The Republic of Honduras, in Central America, is bordered by Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Honduras. The population of 9.3 million is overwhelmingly ethnically Mestizo, with smaller portions of the population identifying as Amerindian. The official language is Spanish, with Amerindian dialects spoken throughout the country. About 60 percent of the population lives in urban areas, predominantly in two major metropolitan centers: Tegucigalpa (the capital) and San Pedro Sula. About 46 percent of the population identifies as Roman Catholic, while 41 percent is Protestant. The name Honduras translates into “great depths,” which is an accurate description of the deep waters off the coast of the country, home to the second largest coral reef system in the world.

Honduras has a long, rich history of Mesoamerican cultures, including Mayan. Colonized by Spain in the 16th century, Honduras gained independence in 1821 and has since experienced extended periods of political and social instability. Honduras has recently benefited from high levels of economic growth, the second highest in Central America and above average for the Latin American and Caribbean regions. Despite economic progress, Honduras is still challenged with high levels of poverty and inequality. The poverty rate is the second highest in the region, with more than half the population living in poverty. While enrollment in primary school is nearly universal, the quality of education is low, with poor school accountability and high dropout rates.

While life expectancy has increased, death rates remain high among those in lower economic demographics. Malnutrition and malaria remain persistent problems among the population’s poorest. Leading causes of death include ischemic heart disease, stroke, interpersonal violence, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, COPD, neonatal disorders, lung cancer, diarrheal diseases, road injuries, and lower respiratory infections. The risk factors that contribute most to deaths and disabilities include high blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, malnutrition, high body-mass index, air pollution, dietary risks, kidney dysfunction, alcohol and tobacco use, high LDL, and insufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene.