Honduras – geography
Large parts of Honduras are mountainous country; more than half of the area is above 900 m, but only a few peaks reach above 2000 m. A north-south-going depression divides the country; the westernmost part is the most mountainous. The rivers that flow north into the Gulf of Honduras have formed large, fertile plains that in the tropical climate are used for banana production. The NE trade channel provides large amounts of precipitation on the north- and east-facing slopes; the lowlands furthest north are covered by rainforest and to the east by coniferous forest.
The worst natural disaster in the country’s history occurred with Hurricane Mitch in 1998, when 7,000 people lost their lives, and 1.5 million. became homeless after floods and landslides. Destruction of roads, bridges, water supply, electricity supply, plantations and factory facilities with estimated losses of 5 billion. dollars made the already poor country even more dependent on foreign aid.
Population
Honduras does not give figures for the population distribution by ethnic groups, but approximately 90% are mestizos (of European-Indian descent), 7% Native Americans, 2-3% blacks of West Indian descent, and of whites there is a small group of Spanish descent. The Indians live especially on the border with Guatemala and in the Mosquito region off the Caribbean coast; they live in small and often isolated communities, each group with its own language and culture. The largest group are Mayan Indians around Copán. With annual growth of 3% in the 1990’s, Honduras has had the area’s fastest growing population. 45% of the population is under 15 years of age.
- Countryaah: Do you know how many people there are in Honduras? Check this site to see population pyramid and resident density about this country.
Economy and business
In the late 1800’s. US companies acquired large tracts of land along the fertile north coast and began banana production for the markets of the United States and Europe. The workforce was sourced from the Caribbean islands. The banana companies built their own railways and ports and acted as states within the state. They owned large tracts of land and were able to appoint and remove presidents. It is largely this development in Honduras that has created the term “banana republic”. The economic success and political influence was significant, but in 1975, United Brands and Standard Fruit Company were nationalized after corruption revelations. For many years, bananas accounted for more than half of exports; in the 1990’s, the proportion has been about a third.
Agriculture employs half the population; in addition to bananas, coffee is grown in the highlands, partly in plantations, partly on small farms. Other crops are rice, corn, millet, sugar cane and tobacco; cotton production is increasing. The problems of unequal land distribution were less in Honduras than in neighboring Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. The great landowners did not acquire as much land and did not consolidate their power as the ruling elite. Land distribution became an urgent problem in the 1950’s under the impression of population growth and increased cultivation of export crops. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, moderate agricultural reforms were implemented, but there are still many small farmers with insufficient plots of land. In total, 16% of the land is cultivated, and 23% is permanent grazing land for the significant livestock.
Large parts of Honduras are forested, and half of Central America’s coniferous forests are found here; together with tropical woods, timber from here accounts for an increasing share of exports.
The industry is of limited scope and is especially associated with agricultural and forestry products. Mining is versatile, but also of limited importance; especially American companies break gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc.
Over half of foreign trade takes place with the United States; imports consist mainly of food, fuel, machinery and other industrial goods.
Honduras – language
The official language of Honduras is Spanish, which is also dominating among the Native American groups. Very few now speak jicaque, Mayan chorti and chibchas paya. Only the garífuna (nearly 100,000) and mískito (nearly 30,000) used by the Native American-black mixed population on the east coast are growing. English is also spoken on the Caribbean coast and beyond. For culture and traditions of Honduras, please check calculatorinc.
Honduras – religion
The country has religious freedom; state and church are separated. approximately 85% of the population is Roman Catholic; the second largest group consists of Protestants. Many sects are imported from the United States. In the indigenous population, Christianity is mixed with features of Native American religion.
