Honduras – The Land and Its People

Honduras According to CIA World Fact Book 2011

Location: 15 N and 86 30’ W

Bordering Oceans: Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean

Bordering Countries: Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala

Area: 112,090 sq. Km

~ size of Tenna.

Elevations: 0 to 2,870 m

Hondurans According to CIA World Fact Book 2011

Population: 8,143,564 (Tennessee is 6,296,254)

0-14 year old – 36.7%

15-64 year old – 59.5%

65 year old and over – 3.8%

Population Growth Rate: 1.888%

Life Expectancy: 70.6 years

Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (Amerindian and European) 90%

Black 2%, Amerindian 7%, White 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%

Literacy: 80% (persons > 15 years old that can read and write)

U.S. Comparisons

Measure Costa Rica United States Population 8,143,564 313,232,044 0-14 year olds 36.7% 20.1% 15-64 year olds 59.5% 66.8% >64 year olds 3.8% 13.1% Pop. Growth Rate 1.89% .96% Infant Mortality 20.4 deaths/1,000 births 6.06 deaths /1,000 births Literacy (male/female)

80% 99.0%

Life Expectancy 70.61years 78.4 years Per Capital Income $1,900 $47,600 Religions 97% Roman Catholic 51% Protestant and 23%

Roman Catholic Ethnic Groups 90% mestizo, 2% black,

7% amerindian, and 1% white

80% white, 13% black, 1% amerindian, 4% asian, and 2% other

Additional Demographic Informationzelaya

Annual per Capita Income: $1900 (2011)

Unemployment: 5.1% (2010) and about 33% are underemployed

Population Below Poverty Line: 65%

Distribution: 52% live in urban areas

Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America with ‘an extraordinary unequal distribution of income, as well as high unemployment.’ ‘The LOBO Administration inherited a difficult fiscal position…but displays a commitment to improving tax collection and … attracting foreign investment… following the ZELAYA Administration’s economic mismanagement and the 2009 coup.’ (CIA Factbook)

Population Distribution

Population Distribution

Economic Information

Economy is based largely on agriculture, mostlybananas and coffee; however it is trying to diversify.

Agriculture: Major exports include coffee, bananas, citrus, corn, palm, beef, timber, shrimp, tilapia, and lobster.

Industry: Sugar, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products and cigars.

Workforce: agricultural (39.3%), industry (26.5%) and services (60.9%).

*Government salaries nearly total all tax revenues!

Land Use

Environmental and Social Issues

Improved Drinking Water Supplies: 5% of urban areas and 23% of rural areas lack clean water supplies

Sanitation: 20% of urban areas and 38% of rural areas lack septic treatment

Hunger: 9% of the children under 5 years old are undernourished

Major Infectious Diseases: (Food or Waterborne) bacterial diarrhea, hepititus A, typhoid fever(Vectorborne) dengue fever and malaria (Waterborne) leptospirosis

Environmental Problems: Untreated sewage and polluted water supplies Deforestation resulting in soil erosion and stream pollution Mining activities are polluting Lago de Yojoa with heavy metals

Topography

Terrain: Mostly mountainous with narrow coastal plains

Landuse: Farmable Land (9.53%)

Climate Information

Climate: Subtropical in lowlands and temperate in mountains

Climate Information

Climate: Temperate in mountains

Copan, Honduras (March)  Max Avg Min SumTemperature

Max Temperature 93 °F 80 °F 69 °F

Mean Temperature 80 °F 69 °F 60 °F

Min Temperature 69 °F 58 °F 48 °F

PrecipitationPrecipitation 0.00 in 0.00 in 0.00 in 0.00 in

La Esperanza, Honduras (March)  Max Avg Min SumTemperature

Max Temperature 82 °F 72 °F 64 °F

Mean Temperature 68 °F 61 °F 57 °F

Min Temperature 59 °F 51 °F 39 °F

PrecipitationPrecipitation 0.00 in 0.00 in 0.00 in 0.00 in

Climate Information

Climate: Subtropical in lowlands

La Ceiba, Honduras (March)  Max Avg Min SumTemperature

Max Temperature 102 °F 84 °F 78 °F

Mean Temperature 85 °F 76 °F 68 °F

Min Temperature 75 °F 67 °F 53 °F

PrecipitationPrecipitation 0.00 in 0.00 in 0.00 in 0.00 in

San Pedro de Sula, Honduras (March)  Max Avg Min Sum

Temperature

Max Temperature 102 °F 89 °F 75 °F

Mean Temperature 88 °F 79 °F 72 °F

Min Temperature 75 °F 70 °F 64 °F

PrecipitationPrecipitation 0.00 in 0.00 in 0.00 in 0.00 in

Santa Elena Project

• Seven acre complex (Christian Family Life Center) in the small mountain village of Santa Elena • Provides health, education and nutritional services (Provide

children two meals a day, and a place to shower, learn bible stories and songs and get help with homework. Honduras offers free public schools through the fifth grade but the families of older children must pay about $1500 per year if they want to continue their studies.  The average family income is $31 per week, with most not finding steady work at all.  MOM provides scholarships to make school possible for students enrolled in our program.)• Currently have about 80 students in the program ranging in

age from pre-school through 16 years old • Have about 3-4 medical mission teams a year to offer free medical, dental and eye care• Recently purchased a 10 acre hospital/clinic property where

they hope to send a medical team every month• Reported need for educational books

Santa Elena Project

Missionaries: Chuck and Joyce Harper

http://www.missiononthemove.org/home.aspx?iid=55105

Santa Elena Project