Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras, a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea.

Following Spanish colonisation 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. In 1960, the northern part of what was the Mosquito Coast was transferred from Nicaragua to Honduras by the International Court of Justice. Honduras is classified as a nation with medium development.

Politics of Honduras takes place in a framework of a multi-party system presidential representative democratic republic. The President of Honduras is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the National Congress of Honduras.

A major political issue in Honduras since about 1990 has been the high level of violent crime associated with drug trafficking.

Honduras is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), the Central American Integration System (SICA), and the Central American Security Commission (CASQ).

Border Facts

Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca

Honduras – Guatemala border is 256 km long. The border begins at the mouth of the Motagua River in the Gulf of Honduras, then proceeds upstream. It continues towards the southwest, following several straight lines between geographic landmarks, divides between watersheds, and rivers and streams to its end at the tripoint GTHNSV with El Salvador at the summit of the Montecristo Massif.

Honduras border– El Salvador 256 km long, to the east and north of the country. It runs in a south–north direction, running from the coast of Pacific Ocean and the tripoint configuration HNNISV in the Gulf of Fonseca, going to the beginning of the east–west stretch which heads towards the tripoint GTHNSV linking El Salvador – Honduras – Guatemala at Cerro Montecristo (2418m). The border was first established in 1841 when the two countries were part of the Federal Republic of Central America along with Nicaragua. In 1856, the three countries separated by setting the current international borders.

There are two official border crossing points – El Poy in the north and El Amatillo in the east.

Isla Conejo (rabbit island), lies in the Gulf of Fonseca and is disputed between El Salvador and Honduras. In 1992 the ICJ arbitrated over the islands in the Gulf but Isla Conejo was omitted. it is 600m from the Honduras coastline and the case being arbitrated by the ICJ.

Honduras – Nicaragua border runs from the Gulf of Fonseca on the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. The Coco River, which flows generally northeast to the Caribbean, forms more than half of the border. The boundary between Honduras and Nicaragua was established during the colonial era and mainly extends along a series of winding rivers. The straight line distance between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts is only 510 kilometres, but due to the sinuous nature of the mostly riverine boundary, its actual length is 1,033 kilometres. International arbitration has resolved several historic territorial disputes between the two States, with the 2007 International Court of Justice Judgment serving as the most recent series of proceedings concerning the boundary.

Despite the numerous issues related to the border, Honduras and Nicaragua completed joint demarcation efforts from 1900–1904 and during the early 1960s. It does not appear that any disputes currently exist between the two States

Honduras Registration Plates

Honduras Passport Stamps

Honduras Tripoints

number	name	country	coordinates	type	links/notes
1	GTHNSV	El Salvador – Guatemala – Honduras	14°25′18″N  89°21′2″W	Dry	Cerro Montecristo (2418m). Westernmost tripoint in the world
2	HNNISV	El Salvador – Honduras – Nicaragua	13°07’30″N 87°33’01″W	Wet	Golfo de Fonsca is jointly shared by the 3 countries.  It is a historic bay with the characteristics of an enclosed sea, with a strip of territorial waters for each State and the remainder in the central part as condominium waters. The Gulf is divided into: 1) Territorial waters of each coastal State up to 3 miles from its continental coast. 2) Condominium waters (Joint Maritime Zone), formed as residues of the non-territorial body of water in the Gulf of Fonseca. Isla Conejo is contested between HNNI.

Tripoint Gallery