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Honduras vs. Nicaragua

Introduction

HondurasNicaragua
BackgroundOnce 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. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion in damage. Since then, the economy has slowly rebounded.The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought a civic-military coalition, spearheaded by the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas led by Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA was elected president in 2006, 2011, and most recently in 2016. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. Democratic institutions have weakened under the ORTEGA administration as the president has garnered full control over all branches of government, especially after cracking down on a nationwide antigovernment protest movement in 2018.

Geography

HondurasNicaragua
LocationCentral America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and NicaraguaCentral America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates15 00 N, 86 30 W13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map referencesCentral America and the CaribbeanCentral America and the Caribbean
Areatotal: 112,090 sq km

land: 111,890 sq km

water: 200 sq km
total: 130,370 sq km

land: 119,990 sq km

water: 10,380 sq km
Area - comparativeslightly larger than Tennesseeslightly larger than Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than New York state
Land boundariestotal: 1,575 km

border countries (3): Guatemala 244 km, El Salvador 391 km, Nicaragua 940 km
total: 1,253 km

border countries (2): Costa Rica 313 km, Honduras 940 km
Coastline823 km (Caribbean Sea 669 km, Gulf of Fonseca 163 km)910 km
Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climatesubtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountainstropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrainmostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plainsextensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremeshighest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 684 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,085 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 298 m
Natural resourcestimber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropowergold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land useagricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 45.3% (2018 est.)

other: 25.9% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: 42.2% (2018 est.)

arable land: 12.5% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 27.2% (2018 est.)

forest: 25.3% (2018 est.)

other: 32.5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land900 sq km (2012)1,990 sq km (2012)
Natural hazardsfrequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast

destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m), which last erupted in 1999, is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica

Environment - current issuesurban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metalsdeforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; drought
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - notehas only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coastlargest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
Total renewable water resources92.164 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)164.52 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Population distributionmost residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; unlike other Central American nations, Honduras is the only one with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers - the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland areathe overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters

Demographics

HondurasNicaragua
Population9,346,277 (July 2021 est.)

note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
6,243,931 (July 2021 est.)
Age structure0-14 years: 30.2% (male 1,411,537/female 1,377,319)

15-24 years: 21.03% (male 969,302/female 972,843)

25-54 years: 37.79% (male 1,657,260/female 1,832,780)

55-64 years: 5.58% (male 233,735/female 281,525)

65 years and over: 5.4% (male 221,779/female 277,260) (2020 est.)
0-14 years: 25.63% (male 811,731/female 777,984)

15-24 years: 19.51% (male 609,962/female 600,567)

25-54 years: 42.41% (male 1,254,683/female 1,376,052)

55-64 years: 6.63% (male 188,591/female 222,766)

65 years and over: 5.82% (male 159,140/female 201,965) (2020 est.)
Median agetotal: 24.4 years

male: 23.5 years

female: 25.2 years (2020 est.)
total: 27.3 years

male: 26.4 years

female: 28.2 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate1.22% (2021 est.)0.93% (2021 est.)
Birth rate18.19 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)16.71 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Death rate4.67 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)5.16 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Net migration rate-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)-2.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sex ratioat birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Infant mortality ratetotal: 15.39 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 17.52 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 13.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
total: 19.57 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 22.83 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 16.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Life expectancy at birthtotal population: 74.9 years

male: 71.34 years

female: 78.58 years (2021 est.)
total population: 74.51 years

male: 72.28 years

female: 76.86 years (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate2.05 children born/woman (2021 est.)1.81 children born/woman (2021 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate0.2% (2020 est.)0.2% (2020 est.)
Nationalitynoun: Honduran(s)

adjective: Honduran
noun: Nicaraguan(s)

adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groupsMestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, African descent 2%, White 1%Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 69%, White 17%, Black 9%, Amerindian 5%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS22,000 (2020 est.)12,000 (2020 est.)
ReligionsRoman Catholic 46%, Protestant 41%, atheist 1%, other 2%, none 9% (2014 est.)Roman Catholic 50%, Evangelical 33.2%, other 2.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 13.2% (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths<1000 (2020 est.)<500 (2020 est.)
LanguagesSpanish (official), Amerindian dialects

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Spanish (official) 95.3%, Miskito 2.2%, Mestizo of the Caribbean coast 2%, other 0.5%; note - English and indigenous languages found on the Caribbean coast (2005 est.)

