Honduran Lempira
Lempira
Currency Code
HNL
ISO 340
Symbol
HNL
Native: L
Decimal Digits
2
Rounding: 0
Countries
HN
Using this currency
Currency Units
Major Unit
Name: lempira
Symbol: L
Minor Unit
Name: centavo
Symbol:
Value: 0.01
Banknotes
Frequently Used
L1L2L5L10L20L50L100L500
Coins
Frequently Used
5 centavos10 centavos20 centavos50 centavos
Rarely Used
1 centavo2 centavos
Plural Forms
English Plural
Honduran lempiras
Native Plural
Lempiras
Overview
The Honduran Lempira is the currency of Honduras, managed by the Central Bank of Honduras. Named after the indigenous leader Lempira, it serves Central America's second-largest economy, which faces development challenges.
Economy
- Honduras is a member of SICA, OAS, CELAC, Rio Group.
- Main industries include: Sugar processing, Coffee, Woven and knit apparel, Wood products, Cigars.
- Honduras is part of the World Trade Organization.
- Imports are communications equipment, machinery, transport, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs.
- Major exports include apparel, coffee, insulated wire, bananas, palm oil, lobster, soap, gold, pineapples, scrap metals.
- GDP: $31.0 billion (2023 est.).
- GDP per capita: $3,040 (2023 est.).
- Unemployment rate: 5.7% (2017 est.).
- Inflation rate: 6.7% (2023 est.).
- Main trading partners: United States, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Germany.
- Trade agreements: CAFTA-DR, Various bilateral agreements.
History
- Previous currencies used: Honduran peso, Central American peso.
- The lempira was introduced in 1931, replacing the Honduran peso at par. It was named after Lempira, a Lenca cacique who led resistance against Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century.
- 1931: HNL introduced, replacing Honduran peso
- 1950: Central Bank of Honduras established
- 1990: Economic liberalization program
- 1998: Hurricane Mitch devastation and economic impact
- 2009: Political crisis and economic disruption
- Exchange rate peg: Crawling peg system.
General Information
- ISO 4217 Code: HNL
- Symbols: HNL/L
- Currency Subunits: 100 centavos
- Central Bank: Central Bank of Honduras
- Monetary Policy: Crawling peg exchange rate system with gradual adjustments. Focus on maintaining competitiveness while controlling inflation.
- Bills: 1 HNL, 2 HNL, 5 HNL, 10 HNL, 20 HNL, 50 HNL, 100 HNL, 500 HNL
- Coins: 5 centavos, 10 centavos, 20 centavos, 50 centavos, 1 lempira
- USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 24.7 HNL per USD)
- Pegged To: None (Floating)
- Capital: Tegucigalpa
- Population: 10,278,345 (2023 est.)
- Area: 112,090 km²
- Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects
- Time Zones: UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
- Government Type: Presidential republic
- Head of Government: President (head of state and government)
- Independence: September 15, 1821 (from Spain)
- Ethnic Groups: Mestizo 90%, Amerindian 7%, African descent 2%, White 1%
- Religions: Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 41%, Atheist 1%, Other 2%, None 9%
- Literacy Rate: 88.5% (2019 est.)
- Transport: Toncontín International Airport, limited road network, railway for cargo, Caribbean and Pacific ports
- Communications: Basic telecommunications, 48% internet penetration, mobile network coverage
- Energy: Hydroelectric 41%, Thermal 35%, Solar 14%, Biomass 6%, Wind 4%
- Countries Using This Currency: Honduras
- Data Sources: Central Bank: Central Bank of Honduras (bch.hn), Economic Data: National Institute of Statistics Honduras, World Bank, IMF, Trade Data: National Revenue Service, Demographic Data: National Institute of Statistics Honduras, Geographic Data: Permanent Service of Contingencies, Historical Data: Central Bank of Honduras archives
- Last Updated: 2025