HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 63,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 4,200 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian
7%, black 2%, white 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority

Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 74% male: 74% female: 74.1% (1999)

Government Honduras

Country name: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Government
type: democratic constitutional republic

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Administrative divisions: 18 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, Yoro

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended 1995

Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing
influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include
abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system;
accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: chief of state: President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO
(since 27 January 2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse
(since 27 January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE
LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President Alberto
DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government head of government: President
Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January 2002); First Vice President
Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27 January 2002); Second Vice President
Armida Villela Maria DE LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third
Vice President Alberto DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by president elections: president elected by popular
vote for a four-year term; election last held 25 November 2001 (next to
be held NA November 2005) election results: Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (PN)
elected president - 52.2%, Raphael PINEDA Ponce (PL) 44.3%, others 3.5%

Legisl