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Literacydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 87.2%

male: 87.1%

female: 87.3% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 82.6%

male: 82.4%

female: 82.8% (2015)
Major infectious diseasesdegree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Education expenditures6.1% of GDP (2018)4.4% of GDP (2017)
Urbanizationurban population: 59% of total population (2021)

rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
urban population: 59.3% of total population (2021)

rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Drinking water sourceimproved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 88.9% of population

total: 94.8% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 11.1% of population

total: 5.2% of population (2017 est.)
improved: urban: 97.6% of population

rural: 62.6% of population

total: 83.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population

rural: 37.4% of population

total: 16.9% of population (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility accessimproved: urban: 95.4% of population

rural: 83.5% of population

total: 90.2% of population

unimproved: urban: 4.6% of population

rural: 16.5% of population

total: 9.8% of population (2017 est.)
improved: urban: 89.8% of population

rural: 66.5% of population

total: 80.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 10.2% of population

rural: 33.5% of population

total: 19.9% of population (2017 est.)
Major cities - population1.485 million TEGUCIGALPA (capital), 929,000 San Pedro Sula (2021)1.073 million MANAGUA (capital) (2021)
Maternal mortality rate65 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)198 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight7.1% (2011/12)4.6% (2011/12)
Health expenditures7.1% (2018)8.6% (2018)
Physicians density0.31 physicians/1,000 population (2017)0.98 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density0.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)0.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate21.4% (2016)23.7% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth20.3 years (2011/12 est.)

note: median age a first birth among women 25-49
19.2 years (2011/12 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Demographic profile

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has one of the world's highest murder rates. More than half of the population lives in poverty and per capita income is one of the lowest in the region. Poverty rates are higher among rural and indigenous people and in the south, west, and along the eastern border than in the north and central areas where most of Honduras' industries and infrastructure are concentrated. The increased productivity needed to break Honduras' persistent high poverty rate depends, in part, on further improvements in educational attainment. Although primary-school enrollment is near 100%, educational quality is poor, the drop-out rate and grade repetition remain high, and teacher and school accountability is low.

Honduras' population growth rate has slowed since the 1990s and is now 1.2% annually with a birth rate that averages 2.1 children per woman and more among rural, indigenous, and poor women. Honduras' young adult population - ages 15 to 29 - is projected to continue growing rapidly for the next three decades and then stabilize or slowly shrink. Population growth and limited job prospects outside of agriculture will continue to drive emigration. Remittances represent about a fifth of GDP.

Despite being one of the poorest countries in Latin America, Nicaragua has improved its access to potable water and sanitation and has ameliorated its life expectancy, infant and child mortality, and immunization rates. However, income distribution is very uneven, and the poor, agriculturalists, and indigenous people continue to have less access to healthcare services. Nicaragua's total fertility rate has fallen from around 6 children per woman in 1980 to below replacement level today, but the high birth rate among adolescents perpetuates a cycle of poverty and low educational attainment.

Nicaraguans emigrate primarily to Costa Rica and to a lesser extent the United States. Nicaraguan men have been migrating seasonally to Costa Rica to harvest bananas and coffee since the early 20th century. Political turmoil, civil war, and natural disasters from the 1970s through the 1990s dramatically increased the flow of refugees and permanent migrants seeking jobs, higher wages, and better social and healthcare benefits. Since 2000, Nicaraguan emigration to Costa Rica has slowed and stabilized. Today roughly 300,000 Nicaraguans are permanent residents of Costa Rica - about 75% of the foreign population - and thousands more migrate seasonally for work, many illegally.

Contraceptive prevalence rate73.2% (2011/12)80.4% (2011/12)
Dependency ratiostotal dependency ratio: 55.2

youth dependency ratio: 47.5

elderly dependency ratio: 7.7

potential support ratio: 13 (2020 est.)
total dependency ratio: 54.3

youth dependency ratio: 45.5

elderly dependency ratio: 8.8

potential support ratio: 11.4 (2020 est.)

