to work towards the implementation of a regional customs union and Central American passport, which would ease border controls and tariffs among Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.  

*Growth rate: 5.5%.

*Growth rate: 5.5%.

*Per capita GDP: $2,900 (PPP).

*Per capita GDP: $2,900 (PPP).

*Per capita income: $ 894.00

*Per capita income: $894.00

*Natural resources: Arable land, forests, minerals, and fisheries.

*Natural resources: Arable land, forests, minerals, and fisheries.

*Agriculture (14.1% of GDP): Products--coffee, bananas, shrimp and lobster, sugar, fruits, basic grains, and livestock.

*Agriculture (14.1% of GDP): Products—coffee, bananas, shrimp and lobster, sugar, fruits, basic grains, and livestock.

*Manufacturing (18% of GDP): Types--textiles and apparel, cement, wood products, cigars, and foodstuffs.

*Manufacturing (18% of GDP): Types—textiles and apparel, cement, wood products, cigars, and foodstuffs.

*Services (53.2% of GDP).

*Services (53.2% of GDP).

*Trade: Exports (goods)--$1.95 billion: apparel, coffee, shrimp, bananas, palm oil, gold, zinc/lead concentrates, soap/detergents, melons, lobster, pineapple, lumber, sugar, and tobacco. Major market--U.S. (54.4%). Imports (goods)--$5.00 billion: fabrics, yarn, machinery, chemicals, petroleum, vehicles, processed foods, metals, agricultural products, plastic articles, and paper articles. Major source--U.S. (37.5%).  

*Trade: Exports (goods)--$1.95 billion: apparel, coffee, shrimp, bananas, palm oil, gold, zinc/lead concentrates, soap/detergents, melons, lobster, pineapple, lumber, sugar, and tobacco. Major market—U.S. (54.4%). Imports (goods)--$5.00 billion: fabrics, yarn, machinery, chemicals, petroleum, vehicles, processed foods, metals, agricultural products, plastic articles, and paper articles. Major source—U.S. (37.5%).  

Beginning in late 1998, the United States helped conduct a massive reconstruction effort following the devastation left by [[Hurricane Mitch]], which also allowed thousands of displaced families to obtain permanent shelter. Basic infrastructure (water and sanitation, and bridges, including over 1,250 kilometers of roads) along with critical social infrastructure (schools and 123 damaged health clinics) lost or damaged during the storm had been rebuilt when the program was largely completed by the end of 2001.

Beginning in late 1998, the United States helped conduct a massive reconstruction effort following the devastation left by [[Hurricane Mitch]], which also allowed thousands of displaced families to obtain permanent shelter. Basic infrastructure (water and sanitation, and bridges, including over 1,250 kilometers of roads) along with critical social infrastructure (schools and 123 damaged health clinics) lost or damaged during the storm had been rebuilt when the program was largely completed by the end of 2001.

====Independence====  

====Independence====  

Honduras and other Central American provinces gained independence from Spain in 1821. The country was then briefly annexed to the Mexican Empire. In 1823, Honduras joined the newly formed United Provinces of Central America federation, which collapsed in 1838. Gen. Francisco Morazan--a Honduran national hero--led unsuccessful efforts to maintain the federation. Honduras' agriculture-based economy was dominated in the 1900s by U.S. companies that established vast banana plantations along the north coast. Foreign capital, plantation life, and conservative politics held sway in Honduras from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.  

Honduras and other Central American provinces gained independence from Spain in 1821. The country was then briefly annexed to the Mexican Empire. In 1823, Honduras joined the newly formed United Provinces of Central America federation, which collapsed in 1838. Gen. Francisco Morazan—a Honduran national hero—led unsuccessful efforts to maintain the federation. Honduras' agriculture-based economy was dominated in the 1900s by U.S. companies that established vast banana plantations along the north coast. Foreign capital, plantation life, and conservative politics held sway in Honduras from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.  

====Military Rule====

====Military Rule====

Authoritarian Gen. Tiburcio Carias Andino controlled Honduras during the Great Depression, until 1948. In 1955--after two authoritarian administrations and a strike by banana workers--young military reformists staged a coup that installed a provisional junta and paved the way for constituent assembly elections in 1957. This assembly appointed Ramon Villeda Morales as President and transformed itself into a national legislature with a 6-year term. The Liberal Party ruled during 1957-63. In 1963, conservative military officers preempted constitutional elections and deposed Villeda in a bloody coup. These officers exiled Liberal Party members and took control of the national police. The armed forces, led by Gen. Lopez Arellano, governed until 1970. Popular discontent continued to rise after a 1969 border war with El Salvador, known as "the Soccer War." A civilian President--Ramon Cruz of the National Party--took power briefly in 1970 but proved unable to manage the government. In 1972, Gen. Lopez staged another coup. Lopez adopted more progressive policies, including land reform, but his regime was brought down in the mid-1970s by corruption scandals. The regimes of Gen. Melgar Castro (1975-78) and Gen. Paz Garcia (1978-82) largely built the current physical infrastructure and telecommunications system of Honduras. The country also enjoyed its most rapid economic growth during this period, due to greater international demand for its products and the availability of foreign commercial lending.  

Authoritarian Gen. Tiburcio Carias Andino controlled Honduras during the Great Depression, until 1948. In 1955—after two authoritarian administrations and a strike by banana workers—young military reformists staged a coup that installed a provisional junta and paved the way for constituent assembly elections in 1957. This assembly appointed Ramon Villeda Morales as President and transformed itself into a national legislature with a 6-year term. The Liberal Party ruled during 1957-63. In 1963, conservative military officers preempted constitutional elections and deposed Villeda in a bloody coup. These officers exiled Liberal Party members and took control of the national police. The armed forces, led by Gen. Lopez Arellano, governed until 1970. Popular discontent continued to rise after a 1969 border war with El Salvador, known as "the Soccer War." A civilian President—Ramon Cruz of the National Party—took power briefly in 1970 but proved unable to manage the government. In 1972, Gen. Lopez staged another coup. Lopez adopted more progressive policies, including land reform, but his regime was brought down in the mid-1970s by corruption scandals. The regimes of Gen. Melgar Castro (1975–78) and Gen. Paz Garcia (1978–82) largely built the current physical infrastructure and telecommunications system of Honduras. The country also enjoyed its most rapid economic growth during this period, due to greater international demand for its products and the availability of foreign commercial lending.  

====Seven Consecutive Democratic Elections====  

====Seven Consecutive Democratic Elections====