View source for Place:Tegucigalpa

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Honduras}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Tegucigalpa
| official_name            = Tegucigalpa, Municipio del Distrito Central
| settlement_type          = Capital city
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
 |border      = infobox
 |total_width = 280
 |perrow      = 1/2/2/2
 | image1     = Tegucigalpa north.jpg
 | image2     = Tegucigalpa, Honduras Long Exposure from Humuya Inn.jpg
 | image3     = Flag of Honduras at Flags Plaza-Tegucigalpa.jpg
 | image4     = Tegucigalpa Skyline Summer.jpg
 | color      = white
 }}
| image_caption            = Skyline with the north of the city; Tegucigalpa at night; Honduras flag in the Suyapa Plaza; View of the city from the mountains
| image_flag               = Flag of Tegucigalpa.svg
| image_seal               = 
| image_shield             = Escudo de Distrito Central.svg
| nickname                 = ''Tegus'',<ref name="Tegus">{{cite web |url=http://www.tubabel.com/definicion/22526-tegus |title=Meaning of word "Tegus" |author=Tiroren |publisher=tuBabel.com |year=2008 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324082716/http://www.tubabel.com/definicion/22526-tegus |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Tepaz'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internations.org/tegucigalpa-expats |title=Enjoy your Tegucigalpa Expat Experience |publisher=InterNations.org |date=2011-05-22 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226140941/https://www.internations.org/tegucigalpa-expats |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Cerro de Plata (Silver Mountain)''
| image_map                = FranciscoMorazanMunicipalities2.png
| mapsize                  = 120px
| map_caption              = Location of the Central District within the Department of Francisco Morazán
| pushpin_map              = Honduras#North America
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. in Honduras
| coordinates              = {{Coord|14|06|21|N|87|12|17|W|region:HN|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = Honduras
| subdivision_type1        = Department
| subdivision_name1        = Francisco Morazán
| subdivision_type2        = Municipality
| subdivision_name2        = Central District
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = {{start date and years ago|1578|9|29|df=yes}}
| established_title2       = Capital
| established_date2        = {{start date and years ago|1880|10|30|df=y}}
| established_title3       = Merged as Central District
| established_date3        = {{start date and years ago|1937|1|30|df=y}}
| government_type          = Mayor-Council
| governing_body           = Municipal Corporation
| leader_title             = [[Social:Mayor|Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Jorge Aldana (LIBRE)
| leader_title1            = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1             = Cárlenton Dávila (PSH)
| area_footnotes           = <ref name=census2013>{{cite web |url=http://www.redatam.org/redhnd/censos/cpv2013/Municipios/D08/M0801.JPG |title=Distrito central: Informacion del municipio |website=XVII Censo de Población y VI de Vivienda 2013 |access-date=30 July 2016 |archive-date=19 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819202532/http://www.redatam.org/redhnd/censos/cpv2013/Municipios/D08/M0801.JPG |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Political Division"/>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 1502
| area_total_sq_mi         = 
| area_urban_km2           = 201.5
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| elevation_m              = 990
| elevation_ft             = 
| population_total         = 1326460
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="Citypopulation.de">[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/honduras/admin/ Citypopulation.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107024426/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/honduras/admin/ |date=7 January 2021 }} Population of departments and municipalities in Honduras</ref>
| population_as_of         = 2023 projection
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref name="Citypopulation.de"/>
| population_urban         = 1199136
| population_demonym       = ''[[Social:Spanish language|Spanish]]'': tegucigalpense, comayagüelense, capitalino(a)
| population_note          = 
| blank_name               = [[Earth:Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info               = [[Earth:Tropical savanna climate|Aw]]
| postal_code_type         = Postal code
| postal_code              = Tegucigalpa: 11101,<ref name="ZIP Codes">{{cite web |url=http://www.honduras.com/zip-codes-honduras/index.html |title=ZIP Codes for Honduras |author=Honducor |publisher=Honduras.com |date=2008-05-10 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226140937/http://www.honduras.com/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Comayagüela: 12101<ref name="ZIP Codes"/>
| area_code                = (country) +504 (city) 2<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.callingcodes.org/area-code-of-Tegucigalpa-3059.html |title=Honduras Country Codes |author=Hondutel |publisher=CallingCodes.org |date=2009-10-14 |access-date=2010-06-29 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226140950/http://ww1.callingcodes.org/area-code-of-Tegucigalpa-3059.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| blank_name_sec1          = Annual budget (2008)
| blank_info_sec1          = 1.555 billion [[Finance:Honduran lempira|lempiras]] (US$82,190,000)
| website                  = [https://web.archive.org/web/20150801183918/http://lacapitaldehonduras.hn/ Government of Tegucigalpa]
| leader_title2            = Aldermen
| leader_name2             = {{collapsible list |title=10|Janina Aguilar (LIBRE)|David Chávez (PNH)|Silvia Sosa (LIBRE)|Karla López (PNH)|Aurelio Lagos (LIBRE)|Ramón Romero (PNH)|Lidieth Díaz (LIBRE)|Cinthia Murillo (PNH)|Dagoberto Suazo (LIBRE)|Godofredo Fajardo (DC)}}
| leader_name3             = José Oswaldo Guillén
| leader_title4            = Municipal Secretary
| leader_name4             = Cosette Lopez Osorio
| timezone                 = Central America
| utc_offset               = −6
| timezone_DST             = 
| utc_offset_DST           = 
}}
'''Tegucigalpa''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|t|ɛ|ˌ|ɡ|uː|s|ᵻ|ˈ|ɡ|æ|l|p|ə
}}<ref>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Tegucigalpa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126004629/https://www.lexico.com/definition/tegucigalpa |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-11-26 |title=Tegucigalpa |dictionary=Lexico UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Organization:Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|US|t|ə|ˌ|-
}}<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Tegucigalpa |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Tegucigalpa|access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref> {{IPA-es|teɣusiˈɣalpa|lang}})—formally '''Tegucigalpa, Municipality of the Central District''' ({{lang-es|Tegucigalpa, Municipio del Distrito Central}} or ''Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.''<ref name="Cerro de Plata">{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg/teg.html |title=Municipality of Tegucigalpa-Distrito Central section |author=Mario Secoff |publisher=angelfire.com |date=2005-03-13 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928024129/http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg/teg.html |url-status=live }}</ref>), and colloquially referred to as '''''Tegus''''' or '''''Teguz'''''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vuelvealcentro.com/teguz-no-tegus-algo-todos-debemos-saber/ |title=Téguz y no Tegus, algo que todos debemos saber… |date=2016-10-10 |publisher=vuelvealcentro.com |access-date=2017-01-30 |archive-date=18 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018214746/http://vuelvealcentro.com/teguz-no-tegus-algo-todos-debemos-saber/ |url-status=live }}</ref>—is the capital and largest city of Honduras along with its sister city, '''Comayagüela'''.<ref name="Official Capital">{{cite web |url=http://www.saberia.com/2010/09/cual-es-la-capital-de-honduras/ |title=''Spanish'':What is the capital of Honduras? |author=Kiara Pacheco |publisher=saberia.com |date=2010-10-15 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=1 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401225826/http://www.saberia.com/2010/09/cual-es-la-capital-de-honduras/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Claimed on 29 September 1578 by the Spaniards,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emporis.com/city/101223?lng=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102102051/http://www.emporis.com/city/101223?lng=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 November 2012 |title=About Tegucigalpa |author=Oscar Acosta (original) |publisher=Emporis Corporation |date=2011-02-13 |access-date=2011-06-29}}</ref> Tegucigalpa became the Honduran capital on 30 October 1880, under President Marco Aurelio Soto, when he moved the seat of government from [[Place:Comayagua|Comayagua]],<ref name="Capital">{{cite web |url=http://www.upnfm.edu.hn/deted/proyecto%20digitalizacion%20tesis/TESIS%20PDF/HISTORIA%20DE%20TEGUCIGALPA.pdf |title=''Spanish'':Tegucigalpa, a particular story-pg. 3 |author=Anonymous at the Honduras National Library |publisher=Francisco Morazán National Pedagogic University |date=2008-05-19 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104003753/http://www.upnfm.edu.hn/deted/proyecto%20digitalizacion%20tesis/TESIS%20PDF/HISTORIA%20DE%20TEGUCIGALPA.pdf |archive-date=2011-11-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which had been the Honduran capital since its independence in 1841. The 1936 constitution established Tegucigalpa and Comayagua as a Central District,<ref name="1937 Constitution">{{cite web |author=Government of Honduras |date=2001-02-01 |title=1936 Constitution of Honduras-Decree No. 53, reformed Article 179 |url=http://www.historiadehonduras.hn/constituciones/constitucion1936.hondurashtm.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324014848/http://www.historiadehonduras.hn/constituciones/constitucion1936.hondurashtm.htm |archive-date=2014-03-24 |access-date=2011-06-29 |publisher=HistoriadeHondura.hn}}</ref> and the current 1982 Honduran Constitution continues to define the sister cities as a Central District{{Ref|cd|[c]}} that serves as the permanent national capital.<ref name="1982 Constitution">{{cite web |url=http://www.honduras.net/honduras_constitution.html |title=1982 Constitution of Honduras-Title I, Chapter I, Article 8 |author=Government of Honduras |publisher=Honduras.net |date=2001-01-31 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101113619/http://www.honduras.net/honduras_constitution.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="1982 Constitution 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.honduras.net/honduras_constitution2.html |title=1982 Constitution of Honduras-Title V, Chapter XI, Article 295 |author=Government of Honduras |publisher=Honduras.net |date=2001-01-31 |access-date=2011-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614205643/http://www.honduras.net/honduras_constitution2.html |archive-date=2011-06-14}}</ref>

Tegucigalpa is located in the southern-central highland region known as the department of Francisco Morazán of which it is also the departmental capital.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecohonduras.net/?q=node/333 |title=''Spanish'': Department of Francisco Morazán |author=BATMAN |publisher=ecohonduras.net |date=2008-06-30 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906082858/http://ecohonduras.net/?q=node%2F333 |archive-date=2011-09-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is situated in a valley, surrounded by mountains. Tegucigalpa and Comayagua, being sister cities, are physically separated by the Choluteca River.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://opturh.com/espanol/tegucigalpa/tegucigalpa.html |title=''Spanish'': Tegucigalpa, a city with much history |author=OPTURH writer |publisher=Operadores de Turismo Receptivo de Honduras |date=2010-03-15 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026080959/http://www.opturh.com/espanol/tegucigalpa/tegucigalpa.html |archive-date=2011-10-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Central District is the largest of the 28 municipalities in the Francisco Morazán department.<ref name="zonu1">{{cite web |url=https://www.gifex.com/mapas_honduras/Mapa_Departamento_Francisco_Morazan_Honduras.htm |title=''Spanish'': Map of Francisco Morazán Department |publisher=zonu.com |date=2009-05-13 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175810/http://www.zonu.com/mapas_honduras/Mapa_Departamento_Francisco_Morazan_Honduras.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Tegucigalpa is Honduras' largest and most populous city as well as the nation's political and administrative center. Tegucigalpa is host to 25 foreign embassies and 16 consulates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hondurasinfo.hn/en_02c.asp |title=Embassies and Consulates in Honduras |author=Foundation for the Investment and Development of Exportations (FIDE) |publisher=hondurasinfo.hn |date=2009-08-04 |access-date=2011-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616145812/http://www.hondurasinfo.hn/en_02c.asp |archive-date=2013-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/honduras |title=Embassies in Honduras |author=GoAbroad.com writer |publisher=GoAbroad.com |date=2011-02-28 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180553/http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/honduras |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the home base of several state-owned entities such as ENEE and Hondutel, the national energy and telecommunications companies, respectively.<ref name="Government Offices">{{cite web |url=http://www.hondurasinfo.hn/en_02i.asp |title=Government Offices in Tegucigalpa |author=hondurasinfo.hn writer |publisher=.hondurasinfo.hn |date=2006-06-12 |access-date=2011-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616122742/http://www.hondurasinfo.hn/en_02i.asp |archive-date=2013-06-16}}</ref> The city is also home to the country's most important public university, the National Autonomous University of Honduras,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unah.edu.hn/?cat=9 |title=National Autonomous University of Honduras |author=Junta de Dirección Universitaria |publisher=UNAH |date=2010-03-29 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=27 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527221127/https://www.unah.edu.hn/?cat=9 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as the national soccer team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fenafuth.org/ |title=Honduras National Autonomous Football Federation (FENAFUTH) |author=FENAFUTH |publisher=fenafuth.org |date=2010-01-08 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702022120/http://www.fenafuth.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The city is served by two international airports, Comayagua and Toncontín.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airliners.net/aviation-articles/read.main?id=8 |title=Difficult Approach + Short Runway = Challenge |author=Ryan Bert |publisher=Airliners.net |date=2001-04-29 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=26 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526205322/http://www.airliners.net/aviation-articles/read.main?id=8 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smartertravel.com/photo-galleries/editorial/worlds-scariest-airports.html?id=32&photo=8693 |title=World's Scariest Airports |author1=Jaclyn Liechti |author2=Kate Sitarz |name-list-style=amp |publisher=SmarterTravel.com |date=2010-07-31 |access-date=2010-06-29 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232109/http://www.smartertravel.com/photo-galleries/editorial/worlds-scariest-airports.html?id=32&photo=8693 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.simtours.net/tegucigalpa.php |title=Tegucigalpa's Toncontín |author=Microsoft Flight Simulator X |publisher=SimTours.net |date=2007-06-04 |access-date=2010-06-29 |archive-date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727053808/http://www.simtours.net/tegucigalpa.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Central District Mayor's Office ({{Lang|es|Alcaldia Municipal del Distrito Central}}) is the city's governing body,<ref name="AMDC">{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/organigrama.pdf |title=AMDC Organization Chart |author1=Juan Diego Zelaya |author2=Vice Mayor |publisher=AMDC |date=June 2010 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175756/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/organigrama.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> headed by a [[Social:Mayor|mayor]]<ref name="Municipal Corporation">{{cite web |url=http://www.lacapitaldehonduras.com/corporacion-municipal |title=Central District Mayor |author=AMDC |publisher=AMDC Transparencia |date=2008-10-24 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028045254/http://www.lacapitaldehonduras.com/corporacion-municipal |archive-date=2011-10-28}}</ref> and 10 aldermen forming the Municipal Corporation ({{Lang|es|Corporación Municipal}}).<ref name="lacapitaldehonduras">{{cite web |url=http://www.lacapitaldehonduras.com/corporacion-municipal |title=Central District Municipal Corporation |author=AMDC |publisher=AMDC Transparencia |date=2008-10-24 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028045254/http://www.lacapitaldehonduras.com/corporacion-municipal |archive-date=2011-10-28}}</ref> Being the department's seat as well, the governor's office of Francisco Morazán is also located in the capital. In 2008, the city operated on an approved budget of 1.555 billion [[Finance:Honduran lempira|lempiras]] (US$82,189,029).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hondudiariohn.com/nacionales=0879.php |title=''Spanish'':Tegucigalpa City Hall approves budget of 1.555 billion lempiras for 2008 |author=Alcaldia Municipal del Distrito Central |publisher=Hondudiario.com |date=2008-02-12 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129135919/http://www.hondudiariohn.com/nacionales=0879.php |archive-date=2012-01-29 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, the city government reported a revenue of 1.955 billion lempiras (US$103,512,220), more than any other capital city in Central America except Panama City.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

Tegucigalpa's infrastructure has not kept up with its population growth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zonadenoticias.com/actualidad/tegucigalpa-cumple-431-anos-en-tension |title=''Spanish:''Tegucigalpa reaches 431st birthday in tension |author=El Nuevo Herald |publisher=zonadenoticias.com |date=2009-09-30 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326102358/http://www.zonadenoticias.com/actualidad/tegucigalpa-cumple-431-anos-en-tension |archive-date=2012-03-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Deficient urban planning,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2011/05/10/Noticias/Zonificacion-no-impide-que-comercio-invada-residenciales |title=''Spanish'': Zoning laws do not impede businesses invading residential zones |author=Karla Gomez |publisher=El Heraldo de Honduras |date=2011-05-09 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920101955/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2011/05/10/Noticias/Zonificacion-no-impide-que-comercio-invada-residenciales |archive-date=2014-09-20 |url-status=dead}}</ref> densely condensed urbanization, and poverty<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.revistaconstruir.com/newsletter-info/474-tegucigalpa-con-zonas-de-alto-riesgo-para-construir |title=''Spanish:''Tegucigalpa with high-risk zones for construction |author=El Nuevo Herald |publisher=zonadenoticias.com |date=2009-09-30 |access-date=2011-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604163327/http://www.revistaconstruir.com/newsletter-info/474-tegucigalpa-con-zonas-de-alto-riesgo-para-construir |archive-date=2013-06-04}}</ref> are ongoing problems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Al%20Frente/Ediciones/2009/11/18/Noticias/Crecimiento-desordenado-de-la-ciudad-requiere-de-un-hasta-aqui |title=''Spanish'': Unorganized growth of the city requires a 'stop' |author=Reducing Risks of Landslides and Earthquakes-PNUD |publisher=Revista Construir |date=2010-11-19 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204092108/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Al%20Frente/Ediciones/2009/11/18/Noticias/Crecimiento-desordenado-de-la-ciudad-requiere-de-un-hasta-aqui |archive-date=2015-02-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Heavily congested roadways, where road infrastructure is unable to efficiently handle over 400,000 vehicles, create havoc on a daily basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2011/02/24/Noticias/Gobierno-de-Honduras-busca-disminuir-trafico |title=''Spanish'': Government of Honduras seeks reducing traffic |publisher=El Heraldo de Honduras |date=2011-02-24 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227091405/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2011/02/24/Noticias/Gobierno-de-Honduras-busca-disminuir-trafico |archive-date=2011-02-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Both national and local governments have taken steps to improve and expand infrastructure as well as to reduce poverty in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hondudiario.com/content/gobierno-y-bcie-suscriben-convenio-de-pr%C3%A9stamo-por-461-millones-de-d%C3%B3lares |title=''Spanish'': BCIE grants US$46.1 million for infrastructure in Tegucigalpa |author=Sheila Salgado |publisher=hondudiario.com |date=2011-04-27 |access-date=2011-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125193905/http://www.hondudiario.com/content/gobierno-y-bcie-suscriben-convenio-de-pr%C3%A9stamo-por-461-millones-de-d%C3%B3lares |archive-date=2013-01-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/ |title=''Spanish'': Capital450-the city we want! |author=Central District Municipal Office (AMCD) |publisher=AMCD |date=2008-09-25 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-date=15 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115011003/http://www.capital450.hn/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
Most sources indicate the origin and meaning of the word ''Tegucigalpa'' is derived from the Nahuatl language.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.ws/lepasil1/addenda.html |title=Dictionary of Honduran Colloquialisms, Idioms and Slang |author=Eric Schwimmer |publisher=geocities.ws |date=2003-02-24 |access-date=2011-06-29 |archive-date=30 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330052140/http://www.geocities.ws/lepasil1/addenda.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The most widely accepted version suggests that it comes from the Nahuatl word ''Taguz-galpa'', which means "hills of silver", but this interpretation is uncertain since the natives who occupied the region at the time were unaware of the existence of mineral deposits in the area.

Another source suggests that ''Tegucigalpa'' derives from another language in which it means ''painted rocks'', as explained by Leticia Oyuela in her book ''Minimum History of Tegucigalpa''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Leticia de Oyuela |title=Historia Mínima de Tegucigalpa |year=1989 |publisher=Editorial Guaymuras |location=Honduras |isbn=978-99926-15-92-8 |ol=1971859M}}</ref> Other theories indicate it may derive from the term ''Togogalpa'', which refers to ''tototi'' (meaning a small green parrot, in Nahuatl) and ''Toncontín'', a small town near Tegucigalpa (toncotín was a Mexican dance of Nahuatl origin).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tegus.info/ |title=History of Tegucigalpa |author=Tegus.info writer |publisher=Tegus.info |date=2003-05-07 |access-date=2011-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219001544/http://www.tegus.info/ |archive-date=2011-02-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ceducar.org/CULTURACENTROAMERICANA/El-Salvador/patrimonio-intangible/danzas-tradicionales/217-danza-de-los-emplumados- |title=Spanish: Danza de Los Emplumados |author=Coordinación de Registro e Inventario de Bienes Culturales |publisher=Comunidad Educativa de CentroAmérica y República Dominicana |date=2011-03-03 |access-date=2011-07-01 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021124633/http://ceducar.org/CULTURACENTROAMERICANA/El-Salvador/patrimonio-intangible/danzas-tradicionales/217-danza-de-los-emplumados- |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Mexico, it is believed the word ''Tegucigalpa'' is from the Nahuatl word ''Tecuztlicallipan'', meaning "place of residence of the noble" or ''Tecuhtzincalpan'', meaning "place on the home of the beloved master".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vocabulario.com.mx/nahuatl/diccionario_nahuatl_t.html |title=Náhuatl translations-meaning of Tegucigalpa |publisher=Vocabulario.com.mx |date=2008-03-09 |access-date=2011-07-01 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407152317/http://www.vocabulario.com.mx/nahuatl/diccionario_nahuatl_t.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Honduran [[Philology|philologist]] Alberto de Jesús Membreño wrote in his book ''Indigenous Toponymies of Central America'' that he thinks Tegucigalpa is a Nahuatl word meaning "in the homes of the sharp stones" and rules out the traditional meaning "hills of silver" arguing that Taguzgalpa was the name of the ancient eastern zone of Honduras.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://famsi.org/pipermail/nahuatl/2009-October/001174.html |title=Nahuatl-The meaning of Tegucigalpa |author=Michael Swanton |publisher=Foundation of the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies (FAMSI) |date=2009-10-28 |access-date=2011-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005043530/http://famsi.org/pipermail/nahuatl/2009-October/001174.html |archive-date=2011-10-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Iglesia Los Dolores Tegucigalpa.jpg|thumb|Los Dolores Church, built in 1735]]
[[File:Image taken from page 157 of 'The Capitals of Spanish America ... Illustrated' (11290260895).jpg|thumb|19th century Tegucigalpa, illustration in ''The Capitals of Spanish America'']]
[[File:Panorama of Tegucigalpa, Honduras (1889).jpg|thumb|right|Panorama of Tegucigalpa, 1889]]
Tegucigalpa was founded by Spanish settlers as ''Real de Minas de San Miguel de Tegucigalpa'' on September 29, 1578 on the site of an existing native settlement of the Lenca and Tolupans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg10/t.html |title=Spanish: History of Tegucigalpa |author=Mario Secoff |publisher=angelfire.com |date=2006-09-19 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=8 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608163223/http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg10/t.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The first mayor of Tegucigalpa was ''Juan de la Cueva'', who took office in 1579.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hondurashoy.blogspot.com/2007/12/tegucigalpa-y-su-historia.html |title=Spanish: Tegucigalpa and her History |author=Mario Perez |publisher=HondurasHoy.blogspot.com |date=2007-12-12 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=17 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017200548/http://hondurashoy.blogspot.com/2007/12/tegucigalpa-y-su-historia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Dolores Church (1735), the San Miguel Cathedral (1765), the ''Casa de la Moneda'' (1780), and the Immaculate Conception Church (1788) were some of the first important buildings constructed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-1740-1821.html |title=Spanish: History of Tegucigalpa, 1740–1821 period, 4th paragraph |author=Crecimiento Urbano |publisher=hondurasurbana.blogspot.com |date=2011-05-14 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326155626/http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-1740-1821.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Almost 200 years later, on June 10 1762, this mining town became ''Real Villa de San Miguel de Tegucigalpa y Heredia'' under the rule of Alonso Fernández de Heredia, then-acting governor of Honduras. The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw disruption in Tegucigalpa's local government, from being extinguished in 1788 to becoming part of [[Place:Comayagua|Comayagua]] in 1791 to returning to self-city governance in 1817.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg/teg.html |title=Spanish: Municipality of Tegucigalpa |author=Mario Secoff |publisher=angelfire.com |date=2006-09-19 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928024129/http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg/teg.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1817, then-Mayor Narciso Mallol started the construction of the first bridge, a ten-arch masonry, connecting both sides of the Choluteca River. Upon completion four years later, it linked Tegucigalpa with her neighbor city of Comayagua.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg/t100.html |title=Spanish: History of the Mallol Bridge |author=Mario Secoff |publisher=angelfire.com |date=2006-09-19 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=10 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610013921/http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg/t100.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1821, Tegucigalpa legally became a city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-1578-1740.html |title=Spanish: History of Tegucigalpa, 1578–1740 period |author=Crecimiento Urbano |publisher=hondurasurbana.blogspot.com |date=2011-05-14 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326155641/http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-1578-1740.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1824, the first Congress of the Republic of Honduras declared Tegucigalpa and Comayagua, then the two most important cities in the country, to alternate as capital of the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/ced/ced.html |title=Spanish: History of Cedros, third paragraph |author=Mario Secoff |publisher=angelfire.com |date=2002-02-11 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=20 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420234541/http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/ced/ced.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After October 1838, following Honduras' independence as a single republic, the capital continued to switch back and forth between Tegucigalpa and Comayagua until October 30, 1880, when Tegucigalpa was declared the permanent capital of Honduras by then-president Marco Aurelio Soto.<ref name="Capital"/> A popular myth claims that the society of Comayagua, the long-time colonial capital of Honduras, publicly disliked the wife of President Soto, who took revenge by moving the capital to Tegucigalpa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://larissamurillo.blogspot.com/2010/04/comayagua.html |title=Spanish: History of Comayagua, intro paragraph |author=Larissa Murillo |publisher=larissamurillo.blogspot.com |date=2010-04-29 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103075938/http://larissamurillo.blogspot.com/2010/04/comayagua.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A more likely theory is that the change took place because President Soto was an important partner of the Rosario Mining Company, an American silver mining company, whose operations were based in San Juancito, close to Tegucigalpa, and he needed to be close to his personal interests.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg10/t.html |title=Spanish: Municipality of Tegucigalpa, 14th & 15th paragraphs |author=Mario Secoff |publisher=angelfire.com |date=2006-09-19 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=8 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608163223/http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/dpmapas/fmo/teg10/t.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 1898, it was decided that both Tegucigalpa and Comayagua, being neighbor cities on the banks of the Choluteca River, would form the capital, but with separate names and separate local governments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.monografias.com/trabajos52/municipios-honduras/municipios-honduras3.shtml |title=Spanish: Historical Background of Departments and Municipalities of Honduras, Decree No. 161 (COMAYAGÜELA) |author=ahrbom |publisher=monografias.com |date=2007-11-29 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=4 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104005803/http://www.monografias.com/trabajos52/municipios-honduras/municipios-honduras3.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> During this period, both cities had a population of about 40,000 people.

Between the 1930s and 1960s, Tegucigalpa continued to grow reaching a population of over 250,000 people, giving way to what would become one of the biggest neighborhoods in the city, the ''Colonia Kennedy''; the nation's autonomous university, the UNAH; and the construction of the ''Honduras Maya Hotel''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-1933-1961.html |title=Spanish: History of Tegucigalpa, 1933–1961 period |author=Crecimiento Urbano |publisher=hondurasurbana.blogspot.com |date=2011-05-14 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326155712/http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-1933-1961.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It still remained relatively small and provincial until the 1970s, when migration from the rural areas began in earnest. During the 1980s, several avenues, traffic overpasses, and large buildings were erected, a relative novelty to a city characterized until then by two-story buildings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-1975-1998.html |title=Spanish: History of Tegucigalpa, 1975–1998 period |author=Crecimiento Urbano |publisher=hondurasurbana.blogspot.com |date=2011-05-14 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326155718/http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-1975-1998.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, lacking the enforcement of city planning and zoning laws, it led to highly disorganized urbanization. This lack of proper urbanization as the population has grown is evident on the surrounding slopes of the several hills in the city where some of the city's most impoverished neighborhoods have prevailed.<ref name="High Risk">{{cite web |url=http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Apertura/Ediciones/2010/08/17/Noticias/128-barrios-y-colonias-de-la-capital-en-grave-riesgo |title=Spanish: 128 barrios and colonias of the capital in grave risk |author=Marilyn Mendez |publisher=La Prensa de Honduras |date=2010-08-16 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406064713/http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Apertura/Ediciones/2010/08/17/Noticias/128-barrios-y-colonias-de-la-capital-en-grave-riesgo |archive-date=2012-04-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 30 October 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated the capital, along with the rest of Honduras.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/ofr-02-0033/OFR0233es_Text.access.pdf |title=Spanish: Landslides provoked by Hurricane Mitch in Tegucigalpa |author=Edwin L. Harp, Mario Castañeda and Matthew D. Held |publisher=United States Geological Survey |date=2002-08-04 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=28 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028181117/http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/ofr-02-0033/OFR0233es_Text.access.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> For five days, Mitch pounded the country creating devastating landslides and floods, causing the death of thousands as well as heavy deforestation and the destruction of thousands of homes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.destinyschildren.org/en/timeline/hurricane-mitch-devastates-honduras/ |title=Spanish: Hurricane Mitch devastates Honduras |author=Donna DeCesare |publisher=Destiny's Children |date=2010-03-23 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326155632/http://www.destinyschildren.org/en/timeline/hurricane-mitch-devastates-honduras/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A portion of Comayagua was destroyed along with several neighborhoods on both sides of the Honduran capital. After the hurricane, infrastructure in Tegucigalpa was severely damaged. Even 12 years later, remnants of Hurricane Mitch were still visible, especially along the banks of the Choluteca River.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Internacionales/Ediciones/2010/10/26/Noticias/130-000-familias-en-riesgo-por-clima-en-Tegucigalpa |title=Spanish: 130,000 families in risk due to weather in Tegucigalpa |publisher=La Prensa de Honduras |date=2010-10-26 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406064728/http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Internacionales/Ediciones/2010/10/26/Noticias/130-000-familias-en-riesgo-por-clima-en-Tegucigalpa |archive-date=2012-04-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2009/10/25/a-once-anos-del-mitch-frescas-estan-las-huellas/ |title=Spanish: 13 years after Mitch, the prints are still fresh |publisher=La Tribuna de Honduras |date=2009-10-25 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105192739/http://www.latribuna.hn/2009/10/25/a-once-anos-del-mitch-frescas-estan-las-huellas/ |archive-date=2011-11-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Today, Tegucigalpa continues to sprawl far beyond its former colonial core: towards the east, south and west, creating a large but disorganized metropolis. In an effort to modernize the capital, increase its infrastructure and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, the administration has passed several ordinances and projects to turn the city around within the upcoming years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-2010-2011.html |title=Spanish: History of Tegucigalpa, 2010–2011 period |author=Crecimiento Urbano |publisher=hondurasurbana.blogspot.com |date=2011-05-14 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326155723/http://hondurasurbana.blogspot.com/2011/05/etapa-2010-2011.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Tegucigalpa, Honduras.JPG|thumb|Satellite view of Tegucigalpa]]
[[File:Tegucigalpa-Comayaguela-Choluteca River.png|thumb|NASA satellite image showing the Choluteca River separating Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela]]
Tegucigalpa is located on a chain of mountains with elevations of {{convert|975|m}} at its lowest points and {{convert|1463|m}} at its highest suburban areas. Like most of the interior highlands of Honduras, the majority of Tegucigalpa's current area was occupied by open [[Biology:Woodland|woodland]]. The area surrounding the city continues to be open woodland supporting [[Biology:Temperate coniferous forest|pine forest]] interspersed with some [[Biology:Oak|oak]], scrub, and grassy clearings as well as [[Biology:Evergreen|needle leaf evergreen]] and [[Biology:Broad-leaved tree|broadleaf]] deciduous forest.

The metropolitan area of both Tegucigalpa and Comayagua covers a total area of {{convert|77.6|sqmi|km2|0|sp=us|order=flip}} while the entire Municipality of the Central District covers a total area of {{convert|539.1|sqmi|km2|0|sp=us|order=flip}}.<ref name="Political Division">{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/doc_diagnostico/CAPITULO%201-LA%20COMPLEJIDAD%20URBANA%20Y%20AMBIENTAL.pdf |title=''Spanish'': Urban and Environmental Complexity of Tegucigalpa |author=Mario Martin |publisher=Centro de Diseño, Arquitectura y Construcción (CEDAC) |date=2009-06-02 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327174934/http://www.capital450.hn/doc_diagnostico/CAPITULO%201-LA%20COMPLEJIDAD%20URBANA%20Y%20AMBIENTAL.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Geological faults that are a threat to the neighborhoods on and below the hill have been identified in the District's high regions surrounding the capital.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tierramerica.info/nota.php?lang=esp&idnews=eco&nro=486 |title=''Spanish'':HONDURAS-Geological faults identified in Tegucigalpa |author=Japan International Cooperation Agency |publisher=TierraAmérica |date=2011-01-13 |access-date=2011-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714233517/http://www.tierramerica.info/nota.php?lang=esp&idnews=eco&nro=486 |archive-date=2011-07-14 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Choluteca River, which crosses the city from south to north, physically separates Tegucigalpa and Comayagua.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://psicologiaeducativa.net78.net/Recorrido_Morazanico.html |title=''Spanish'': Recorrido Morazanico |author=Psychology Class at the UNAH |publisher=National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH)-PsicologíaEducativa.net |date=2010-07-30 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327174933/http://psicologiaeducativa.net78.net/Recorrido_Morazanico.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> El Picacho Hill, a rugged mountain of moderate height, rises above the downtown area; several neighborhoods, both upscale residential and lower income, are located on its slopes. The city consists of gentle hills, and the ring of mountains surrounding the city tends to trap pollution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://faces.unah.edu.hn/ctig/sitios/congreso/files/14-pres_ozono_Antonio%20Carias.pdf |title=''Spanish'':Land and Geographic Information Technologies |author=Antonio Carias |publisher=National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) |date=2010-10-19 |access-date=2011-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327174934/http://faces.unah.edu.hn/ctig/sitios/congreso/files/14-pres_ozono_Antonio%20Carias.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During the dry season, a dense cloud of [[Earth:Smog|smog]] lingers in the basin until the first rains fall.

Tucked into a valley and bisected by a river, Tegucigalpa is prone to flooding during the rainy season, as experienced to the fullest during Hurricane Mitch and to a lesser degree every year during the rainy season. Despite being several thousand feet above sea level, the city lacks an efficient flood control system, including canals and sewerage powerful enough to channel rainwater back into the river to flow down to the ocean. The river itself is a threat since it isn't deep enough below the streets, nor are there levees high enough to prevent it from breaking out.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Tegucigalpa/Ediciones/2010/05/31/Noticias/El-rio-Choluteca-inundo-mercados-y-colapso-quebradas-en-Tegucigalpa |title=Spanish: Choluteca River flooded markets and collapsed streams in Tegucigalpa |publisher=El Heraldo de Honduras |date=2010-05-30 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603190759/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Tegucigalpa/Ediciones/2010/05/31/Noticias/El-rio-Choluteca-inundo-mercados-y-colapso-quebradas-en-Tegucigalpa |archive-date=2010-06-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are more than 100 neighborhoods deemed ''zones of high risk'', several of them ruled out as uninhabitable in their entirety.<ref name="High Risk" />

There is a reservoir, known as ''Embalse Los Laureles'', west of the city providing 30 percent of the city's water supply as well as a water treatment plant south of the city about {{convert|7.3|km|mi}} from the airport; part of the ''Concepción Reservoir'' just {{convert|6|km|mi}} southwest of the water plant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oirsa.org/aplicaciones/subidoarchivos/BibliotecaVirtual/EmbalsesHonduras.pdf |title=''Spanish:'' Descriptions of Reservoirs in Honduras |author=A. Velazco |publisher=International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) |date=2005-10-20 |access-date=2011-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328001257/http://www.oirsa.org/aplicaciones/subidoarchivos/BibliotecaVirtual/EmbalsesHonduras.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{wide image|Tegucigalpa Wikivoyage Banner.jpg|1500px|View of Tegucigalpa}}
The Central District shares borders with 13 other municipalities of Francisco Morazán:<ref name="zonu1" /> (to the north) Cedros and Talanga; (south) Ojojona, Santa Ana, San Buenaventura and Maraita; (east) San Juan de Flores, Villa de San Francisco, Santa Lucía, Valle de Ángeles, San Antonio de Oriente, and Tatumbla; (and to the west) Lepaterique. It is also bordered on the west by two municipalities of the Comayagua Department, Villa de San Antonio<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/forestry/13719-062951f4c7564248c67233f757cfe994f.pdf |title=''Spanish'': Villa de San Antonio, Comayagua-pg. 7, geographic location |author=FNPP-Honduras, ENF |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN) |date=2007-01-22 |access-date=2011-07-20 |archive-date=26 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026020520/http://www.fao.org/forestry/13719-062951f4c7564248c67233f757cfe994f.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and Lamaní, with the latter exactly at the quadripoint where the Central District, Lepaterique, Villa de San Antonio and Lamaní all meet.

=== Climate ===
[[File:Tegucigalpa mountain view.jpg|thumb|The city during Summer]]
Tegucigalpa has a [[Earth:Tropical savanna climate|tropical savanna climate]] (''Aw'', according to the [[Earth:Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate classification]]), milder due to the elevation and with two distinct seasons: the rainy season, and the [[Earth:Dry season|dry season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/honduras/37.htm |title=Honduras-Climate |author=Tim Merrill |publisher=countrystudies.us |date=2010-08-23 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629122631/http://countrystudies.us/honduras/37.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Like much of central Honduras, the city has a tropical climate, though tempered by the altitude—meaning less humid than the lower valleys and the coastal regions—with median temperatures averaging between {{convert|19|C}} and {{convert|23|C}} degrees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.losmejoresdestinos.com/honduras_clima.htm |title=Spanish: Weather in Honduras |publisher=LosMejoresDestinos.com |date=2007-06-10 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=3 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903090747/http://www.losmejoresdestinos.com/honduras_clima.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The months of December and January are coolest, with an average min/ low temperature of {{convert|14|C|F}}; whereas March and April—popularly associated with Holy Week's holidays—are hottest and temperatures can reach up to {{convert|40|C}} degrees on the hottest day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2010/04/23/proximo-martes-sera-el-dia-mas-caliente-del-ano/#idc-cover |title=''Spanish:'' Next Tuesday will be hottest day of the year |publisher=LaTribuna.hn |date=2010-04-23 |access-date=2011-09-28}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The dry season lasts from November through April and the rainy season from May through October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/weather |title=Honduras, When to go and Weather |publisher=lonelyplanet.com |date=2010-08-23 |access-date=2011-07-05 |archive-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717153414/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/weather |url-status=live }}</ref> There is an average of 107 rainy days in the year, June and September usually the wettest months.

The average sunshine hours per month during the year is 211.2 and the average rainy days per month is 8.9. The average sunshine hours during the dry season is 228 per month while {{convert|182.5|mm|in}} is the average monthly precipitation during the wet season. The wettest months of the rainy season are May—June and September—October, averaging 16.2 rainy days during each of those periods.

{{Weather box|location = Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa Airport) 1961–1990, extremes 1951–present
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 33.0
|Feb record high C = 34.5
|Mar record high C = 35.5
|Apr record high C = 36.6
|May record high C = 36.9
|Jun record high C = 34.5
|Jul record high C = 35.9
|Aug record high C = 36.9
|Sep record high C = 34.2
|Oct record high C = 34.8
|Nov record high C = 32.8
|Dec record high C = 31.4
|year record high C = 36.9
|Jan high C = 25.7
|Feb high C = 27.4
|Mar high C = 29.5
|Apr high C = 30.2
|May high C = 30.2
|Jun high C = 28.6
|Jul high C = 27.8
|Aug high C = 28.5
|Sep high C = 28.5
|Oct high C = 27.3
|Nov high C = 26.0
|Dec high C = 25.4
|year high C = 27.9
<!--Mean daily temperature-->
|Jan mean C = 19.5
|Feb mean C = 20.4
|Mar mean C = 22.1
|Apr mean C = 23.4
|May mean C = 23.6
|Jun mean C = 22.6
|Jul mean C = 22.1
|Aug mean C = 22.4
|Sep mean C = 22.2
|Oct mean C = 21.5
|Nov mean C = 20.4
|Dec mean C = 19.7
|year mean C = 21.7
|Jan low C = 14.3
|Feb low C = 14.5
|Mar low C = 15.5
|Apr low C = 17.1
|May low C = 18.2
|Jun low C = 18.2
|Jul low C = 18.0
|Aug low C = 18.0
|Sep low C = 17.9
|Oct low C = 17.6
|Nov low C = 16.3
|Dec low C = 15.0
|year low C = 16.7
|Jan record low C = 4.5
|Feb record low C = 7.2
|Mar record low C = 4.7
|Apr record low C = 8.9
|May record low C = 11.1
|Jun record low C = 12.4
|Jul record low C = 12.6
|Aug record low C = 12.2
|Sep record low C = 11.0
|Oct record low C = 10.0
|Nov record low C = 7.7
|Dec record low C = 6.8
|year record low C = 4.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 5.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 4.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 9.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 42.9
|May precipitation mm = 143.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 158.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 82.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 88.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 177.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 108.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 39.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 9.9
|year precipitation mm = 871.7
<!--Average number of rainy days-->
|unit rain days= <!--If entering the average number of days, then the unit requirement should be used, because this varies between countries. E.g. 0.1 in, 0.01 in.-->
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 1
|Feb precipitation days = 1
|Mar precipitation days = 1
|Apr precipitation days = 2
|May precipitation days = 9
|Jun precipitation days = 12
|Jul precipitation days = 9
|Aug precipitation days = 9
|Sep precipitation days = 13
|Oct precipitation days = 10
|Nov precipitation days = 4
|Dec precipitation days = 2
|year precipitation days = 73
|Jan humidity = 71
|Feb humidity = 66
|Mar humidity = 62
|Apr humidity = 60
|May humidity = 67
|Jun humidity = 75
|Jul humidity = 74
|Aug humidity = 73
|Sep humidity = 76
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 77
|Dec humidity = 75
|year humidity = 71
<!--Average monthly sunshine hours, monthly totals are preferred, and will produce colors, but percentages are accepted.-->
|Jan sun = 220.8
|Feb sun = 229.4
|Mar sun = 268.5
|Apr sun = 242.8
|May sun = 216.3
|Jun sun = 171.7
|Jul sun = 192.5
|Aug sun = 204.8
|Sep sun = 183.4
|Oct sun = 200.4
|Nov sun = 199.2
|Dec sun = 212.2
|year sun = 2542.0
<!--Mandatory fields, source-->
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/HO/78720.TXT |title=Tegucigalpa Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=[[Organization:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 1951–1993)<ref name = DWD>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_787200_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von Tegucigalpa (Int. Flugh.) / Honduras |work=Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |language=de |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-date=2 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902141059/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_787200_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web |url=http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1755 |title=Station Tegucigalpa |publisher=Meteo Climat |language=fr |access-date=12 June 2016}}</ref>
|date=October 2011}}

=== Hurricane Mitch ===
[[File:Mitch-Tegucigalpa.JPG|thumb|right|Aerial view of the capital after Hurricane Mitch, November 1998]]
Tegucigalpa, as with the rest of Honduras, experienced significant damage by Hurricane Mitch in late-October and early-November 1998, something of a magnitude Hondurans had not witnessed since Hurricane Fifi. Mitch destroyed part of the Comayagua section of the city, as well as other places along the banks of the Choluteca River. The storm remained over Honduran territory for five days, dumping heavy rainfall late in the rainy season. The ground was already saturated and could not absorb the heavy precipitation, while deforestation and debris left by the hurricane led to catastrophic flooding throughout widespread regions of the country, especially in Tegucigalpa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historiadehonduras.hn/historia/Independiente/huracan_mitch.htm |title=''Spanish:'' Hurricane Mitch-estimate of loss and damages |author=Zeifer-Sistemas de Información Cultural |publisher=historiadehonduras.hn |date=2002-04-11 |access-date=2011-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917044323/http://www.historiadehonduras.hn/Historia/Independiente/huracan_mitch.htm |archive-date=2011-09-17 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The heavy rain caused flash floods of Choluteca's tributaries, and the swollen river overflowed its banks, tearing down entire neighborhoods and bridges across the ravaged city. The rainfall also triggered massive landslides around El Berrinche Hill, close to the downtown area. These landslides destroyed most of the Soto neighborhood, and debris flowed into the river, forming a dam. The dam clogged the waters of the river and many of the low-lying areas of Comayagua were submerged; historic buildings located along Calle Real were either completely destroyed or so badly damaged that repair was futile.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Apertura/Ediciones/2008/10/20/Noticias/Mitch-un-monstruo-destructor |title=''Spanish:'' Mitch, a Destructive Monster |publisher=LaPrensa.hn |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406064800/http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Apertura/Ediciones/2008/10/20/Noticias/Mitch-un-monstruo-destructor |archive-date=2012-04-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Cityscape ==
 <!--"Around the city" and "Comayagüela" sections have almost no references-->
{{wide image|Tgu1.jpg|1400px|Panoramic view of Tegucigalpa}}
Situated in a valley and surrounded by mountain ranges, Tegucigalpa is hilly with several elevations and few flat areas. The city is also highly disorganized, particularly around its oldest districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/noticias/38583 |title=Spanish: Tegucigalpa cumple 430 años entre desorden y vulnerabilidad |author=Agencia ACAN-EFE |publisher=RadioLaPrimerisima.com |date=2008-09-29 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-date=24 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924183834/http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/noticias/38583 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2011/03/12/tegucigalpa-la-%E2%80%9Ccipota%E2%80%9D-descuidada-que-crecio-desordenadamente/ |title=Spanish: Tegucigalpa- the neglected "girl" who grew disorderly |author=Carlos Arturo Matute |publisher=La Tribuna de Honduras |date=2011-03-12 |access-date=2011-09-28}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/content/view/full/9268 |title=Spanish: The capital grows toward the south and east |author=Agustín Lagos |publisher=El Heraldo de Honduras |date=2008-08-27 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327132600/http://www.elheraldo.hn/content/view/full/9268 |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It has seen a rapid growth in the last 30 years,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wws.princeton.edu/research/final_reports/wws591g_f03.pdf |title=Rapid Urbanization in Tegucigalpa, Honduras |author=Shlomo Angel with Katherine Bartley, Mary Derr, Anshuman Malur, James Mejía, Pallavi Nuka, Micah Perlin, Sanjiv Sahai, Michael Torrens, and Manett Vargas |publisher=Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs-Princeton University |date=2004-01-22 |access-date=2010-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623215302/http://wws.princeton.edu/research/final_reports/wws591g_f03.pdf |archive-date=2010-06-23}}</ref> and only recently has the government passed some of the laws establishing city planning and zoning rules.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/regulacion.php |title=Spanish: Laws and Ordinances |author=Government of the Central District |publisher=Central District Mayor's Office |date=2009-04-17 |access-date=2010-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801010820/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/regulacion.php |archive-date=2012-08-01 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Surface roads can be narrow with the most important avenues carrying no more than two or three lanes running in each direction, adding to the problem of heavy traffic congestion. Several of the main boulevards have been equipped with [[Engineering:Interchange (road)|interchanges]], overpasses and underpasses, allowing for sections of controlled-access highways, but considering that even the city's beltway does not entirely circle the city, the roads are generally limited-access. Intense webs of electrical and telephone lines above the streets are a common sight in the capital, and in virtually all Honduran cities, since the implementation of underground utility lines has only been adopted in recent years.

=== Around the city ===
[[File:TegucigalpaMayaHotelView.jpg|thumb|right|Downtown Tegucigalpa as viewed westward from the Honduras Maya Hotel]]
The metropolitan area of Tegucigalpa and Comayagua is officially divided into ''barrios'' and ''colonias'' and there are 892 of them. ''Colonias'' represent relatively recent 20th-century middle class residential suburbs, some known as ''residenciales'' for their upper income development, and these are continuously spreading while the ''barrios'' are old inner-city neighborhoods.

[[File:Tegucigalpa Map 5.png|thumb|right|Map showing Tegucigalpa's ''contemporary'' Center, formed by over 40 neighborhoods]]While the city administration divides the capital into barrios and colonias, the fact that there are hundreds of them makes it difficult to define the city's different regions, especially for those not familiar with the Central District. To have a better understanding of the city's regions, the metro area of the Central District can essentially be divided, first, into two sections: Tegucigalpa and Comayagua. These two entities remain separated by the Choluteca River Basin that runs between them.

The Tegucigalpa side of the District can be divided into five sections: '''1''') ''Centro Histórico'' (Historic Downtown); '''2''') ''Centro Contemporáneo'' or ''Zona Viva'' (Contemporary Downtown or Vibrant Zone); '''3''') North Tegucigalpa; '''4''') South Tegucigalpa; and '''5''') East Tegucigalpa.
[[File:Tegucigalpa MDC at night.jpg|thumb|View of the metropolitan area at night]]
*'''1''' – '''Centro Histórico''' or the Historic Downtown of Tegucigalpa is formed by the original neighborhoods that date back to its founding days. For years, this area remained neglected and run down, but in recent times attempts have been made to revive the zone and bring back its colonial heritage. Several government offices, including the National Congress and City Hall as well as museums, parks, a cathedral and churches are located here.
*'''2''' – '''Centro Contemporáneo''' is the contemporary, vibrant and modern downtown of Tegucigalpa. This area is formed by the neighborhoods encompassed east of the Choluteca River, south of the northern tributary, ''Rio Chiquito'' (which converges with the Choluteca below the Mallol Bridge), west of the beltway (Anillo Periférico), and north of Armed Forces Blvd.
This section of the city is perhaps the best developed and properly urbanized. It is formed by more than 40 neighborhoods, many of them wealthy middle class residential areas such as Colonia Palmira to the east of the historic center, on Boulevard Morazán, which hosts several foreign embassies as well as upscale restaurants. Other upscale neighborhoods are Lomas del Guijarro, Loma Linda, and Lomas del Mayab, which house most of the apartment complexes in the city.

[[File:Tegucigalpa Map 7.png|thumb|right|Map showing the metropolitan area of the Central District divided into colored sections]]
Boulevard Morazán and Avenida Los Próceres/Avenida La Paz are busy commercial corridors (running parallel to each other) and run through several neighborhoods home to foreign embassies, a hotel district, business establishments and corporate buildings, including Los Próceres Comercial Park (''Parque Comercial''). Boulevard Suyapa and Boulevard Juan Pablo II are located south of the aforementioned boulevards, and they also form a busy commercial and financial district stretching through several neighborhoods such as Colonia Los Profesionales where the Presidential House is located; Colonia Florencia Norte where Multiplaza Mall is located; Colonia Miramontes, among others—housing several financial institutions, government offices, hotels, etc.

*'''3''' – '''North Tegucigalpa''' is formed by both middle class and impoverished neighborhoods that lie above the surrounding hill immediately north of the historic downtown. Beyond these neighborhoods sits the United Nations National Park on El Picacho Hill, one of the most popular destinations in the capital among its residents and visitors. Beyond the Park, stretching north and northwest of the city, upper income suburban neighborhoods such as El Hatillo sit on the sides of the hills, surrounded by heavy vegetation.
*'''4''' – '''South Tegucigalpa''' is everything south of Boulevard Fuerzas Armadas. This area is home to Colonia Kennedy, the capital's largest neighborhood with more than 137,000 residents. South Tegucigalpa concentrates both middle class and poor neighborhoods. Two universities, [[Organization:Universidad Tecnológica de Honduras|UTH]] and [[Organization:Central American Technological University|UNITEC]], are located just off the beltway in southern outskirt neighborhoods.
*'''5''' – '''East Tegucigalpa''' concentrates mostly rural and impoverished neighborhoods, the result of improvised growth with little government funding and involvement. María Pediatric Hospital and the Basílica of Suyapa lie on the side of Anillo Períferico's eastern stretch.

=== Comayagüela ===
[[File:Comayagüela Central Bank Annex.jpg|thumb|Comayagüela as viewed from Juan A. Laínez Hill with the Central Bank of Honduras Annex building in the center]]
Comayaguela is found on the west bank of the Choluteca River, and most of its urbanization is made up of lower-income neighborhoods. Historically, Comayagua has remained less developed than the other side of the capital, some citing insufficient contribution from public officials. In recent years, this western side of the capital has seen some growth and improvement such as the opening of Metromall near the airport. With the construction of Mall Premier and City Mall, the latter to become the largest mall in the country, Comayagua will be receiving another upgrade. There are an estimated 650,000 residents in Comayagüela contributing 58.3 percent of the 120 million lempiras (US$6.349 million) generated every day by commerce in the Central District.

The Comayagua side of the capital can be divided into four sections: '''1''') Zona Centro (Downtown Comayagua); '''2''') North Comayagua; '''3''') South Comayagua; and '''4''') West Comayagua:

*'''1''' – '''Zona Centro de Comayagüela''' is the downtown area of Comayagua and also the original founding grounds formed by its oldest barrios. These barrios are formed in a grid street plan style. Several government offices are located in this district, including the Central Bank of Honduras Annex building and the Criminal Bureau of Investigation (''Dirección General de Investigación Criminal'') as well as the National School of Fine Arts housed in the former City Hall building of Comayagüela, built in 1845.

[[File:Comayagüela City Mall site.jpg|thumb|Looking northeast from Comayagüela at the construction site of the upcoming shopping mall City Mall]]
*'''2''' – '''North Comayagüela''' is formed by relatively recent post-Hurricane Mitch middle class residential developments that stretch onto the northern hills of Comayagüela, such as Colonia Cerro Grande, a continuously growing middle-class neighborhood on the northern outskirts.
*'''3''' – '''South Comayagüela''' is by far the better-off region of Comayagüela. This area is found south and southwest of the airport, around Los Laureles Reservoir and south of Lepaterique Road (''Carretera Lepaterique'' also known as ''Carretera al Batallón''). Also a post-Hurricane Mitch area, it has grown in the last decade and includes some of Comayagüela's upper income communities that have erupted in the area and continues to spread out as newer suburban middle class developments are built. Toncontín International, Metro Mall and City Mall are located in this area. Residencial la Arboleda and Residencial los Hidalgos are some of the growing upper income developments in the southern outskirts of Comayagüela.
*'''4''' – '''West Comayagüela''' is mostly impoverished neighborhoods spreading away from Zona Centro onto the surrounding slopes. Many of these neighborhoods came to be through improvised urbanization and lack proper infrastructure. This area prevails north of Lepaterique Road and westward of ''Boulevard de la Comunidad Europea'' (European Community Blvd).

== Demographics ==
[[File:Tegucigalpa Metro Area 2.png|thumb|left|Despite the Central District's significant size, the urban area of Tegucigalpa-Comayagüela of 1.2 million is compacted in a small area.]]
{{Historical populations
|type=
|1791|5431
|1801|6547
|1881|17309
|1887|17647
|1895|17300
|1901|24000
|1961|164941
|1974|302483
|1988|595931
|2001|850445
|2004|874515
|2006|920366
|2010|1126534
|2013|1157509
| footnote=sources:<ref>Angel, Shlomo; Bartley, Katherine;
Derr, Mary; Malur, Anshuman; Mejía, James; Nuka, Pallavi; Perlin, Micah; Sahai, Sanjiv;
Torrens, Michael; and Vargas, Manett. ''Rapid Urbanization in Tegucigalpa, Honduras''. [[Organization:Princeton University|Princeton University]]: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, February 2004, 10.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.gob.hn/drupal/node/77 |title=History of Censuses |format=DOC |publisher=Honduras National Statistics Institute (INE) |date=2010-10-19 |access-date=2011-12-05 |archive-date=18 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918154854/http://www.ine.gob.hn/drupal/node/77 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=census2013/>
The 2013 Honduran census recorded a population of 1,157,509 in the Central District,<ref name=census2013/> continuing a trend of population growth in the city since the 2001 census, which recorded 850,445 residents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ccp.ucr.ac.cr/bvp/censos/honduras/2001/trifolio_dp.pdf |title=Spanish: 2001 Population (16th) and Household (5th) Census |author=Honduras National Statistics Institute (INE) |publisher=Central American Population Center-University of Costa Rica |date=2002-06-19 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-date=31 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331071234/http://ccp.ucr.ac.cr/bvp/censos/honduras/2001/trifolio_dp.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2004, there were 185,577 households with an average of 4.9 members per household.<ref name="Education">{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/doc_diagnostico/CAPITULO%203-%20TENDENCIAS%20SOCIALES.pdf |title=''Spanish'': Social Tendencies- Current Situation and Challenges |author=Lic. Elsa Lili Caballero |publisher=National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) |date=2009-06-02 |access-date=2010-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175232/http://www.capital450.hn/doc_diagnostico/CAPITULO%203-%20TENDENCIAS%20SOCIALES.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Both the city's population and metro area are expected to double by 2029.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2009/04/26/Noticias/Tegucigalpa-un-desafio-por-el-orden |title=Spanish: Tegucigalpa, a challenge for order |author=Miriam Amaya Medina |publisher=El Heraldo de Honduras |date=2009-04-25 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503193114/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2009/04/26/Noticias/Tegucigalpa-un-desafio-por-el-orden |archive-date=2009-05-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Engineering:Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] (HDI) is the highest in the country measured at 0.759 in 2006. During the same year, 47.6 percent of the Central District's population lived in poverty—29.7 lived in [[Finance:Poverty threshold|moderate poverty]] and 17.9 in extreme poverty. [[Biology:Life expectancy|Life expectancy]] in the District {{as of|2004|lc=y}} is 72.1 years. By 2010, 4.9 percent of the population remained illiterate, compared to the national rate of 15.2 percent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.gob.hn/drupal/node/107 |title=''Spanish'': Illiteracy Levels by May 2010 |author=Honduras National Statistics Institute (INE) |publisher=ine.gob.hn |date=2010-10-15 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-date=17 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017031440/http://www.ine.gob.hn/drupal/node/107 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2010, the average monthly income was L.8,321 (US$440.49), compared to the total national average of L.4,767 (US$252.35) and the national urban zone average of L.7,101 (US$375.91).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.gob.hn/drupal/node/215 |title=''Spanish'': Average Work Income by May 2010 |author=Honduras National Statistics Institute (INE) |publisher=ine.gob.hn |date=2010-10-15 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-date=3 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803212217/http://www.ine.gob.hn/drupal/node/215 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Gerencia de Estadisticas Sociales y Demografía. ''Ingreso Promedios por Trabajo años 2008–2010''. Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Encuesta Permanente de Hogares de Propósitos Múltiples, Mayo 2010, pg 1.</ref>