Government

HondurasNicaragua
Country nameconventional long form: Republic of Honduras

conventional short form: Honduras

local long form: Republica de Honduras

local short form: Honduras

etymology: the name means "depths" in Spanish and refers to the deep anchorage in the northern Bay of Trujillo
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua

conventional short form: Nicaragua

local long form: Republica de Nicaragua

local short form: Nicaragua

etymology: Nicarao was the name of the largest indigenous settlement at the time of Spanish arrival; conquistador Gil GONZALEZ Davila, who explored the area (1622-23), combined the name of the community with the Spanish word "agua" (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua)
Government typepresidential republicpresidential republic
Capitalname: Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital

geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W

time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

etymology: while most sources agree that Tegucigalpa is of Nahuatl derivation, there is no consensus on its original meaning
name: Managua

geographic coordinates: 12 08 N, 86 15 W

time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: may derive from the indigenous Nahuatl term "mana-ahuac," which translates as "adjacent to the water" or a site "surrounded by water"; the city is situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua
Administrative divisions18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence15 September 1821 (from Spain)15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holidayIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitutionhistory: several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

amendments: proposed by the National Congress with at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Congress in its next annual session; constitutional articles, such as the form of government, national sovereignty, the presidential term, and the procedure for amending the constitution, cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2021
history: several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987

amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or assent of at least half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires approval by 60% of the membership of the next elected Assembly and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2021
Legal systemcivil law systemcivil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage18 years of age; universal and compulsory16 years of age; universal
Executive branchchief of state: President Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (since 27 January 2014); Vice Presidents Ricardo ALVAREZ, Maria RIVERA, and Olga ALVARADO (since 26 January 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (since 27 January 2014); Vice Presidents Ricardo ALVAREZ, Maria RIVERA, and Olga ALVARADO (since 26 January 2018)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term; election last held on 26 November 2017 (next to be held in November 2021); note - in 2015, the Constitutional Chamber of the Honduran Supreme Court struck down the constitutional provisions on presidential term limits

election results:
2017: Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 43%, Salvador NASRALLA (Alianza de Oposicion conta la Dictadura) 41.4%, Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano (PL) 14.7%, other .9%

2013: Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado elected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 36.9%, Xiomara CASTRO (LIBRE) 28.8%, Mauricio VILLEDA (PL) 20.3%, Salvador NASRALLA (PAC) 13.4%, other 0.6%
chief of state: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits as of 2014); election last held on 6 November 2016 (next to be held on 7 November 2021)

election results:
2016: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7%

2011: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 62.5%, Fabio GADEA Mantilla (PLI) 31%, Arnoldo ALEMAN (PLC) 5.9%, other 0.6%
Legislative branchdescription: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members directly elected in 18 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 27 November 2017 (next to be held on 27 November 2021)

election results: percent of vote by party - PNH 47.7%, LIBRE 23.4%, PL 20.3%, AP 3.1%, PINU 3.1%, DC 0.8%, PAC 0.8%, UD 0.8%; seats by party - PNH 61, LIBRE 30, PL 26, AP 4, PINU 4, DC 1, PAC 1, UD 1; composition - men 101, women 27, percent of women 21.1%
description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; 70 members in multi-seat constituencies, representing the country's 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions, and 20 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; 2 seats reserved for the previous president and the runner-up candidate in the previous presidential election; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 6 November 2016 (next to be held on 7 November 2021)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 71, PLC 14, ALN 2, PLI 2, APRE 1, PC 1, YATAMA 1; composition - men 50, women 42, percent of women 45.7%
Judicial branchhighest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (15 principal judges, including the court president, and 7 alternates; court organized into civil, criminal, constitutional, and labor chambers); note - the court has both judicial and constitutional jurisdiction

judge selection and term of office: court president elected by his peers; judges elected by the National Congress from candidates proposed by the Nominating Board, a diverse 7-member group of judicial officials and other government and non-government officials nominated by each of their organizations; judges elected by Congress for renewable, 7-year terms

subordinate courts: courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace
highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly to serve 5-year staggered terms

