English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
lempiras (HNL) per US dollar - 18.983 (2008 est.), 18.9 (2007), 18.895 (2006), 18.92 (2005), 18.206 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Area
112,090 km sq
71,740 km sq
Coastline
820 km
402 km
Climate
subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