The ethnic and racial makeup of Tegucigalpa is strongly tied to the rest of Honduras.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/honduras/54.htm |title=Ethnic groups in Honduras |author=U.S. Library of Congress |publisher=CountryStudies.us |date=2003-08-09 |access-date=2010-07-15 |archive-date=21 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121124025/http://countrystudies.us/honduras/54.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> 80 percent of the city-dwellers are predominantly mestizos with a small white minority.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} They are joined by Chinese<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/etnias/chino/chino.html |title=''Spanish'': The Chinese in Honduras |author=Mario Secoff |publisher=angelfire.com |date=2003-03-01 |access-date=2010-07-15 |archive-date=12 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112125925/http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/etnias/chino/chino.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Arab immigrants,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/etnias/arab/arab.html |title=''Spanish'': Arabs in Honduras |author=Mario Secoff |publisher=angelfire.com |date=2003-03-01 |access-date=2010-07-15 |archive-date=25 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625064748/http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/mas/etnias/arab/arab.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the latter mostly from [[Place:Palestine (region)|Palestine]].<ref>Amaya, José Alberto. ''Los Árabes y Palestinos en Honduras (1900–1950)''. Tegucigalpa: [http://www.guaymuras.hn/colecciones/ciencias_sociales/libros/arabes_palestinos.html Guaymuras] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327174934/http://www.guaymuras.hn/colecciones/ciencias_sociales/libros/arabes_palestinos.html |date=2012-03-27 }}, February 1997, 157pp.</ref> There are indigenous Amerindians and Afro-Honduran people as well.
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; text-align:left"
|+ Central District age distribution<br />Source:<ref name="Political Division"/>
|-
!Ages!!Male %!!Female %!!Ages!!Male %!!Female %
|-
|align=center|80+||align=center|0.4||align=center|0.5||35–39||align=center|2.9||align=center|3.4
|-
||75–79||align=center|0.3||align=center|0.4||30–34||align=center|3.4||align=center|3.8
|-
||70–74||align=center|0.4||align=center|0.5||25–29||align=center|3.9||align=center|4.4
|-
||65–70||align=center|0.5||align=center|0.7||20–24||align=center|5.1||align=center|5.9
|-
||60–64||align=center|0.8||align=center|0.9||15–19||align=center|5.5||align=center|6.2
|-
||55–60||align=center|1.0||align=center|1.1||10–14||align=center|5.7||align=center|5.7
|-
||50–54||align=center|1.5||align=center|1.6||align=center|5–9||align=center|5.9||align=center|5.7
|-
||45–49||align=center|1.9||align=center|2.1||align=center|0–4||align=center|5.8||align=center|5.5
|-
||40–45||align=center|2.6||align=center|2.9||&nbsp;||&nbsp;||&nbsp;
|}

===Health===
In 2004, there were 67 public health care establishments in the Central District—five [[Social:Public hospital|national hospitals]], 22 health centers in the metropolitan area, 37 health centers throughout the rural areas, and three peripheral clinics. There are several private hospitals in the city as well as hospitals run by the Honduran Social Security Institute (IHSS), the country's government-sponsored [[Social:Social insurance|social insurance]] program.

In 2003, only 58.5 percent of the employed population contributed to IHSS while the rest who remain uninsured were attributed to being employed in the [[Finance:Informal sector|informal sector]] or being domestic workers. Overall, only 26.5 percent of the Central District's population is covered by public health care.

The Central District reports the third highest or 20.2 percent of the country's HIV/AIDS incidence with 5,674 living with the [[Biology:Virus|virus]]. During 2004, there were 258 new diagnoses of HIV infection in the Central District.

In 2000, the [[Medicine:Maternal death|maternal mortality]] rate in the city was 110 of every 100,000 births of which 62.3 percent were women ages 20 to 35. In 2001, the infant mortality rate was 29 per 1000 live births (Both maternal and infant mortality rates are based on local and out-of-district residents who arrive to receive medical attention). In 2005, it was estimated that 101 of every 10,000 residents suffered from a physical or mental [[Social:Disability|disability]].

===Religion===
[[File:Basilica Virgen de Suyapa.jpg|thumb|Basilica of our lady of Suyapa]]
As with the rest of Honduras, Roman Catholicism is the dominating religion in the Central District and while at some point they made up as much as 90 percent of the population, contemporary estimates as recent as 2007 put them at 47 percent while Protestants make up as much as 36 percent. Their history in Tegucigalpa began around 1548 with the Spanish setting up Mercedarian missionaries as part of their conversion efforts of the native communities. By 1916, the Diocese of Comayagua was relocated and renamed the Diocese of Tegucigalpa, and it was elevated to Archdiocese under Archbishop Santiago María Martínez y Cabanas (1842–1921).<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |url=http://www.prolades.com/encyclopedia/countries/english/honduras_religion_2009.pdf |title=Religion in Honduras |author=Clifton L. Holland |publisher=prolades.com |date=2009-06-25 |access-date=2011-11-23 |archive-date=26 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426001330/http://www.prolades.com/encyclopedia/countries/english/honduras_religion_2009.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other religious groups made their way at the beginning of the 20th century including the [[Religion:Quakers|Quakers]], who in 1914 began work in the nation's capital. In 1946, missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention first arrived in Tegucigalpa and in the 1950s, the National Convention of Baptist Churches and the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions followed.<ref name="Religion"/>

The Assembly of God missionaries entered Honduras in the late 1940s and today maintain a mega-church in Tegucigalpa with more than 10,000 members. The Church of God of Cleveland, Tennessee, was established in Tegucigalpa in 1951, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel followed in 1952, and by the late 1950s, the Evangelical Alliance of Honduras was established. The Prince of Peace Pentecostal Church, founded in Guatemala City, began its ministry in Honduras during the 1960s. During the 1970s, the [[Organization:Catholic Charismatic Renewal|Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement]] began to grow among the upper classes in Tegucigalpa.<ref name="Religion"/>

The Christian Love Brigade Association arrived in Tegucigalpa in 1971, the Abundant Life Christian Church was founded in 1972, the [[Religion:Charismatic Movement|Cenacle Christian Center of Charismatic Renewal]] began in 1978 and the Living Love Groups started in 1978.<ref name="Religion"/>

The Presbyterian Church in Honduras member churches are mainly concentrated within {{convert|150|km|0|abbr=on}} of Tegucigalpa. The first Presbyterian congregation was planted 50 years ago, by the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.honduraspresbytery.com/Presbytery_of_Honduras/Welcome.html |title=La Iglesia Presbiteriana de Honduras |website=www.honduraspresbytery.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617152942/http://www.honduraspresbytery.com/Presbytery_of_Honduras/Welcome.html |archive-date=17 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Today, there are many religious groups in Tegucigalpa including a Jewish community; Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who opened a temple in the city in 2013.<ref name="Religion"/>

===Crime and violence===

{| class="infobox" style="font-size: 90%; border: 1px solid #999; float: right; margin-left: 1em; width: 270px;"
|- style="background:#f5f5f5;"
! colspan="3" | Central District crime indicators*
|-
! || 2007 || 2008 || 2009 ||
|-
| Homicide rate || 58.1 || 60.6 || 71.8 || style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| [[Social:Murder|Intentional homicides]] || 621 || 654 || 792 || style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| Unintentional homicides || 93 || 100 || 151 ||style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| [[Sex ratio|Male victim ratio]] || 89.7% || 91% || 91% ||style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| Top victim age group (15–39) || 68.9% || 65.5% || 73.2% ||style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| [[Social:Gun violence|Firearm involvement]] || 80% || 81% || 85.6% ||
|-
| Organized crime involvement || 14.2% || 26.3% || 39% ||style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| [[Medicine:Sexual assault|Sexual assault]]s || 577 || 521 || 647 ||style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| Crimes against person || 3,791 || 3,746 || 4,471 || style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| Crimes against property || 659 || 3,406 || 7,863 ||style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| Suicides || 72 || 64 || 69 ||style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| Top suicide age group (15–39) || 48.6% || 35.9% || 47.8% || style="text-align: right;" |
|-
| Vehicle-related deaths || 222 || 235 || 246 ||
|-
! colspan="3" | <small>*Data based on crimes reported to authorities. Source:</small><ref>{{cite web |url=http://iudpas.org/pdfs/LTEd04EneDic2007.pdf |title=Spanish: Observatory on Violence in the Central District – 2007 |author=University Institute on Democracy, Peace and Security (IUDPS) – UNAH |publisher=iudpas.org |date=December 2007 |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425231142/http://iudpas.org/pdfs/LTEd04EneDic2007.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://iudpas.org/pdfs/LTED08EneDic2008.pdf |title=Spanish: Observatory on Violence in the Central District – 2008 |author=University Institute on Democracy, Peace and Security (IUDPS) – UNAH |publisher=iudpas.org |date=February 2009 |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425231214/http://iudpas.org/pdfs/LTED08EneDic2008.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Crime">{{cite web |url=http://iudpas.org/pdfs/Mortalidad%20Local%20Ed%2010.pdf |title=Spanish: Observatory on Violence in the Central District – 2009 |author=University Institute on Democracy, Peace and Security (IUDPS) – UNAH |publisher=iudpas.org |date=February 2010 |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425230511/http://iudpas.org/pdfs/Mortalidad%20Local%20Ed%2010.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