subordinate courts: Appeals Court; first instance civil, criminal, and labor courts; military courts are independent of the Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersAlliance against the Dictatorship or Alianza de Oposicion conta la Dictadura [Salvador NASRALLA] (electoral coalition)
Anti-Corruption Party or PAC [Marlene ALVARENGA]
Christian Democratic Party or DC [Lucas AGUILERA]
Democratic Unification Party or UD [Alfonso DIAZ]
Freedom and Refoundation Party or LIBRE [Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales]
Honduran Patriotic Alliance or AP [Romeo VASQUEZ Velasquez]
Liberal Party or PL [Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano]
National Party of Honduras or PNH [Reinaldo SANCHEZ Rivera]
Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Guillermo VALLE]
Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Carlos CANALES]
Conservative Party or PC [Alfredo CESAR]
Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Jose del Carmen ALVARADO]
Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Maria Haydee OSUNA]
Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN [Alejandro MEJIA Ferreti]
Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]
Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Suyen BARAHONA]
Sons of Mother Earth or YATAMA [Brooklyn RIVERA]
International organization participationBCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC (suspended), IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO (suspended), WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTOBCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the USchief of mission: Ambassador Luis Fernando SUAZO BARAHONA (since 17 September 2020)

chancery: 1220 19th Street NW, Suite #320, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702

FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751

email address and website:
https://hondurasembusa.org/

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

consulate(s): Dallas, McAllen (TX)
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Obadiah CAMPBELL Hooker (since 28 June 2010)

chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570; [1] (202) 939-6573

FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545

consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the USchief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Colleen A. HOEY (since August 2019)

embassy: Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa M.D.C.

mailing address: 3480 Tegucigalpa Place, Washington DC  20521-3480

telephone: [504] 2236-9320,

FAX: [504] 2236-9037

email address and website:
usahonduras@state.gov

https://hn.usembassy.gov/
chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin K. SULLIVAN (since 18 December 2018)

embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua

mailing address: 3240 Managua Place, Washington DC  20521-3240

telephone: [505] 2252-7100,

FAX: [505] 2252-7250

email address and website:
ACS.Managua@state.gov

https://ni.usembassy.gov/
Flag descriptionthree equal horizontal bands of cerulean blue (top), white, and cerulean blue, with five cerulean, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water and the peace and prosperity of its people

note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water

note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
National anthemname: "Himno Nacional de Honduras" (National Anthem of Honduras)

lyrics/music: Augusto Constancio COELLO/Carlos HARTLING

note: adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are sung
name: "Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)

lyrics/music: Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO

note: although only officially adopted in 1971, the music was approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939; the tune, originally from Spain, was used as an anthem for Nicaragua from the 1830s until 1876
International law organization participationaccepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdictionaccepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
National symbol(s)scarlet macaw, white-tailed deer; national colors: blue, whiteturquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white
Citizenshipcitizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 1 to 3 years
citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist

residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years

Economy

HondurasNicaragua
Economy - overview

Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, suffers from extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, as well as high underemployment. While historically dependent on the export of bananas and coffee, Honduras has diversified its export base to include apparel and automobile wire harnessing.

Honduras's economy depends heavily on US trade and remittances. The US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2006 and has helped foster foreign direct investment, but physical and political insecurity, as well as crime and perceptions of corruption, may deter potential investors; about 15% of foreign direct investment is from US firms.

The economy registered modest economic growth of 3.1%-4.0% from 2010 to 2017, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 65% of the population in poverty. In 2017, Honduras faced rising public debt, but its economy has performed better than expected due to low oil prices and improved investor confidence. Honduras signed a three-year standby arrangement with the IMF in December 2014, aimed at easing Honduras's poor fiscal position.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty. GDP growth of 4.5% in 2017 was insufficient to make a significant difference. Textiles and agriculture combined account for nearly 50% of Nicaragua's exports. Beef, coffee, and gold are Nicaragua's top three export commodities.

The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many Nicaraguan agricultural and manufactured goods.

In 2013, the government granted a 50-year concession with the option for an additional 50 years to a newly formed Chinese-run company to finance and build an inter-oceanic canal and related projects, at an estimated cost of $50 billion. The canal construction has not started.

GDP (purchasing power parity)$55.825 billion (2019 est.)

