Honduras – The Land and Its People

Honduras According to CIA World Fact Book 2011 Location: 15 N and 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% 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

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 Administrations economic mismanagement and the 2009 coup. (CIA Factbook)

Population Distribution

Economic Information Economy is based largely on agriculture, mostly bananas 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) MaxAvgMinSum Temperature Max Temperature93 °F80 °F69 °F Mean Temperature80 °F69 °F60 °F Min Temperature69 °F58 °F48 °F Precipitation 0.00 in La Esperanza, Honduras (March) MaxAvgMinSum Temperature Max Temperature82 °F72 °F64 °F Mean Temperature68 °F61 °F57 °F Min Temperature59 °F51 °F39 °F Precipitation 0.00 in

Climate Information Climate: Subtropical in lowlands La Ceiba, Honduras (March) MaxAvgMinSum Temperature Max Temperature102 °F84 °F78 °F Mean Temperature85 °F76 °F68 °F Min Temperature75 °F67 °F53 °F Precipitation 0.00 in San Pedro de Sula, Honduras (March) MaxAvgMinSum Temperature Max Temperature102 °F89 °F75 °F Mean Temperature88 °F79 °F72 °F Min Temperature75 °F70 °F64 °F Precipitation 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

Santa Elena Project