Life in Honduras
As one of Central America’s poorest countries, many of the population of Honduras live in poverty. The wealth is mainly concentrated to cities and larger towns, with people in the rural areas often struggling financially. It is estimated that over 66% of the population live below the poverty line.
Due to the widespread poverty there is a very high crime rate- drugs, murder and violence are all common daily occurrences. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in recent years, Honduras has the highest rate of homicide in the world. San Pedro Sula, the second largest city of the country, has been nicknamed “the world’s capital city of crime”.
Agriculture is the main income of many of those living in the poorer rural areas, with coffee and bananas being the most commonly farmed goods. In recent years the country has experienced many hurricanes, which often wipe out the crops of subsistence farmers. This causes people to become desperate, feeling there is no where else to turn other than to crime.
Despite the high crime and poverty rate, nearly 95% of the population is literate. The quality of education is low, but it is estimated that an individual will stay in school for 11 years. There are still many children who are sent to work instead of school and child labour rates are high.