$54.382 billion (2018 est.)

$52.444 billion (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
$35.392 billion (2019 est.)

$36.82 billion (2018 est.)

$38.334 billion (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP - real growth rate4.8% (2017 est.)

3.8% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)
4.9% (2017 est.)

4.7% (2016 est.)

4.8% (2015 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)$5,728 (2019 est.)

$5,672 (2018 est.)

$5,562 (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
$5,407 (2019 est.)

$5,695 (2018 est.)

$6,004 (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP - composition by sectoragriculture: 14.2% (2017 est.)

industry: 28.8% (2017 est.)

services: 57% (2017 est.)
agriculture: 15.5% (2017 est.)

industry: 24.4% (2017 est.)

services: 60% (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line48.3% (2018 est.)24.9% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage sharelowest 10%: 1.2%

highest 10%: 38.4% (2014)
lowest 10%: 1.8%

highest 10%: 47.1% (2014)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)4.3% (2019 est.)

4.3% (2018 est.)

3.9% (2017 est.)
5.3% (2019 est.)

4.9% (2018 est.)

3.8% (2017 est.)
Labor force3.735 million (2017 est.)3.046 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupationagriculture: 39.2%

industry: 20.9%

services: 39.8% (2005 est.)
agriculture: 31%

industry: 18%

services: 50% (2011 est.)
Unemployment rate5.6% (2017 est.)

6.3% (2016 est.)

note: about one-third of the people are underemployed
6.4% (2017 est.)

6.2% (2016 est.)

note: underemployment was 46.5% in 2008
Distribution of family income - Gini index52.1 (2018 est.)

45.7 (2009)
46.2 (2014 est.)

45.8 (2009)
Budgetrevenues: 4.658 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 5.283 billion (2017 est.)
revenues: 3.871 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 4.15 billion (2017 est.)
Industriessugar processing, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigarsfood processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining
Industrial production growth rate4.5% (2017 est.)3.5% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - productssugar cane, oil palm fruit, milk, bananas, maize, coffee, melons, oranges, poultry, beanssugar cane, milk, rice, maize, plantains, groundnuts, cassava, beans, coffee, poultry
Exports$8.675 billion (2017 est.)

$7.841 billion (2016 est.)
$3.819 billion (2017 est.)

$3.772 billion (2016 est.)
Exports - commoditiesclothing and apparel, coffee, insulated wiring, bananas, palm oil (2019)clothing and apparel, gold, insulated wiring, coffee, beef (2019)
Exports - partnersUnited States 53%, El Salvador 8%, Guatemala 5%, Nicaragua 5% (2019)United States 60%, El Salvador 5%, Mexico 5% (2019)
Imports$11.32 billion (2017 est.)

$10.56 billion (2016 est.)
$6.613 billion (2017 est.)

$6.384 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - commoditiesrefined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, insulated wiring (2019)refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, insulated wiring (2019)
Imports - partnersUnited States 42%, China 10%, Guatemala 8%, El Salvador 8%, Mexico 6% (2019)United States 27%, Mexico 12%, China 11%, Guatemala 9%, Costa Rica 7%, El Salvador 6%, Honduras 6% (2019)
Debt - external$9.137 billion (2019 est.)

$8.722 billion (2018 est.)
$11.674 billion (2019 est.)

$11.771 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rateslempiras (HNL) per US dollar -

23.74 (2017 est.)

22.995 (2016 est.)

22.995 (2015 est.)

22.098 (2014 est.)

21.137 (2013 est.)
cordobas (NIO) per US dollar -

30.11 (2017 est.)

28.678 (2016 est.)

28.678 (2015 est.)

27.257 (2014 est.)

26.01 (2013 est.)
Fiscal yearcalendar yearcalendar year
Public debt39.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

38.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
33.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

31.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; Nicaragua rebased its GDP figures in 2012, which reduced the figures for debt as a percentage of GDP
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$4.708 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.814 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$2.758 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.448 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Current Account Balance-$380 million (2017 est.)

-$587 million (2016 est.)
-$694 million (2017 est.)

