Honduras was home to several important Mesoamerican cultures, most notably the Maya, before the Spanish invaded in the sixteenth century. The Spanish introduced Roman Catholicism and the now predominant Spanish language, along with numerous customs that have blended with the indigenous culture. Honduras became independent in 1821 and has since been a republic, although it has consistently endured much social strife and political instability, and remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Languages: Spanish, indigenous languages, English
Ethnic Groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Belief Systems: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Demographics:
Population: 8.23 million people (World Rank: 95th) (2014 estimate)
Population Density: 191 people/mi^2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 137th) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: 2.02 %/yr (World Rank: 58th) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 73.8 years (World Rank: 120th) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 20.9 years (World Rank: 144th) (2010 estimate)
Sites for More Information:
Map of Honduras
Worldatlas.com
Country Profile for Honduras
United Nations
Honduras - Country Profile
U.S. Library of Congress
Honduras - General Information
Encyclopedia.com
Tourism:
Travel Info for Honduras
Travelnotes.org
Warnings on traveling to Honduras
Language Resources:
Learn The Language of Honduras!
Government Related:
Honduran Embassy
in Washington D.C.
Honduran Government Web Sites
by Gunnar Anzinger
