Head of state: Manuel Zelaya

Next election: November 2009

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National Assembly

GDP: US$18.719 billion

GDP per head: US$2,800

Annual growth: 4.2%

Inflation: 7%

Unemployment: 28.5%

Arable land: 10%

Agriculture: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp

Labor force: 2.47 million; agriculture 34%, industry 21%, services 45% (2001 est.)

Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products. Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower

Exports: $1.457 billion (f.o.b., 2004 est.): coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber. Imports: $3.332 billion (f.o.b., 2004 est.): machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)

Major trading partners: U.S., El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico (2003)