-$989 million (2016 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)$25.145 billion (2019 est.)$12.57 billion (2019 est.)
Credit ratingsMoody's rating: B1 (2017)

Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2017)
Fitch rating: B- (2018)

Moody's rating: B3 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018)
Ease of Doing Business Index scoresOverall score: 56.3 (2020)

Starting a Business score: 71.4 (2020)

Trading score: 64.3 (2020)

Enforcement score: 44.2 (2020)
Overall score: 54.4 (2020)

Starting a Business score: 79.6 (2020)

Trading score: 77 (2020)

Enforcement score: 58.6 (2020)
Taxes and other revenues20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)28% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)-2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24total: 10.9%

male: 7.6%

female: 17.6% (2019 est.)
total: 8.5%

male: 6.4%

female: 12.9% (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by end usehousehold consumption: 77.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 13.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 43.6% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -58.9% (2017 est.)
household consumption: 69.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 28.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 41.2% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -55.4% (2017 est.)
Gross national saving22% of GDP (2019 est.)

20.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

23.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
22.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

21.9% of GDP (2018 est.)

22.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

Energy

HondurasNicaragua
Electricity - production8.501 billion kWh (2016 est.)4.454 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption7.22 billion kWh (2016 est.)3.59 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports536 million kWh (2015 est.)17.87 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports195 million kWh (2016 est.)205 million kWh (2016 est.)
Oil - production0 bbl/day (2018 est.)0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Oil - imports0 bbl/day (2015 est.)16,180 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Oil - exports0 bbl/day (2015 est.)0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Oil - proved reserves0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)0 cu m (1 January 2015 est.)
Natural gas - production0 cu m (2017 est.)0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption0 cu m (2017 est.)0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports0 cu m (2017 est.)0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports0 cu m (2017 est.)0 cu m (2017 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity2.546 million kW (2016 est.)1.551 million kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels40% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)56% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources34% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)35% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production0 bbl/day (2017 est.)14,720 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption59,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)37,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports12,870 bbl/day (2015 est.)460 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports56,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)20,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Electricity accesselectrification - total population: 81% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 91% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 68% (2019)
electrification - total population: 97% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 99.2% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 92% (2019)

Telecommunications

HondurasNicaragua
Telephones - main lines in usetotal subscriptions: 490,103

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5.38 (2019 est.)
total subscriptions: 228,782

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.73 (2019 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellulartotal subscriptions: 7,559,829

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 82.92 (2019 est.)
total subscriptions: 5,788,432

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94.46 (2019 est.)
Internet country code.hn.ni
Internet userstotal: 2,853,505

percent of population: 31.7% (July 2018 est.)
total: 1,695,340

percent of population: 27.86% (July 2018 est.)
Telecommunication systemsgeneral assessment:

among the poorest countries in Central America, Honduras has a neglected telecom sector complicated by political stalemate and geographic challenges; mobile subscribership is growing; DSL and cable Internet available in urban areas but expensive; government proposed ICT master plan to boost e-government and business, including free Internet to households; US based network ready to deploy 5G (2021)

(2020)

domestic: private sub-operators allowed to provide fixed lines in order to expand telephone coverage contributing to a small increase in fixed-line teledensity 5 per 100; mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 73 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 504; landing points for both the ARCOS and the MAYA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable systems that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

general assessment:

with authoritarian government, weak public institutions, and impoverished citizenry, Nicaragua's telecom system is dependent on upgrades through foreign investment, primarily from Russia and China; World Bank funded national fiber broadband network and links to Caribbean submarine cables; Chinese-financed projects, including airport, oil pipeline, and roads in process; nearly all installed telecom capacity now uses financed digital technology; lowest fixed-line tele-density and mobile penetration in Central America; Internet cafes provide access to Internet and email services; rural areas lack access to most basic telecom infrastructure; LTE service in dozens of towns and cities; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2021)

(2020)

domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 4 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to 88 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 505; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic submarine cable which provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Broadband - fixed subscriptionstotal: 390,377

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4.28 (2019 est.)
total: 217,618

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.55 (2019 est.)
Broadcast mediamultiple privately owned terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by multiple cable TV networks; Radio Honduras is the lone government-owned radio network; roughly 300 privately owned radio stationsmultiple terrestrial TV stations, supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas; nearly all are government-owned or affiliated; more than 300 radio stations, both government-affiliated and privately owned (2019)

Transportation

HondurasNicaragua
Roadwaystotal: 14,742 km (2012)

paved: 3,367 km (2012)

unpaved: 11,375 km (1,543 km summer only) (2012)

note: an additional 8,951 km of non-official roads used by the coffee industry
total: 23,897 km (2014)

paved: 3,346 km (2014)

unpaved: 20,551 km (2014)
Waterways465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2012)2,220 km (navigable waterways as well as the use of the large Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua; rivers serve only the sparsely populated eastern part of the country) (2011)
Ports and terminalsmajor seaport(s): La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Telamajor seaport(s): Bluefields, Corinto
Merchant marinetotal: 514

by type: general cargo 246, oil tanker 83, other 185 (2020)
total: 5

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 3 (2020)
Airportstotal: 103 (2013)total: 147 (2013)
Airports - with paved runwaystotal: 13 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017)

under 914 m: 3 (2017)
total: 12 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2017)

under 914 m: 4 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runwaystotal: 90 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m: 16 (2013)

under 914 m: 73 (2013)
total: 135 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m: 15 (2013)

under 914 m: 119 (2013)
National air transport systemnumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 26

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 251,149 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 450,000 mt-km (2018)
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7
Civil aircraft registration country code prefixHRYN

Military

HondurasNicaragua
Military branchesHonduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army (Ejercito), Honduran Naval Force (FNH; includes marines), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH), Honduran Public Order Military Police (PMOP); Security Secretariat: Public Security Forces (includes Honduran National Police paramilitary units) (2021)

note - the PMOP reports to military authorities, but conducts operations sanctioned by civilian security officials as well as by military leaders
Army of Nicaragua (Ejercito de Nicaragua, EN): Land Forces (Fuerza Terrestre); Naval Forces (Fuerza Naval); Air Forces (Fuerza Aérea); Special Operations Command (Comando de Operaciones Especiales) (2021)
Military service age and obligation18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription (2019)18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; tour of duty 18-36 months; requires Nicaraguan nationality and 6th-grade education (2019)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP1.6% of GDP (2019)

1.6% of GDP (2018)

1.7% of GDP (2017)

1.7% of GDP (2016)

1.7% of GDP (2015)
0.7% of GDP (2019)

0.6% of GDP (2018)

0.6% of GDP (2017)

0.5% of GDP (2016)

0.8% of GDP (2015)
Military and security service personnel strengthsthe Honduran Armed Forces (FFAA) have approximately 16,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,500 Navy, including about 1,000 marines; 2,000 Air Force; 5,000 Public Order Military Police); approximately 18,000 National Police (2021)the Army of Nicaragua has approximately 12,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,200 Air Force) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitionsthe FFAA's inventory is comprised of mostly older imported equipment from Israel, the UK, and the US; since 2010, Honduras has received limited amounts of military equipment from Colombia, Israel, Netherlands, Taiwan, and the US (2020)the Nicaraguan military's inventory includes mostly second-hand Russian/Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia is the leading arms supplier to Nicaragua (2020)

Transnational Issues

HondurasNicaragua
Disputes - international

International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum

the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; Nicaragua and Costa Rica regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the ICJ; there is an ongoing case in the ICJ to determine Pacific and Atlantic ocean maritime borders as well as land borders; in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region; Nicaragua filed a case against Colombia in 2013 over the delimitation of the Continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan coast, as well as over the alleged violation by Colombia of Nicaraguan maritime space in the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugstransshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activitytransshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

Environment

HondurasNicaragua
Air pollutantsparticulate matter emissions: 20.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 9.81 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 7.72 megatons (2020 est.)
particulate matter emissions: 16.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 5.59 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 6.46 megatons (2020 est.)
Total water withdrawalmunicipal: 315 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 114 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1.178 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
municipal: 286 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 73.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1.185 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Revenue from forest resourcesforest revenues: 0.91% of GDP (2018 est.)forest revenues: 1.26% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coalcoal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recyclingmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,162,028 tons (2016 est.)municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,528,816 tons (2010 est.)

Source: CIA Factbook