Honduras, including the capital city Tegucigalpa, has the world's highest murder rate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pressly |first1=Linda |title=Honduras Murders: Where Life Is Cheap and Funerals Are Free |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17870673 |work=BBC Magazine |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-date=25 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625193340/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17870673 |url-status=live }}</ref> Honduras has been experiencing record-high [[Philosophy:Violence|violence]] in recent years. In 2010, the homicide rate in Francisco Morazán was 83.2 (per 100,000 inhabitants) compared to the national average of 86.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transparencia-seguridad.gob.hn/Transparencia/regulaciones/politica_integral_convivencia_seguridad_ciudadana.pdf |title=Spanish: Comprehensive Policy of Citizen Security for Honduras |author=United Nations Development Programme |publisher=transparencia-seguridad.gob.hn |date=2011-09-08 |access-date=2011-11-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426001334/http://www.transparencia-seguridad.gob.hn/Transparencia/regulaciones/politica_integral_convivencia_seguridad_ciudadana.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-26}}</ref>

In 2009, the Central District reached a homicide rate of 72.7 with authorities recording 792 intentional [[Social:Murder|homicides]] and 151 involuntary homicides; this averaged to 66 murders per month or two per day. 85.6 percent of the deaths were committed by [[Social:Gun violence|firearm]] and 39 percent were linked to organized crime. 91 percent of the victims were men and 81.2 of that were ages 15 to 39. The neighborhoods in Tegucigalpa reporting the highest incidence of violent deaths are poor and impoverished areas that include Barrio Concepción, Colonia Nueva Capital, Colonia Villa Nueva Norte, Colonia Cerro Grande, Colonia El Carrizal No. 1, Colonia el Carrizal No. 2, Colonia Flor Del Campo, Colonia La Sosa, Colonia Las Brisas, and Barrio Centro de Comayagüela.<ref name="Crime"/>

In 2009, there were 246 motor vehicle-related deaths, of which 52 percent were pedestrians, including bicyclists; 39 percent were caused by private vehicles and 12 percent by public transportation vehicles. In the same year, there were 69 deaths reported as [[Medicine:Suicide|suicide]]s, which were most common in the age bracket of 20 to 29 and 30 to 35, while 76.9 percent of them were men.<ref name="Crime"/>

Having around eight million people in the country, Honduras has about 7,000 gang members in 300 to 400 street gangs, most of them based in Tegucigalpa. These gangs commit all types of crimes against the local population as well as foreigners, including phone call threats. The gangs also appear to have a lot of control in the cities with controlling public goods such as public taxis and they are very involved. The Honduran government does not have much control against the gangs because the government system is not itself very stable. Most of the crime cases are not very well prosecuted and sometimes just discarded, but police enforcement is better in the upper-class neighborhoods and in the tourists parts of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=19281 |title=Honduras 2016 crime and safety report |date=2016-03-14 |website=www.osac.gov |access-date=2016-11-14 |archive-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215132529/https://www.osac.gov/Pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=19281 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Economy==
The Central District has an economy equal to 19.3 percent of country's [[Finance:GDP|GDP]]. In 2009, the city's revenue and expenditures budget was L.2,856,439,263 (US$151,214,182)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/I_II_2009.pdf |title=Spanish: 2009 Revenue/Expenditures Budget Bill |author=Juan Carlos Perez Caldaso A. |publisher=Central District Mayor's Office |date=2009-05-10 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175807/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/I_II_2009.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> while in 2010 it was L.2,366,993,208 (US$125,204,606).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/Informe%20Anual%20Ingresos%202010.pdf |title=Spanish: 2010 Revenue Budget Bill |author1=Central District Mayor |author2=Municipal Auditor |author3=Budget Rep |publisher=Central District Mayor's Office |date=2011-07-18 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175911/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/Informe%20Anual%20Ingresos%202010.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/Informe%20Anual%20Egresos_2010.pdf |title=Spanish: 2010 Expenditures Budget Bill |author=Juan Carlos Perez Caldaso A. |publisher=Central District Mayor's Office |date=2011-07-18 |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175937/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/Informe%20Anual%20Egresos_2010.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 57.9 percent or L.43.860 billion (US$2.318 billion) of the country's national budget is spent within the Central District.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sefin.gob.hn/data/2011/DGP/PresupuestoAprobado2011/estadisticas/r_fpr_pn_reg_objt.pdf |title=2011 National Budge Regional Allocations |author=Honduras Secretary of Finance |publisher=sefin.gob.hn |date=2011-01-04 |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=26 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426002116/http://www.sefin.gob.hn/data/2011/DGP/PresupuestoAprobado2011/estadisticas/r_fpr_pn_reg_objt.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The District's active labor force is 367,844 people of which 56,035 are employed in the [[Social:Public sector|public sector]]. In 2009, the unemployment rate in Tegucigalpa was 8.1 percent,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.proceso.hn/2010/06/10/Econom%C3%ADa/CEPAL.A.Desempleo/24302.html |title=Spanish: CEPAL says unemployment in the region increased 0.8 percent |author=Proceso Digital |publisher=progreso.hn |date=2010-06-10 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=8 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008041203/http://www.proceso.hn/2010/06/10/Econom%C3%ADa/CEPAL.A.Desempleo/24302.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and an unemployed person may spend as much as four months seeking employment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.gob.hn/drupal/node/175 |title=Spanish: Unemployment |author=Honduras National Statistics Institute (INE) |publisher=ine.gob.hn |date=2010-10-15 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=3 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803212038/http://www.ine.gob.hn/drupal/node/175 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are 32,665 business establishments throughout the capital, the most of any city in the country. The size of these businesses is broken down as follows: [[Finance:Micro-enterprise|micro-enterprise]]s (73.2%), small businesses (9.63%), medium-sized businesses (7.47%), [[Social:Big business|large companies]] (0.28%), and the remainder unreported (9.62%).

The city's major economic sources are commerce, construction, services, textiles, [[Chemistry:Sugar|sugar]], and tobacco.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/doc/planciudad.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175250/http://www.capital450.hn/doc/planciudad.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-03-27 |title=Spanish: Plan Capital 450 |author=Comisiones Ciudadanas |publisher=Central District Mayor's Office |date=2008-09-29 |access-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> Economic activity is broken down as follows: commerce—including wholesale, [[Finance:Retail|retail]], auto repair, household goods (42.86%); manufacturing industry (16.13%), hospitality—hotels and restaurants (14.43%), [[Social:Bank|bank]]ing and real estate (10.12%), [[Social:Social work|social]] and personal services (8.94%), [[Medicine:Health care|health-related services]] (3.90%), and others (3.60%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/doc_diagnostico/CAPITULO%202-%20LA%20DIMENSION%20ECONOMICA.pdf |title=Spanish: The Economic Dimension... |author=Luis Maradiaga |publisher=Honduran Economic College (CHE) |date=2009-06-02 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175545/http://www.capital450.hn/doc_diagnostico/CAPITULO%202-%20LA%20DIMENSION%20ECONOMICA.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The industrial production taking place in the region includes textiles, clothing, sugar, cigarettes, [[Engineering:Lumber|lumber]], [[Chemistry:Plywood|plywood]], paper, ceramics, cement, [[Chemistry:Glass|glass]], [[Chemistry:Metalworking|metalwork]], [[Chemistry:Plastic|plastic]]s, [[Engineering:Chemical industry|chemicals]], [[Engineering:Tire manufacturing|tires]], [[Engineering:Home appliance|electrical appliances]], and [[Engineering:Agricultural machinery|farm machinery]]. ''Maquiladora'' duty-free assembly plants have been established in an industrial park in the Amarateca valley, on the northern highway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/facts/11/759456/maquiladora-as-discussed-in-Tegucigalpa |title=Tegucigalpa-economy section |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=2008-04-09 |access-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> [[Chemistry:Silver|Silver]], [[Chemistry:Lead|lead]] and [[Chemistry:Zinc|zinc]] are still mined in the outskirts of the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defomin.gob.hn/ |title=''Spanish:'' Honduras' Mining Potential |publisher=Dirección Ejecutiva de Fomento a la Minería (DEFOMIN) |date=2011-02-26 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721094729/http://www.defomin.gob.hn/ |archive-date=2011-07-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Banking===
Honduran banks based in Tegucigalpa include the Central Bank of Honduras, Banco Continental and Banco de Occidente. Tegucigalpa also has a number of [[Organization:International financial institutions|International financial institutions]], which include BAC Credomatic (formerly Banco Mercantil-BAMER), Citibank, Davivienda, the Inter-American Development Bank (IAB), the [[Organization:World Bank|World Bank]], and the [[Organization:Central American Bank for Economic Integration|Central American Bank for Economic Integration]] (BCIE), with its headquarters located in Colonia Miramontes on Boulevard Suyapa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hondurasinfo.hn/en_02j.asp |title=Banks in Tegucigalpa |author=Foundation for Investment and Development of Exports (FIDE) |publisher=hondurasinfo.hn |date=2006-01-14 |access-date=2011-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005195434/http://www.hondurasinfo.hn/en_02j.asp |archive-date=2011-10-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Foreign investment===
[[File:Tegucigalpa, Metrópolis tower.jpg|thumb|Metropolis Tower.]]
Manufacturing assembly plants (''maquiladoras'') were introduced in Honduras in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://genero.bvsalud.org/dol/docsonline/8/2/228-3.pdf |title=Spanish: Employment in Maquiladoras- myths and realities |author1=Armida López de Mazier |author2=Norma Adriana Castillo |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Economic and Social Investigation Institute (IIES) at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) |date=2003-08-29 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327174934/http://genero.bvsalud.org/dol/docsonline/8/2/228-3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> While their contribution to the economy remained small, they boomed at the beginning of the 1990s, mostly concentrating in northern Honduras, but after the mid-1990s they were expanded to the central region, including Tegucigalpa. By 2005, at least 6 ''maquiladoras'' operated in the Central District.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aci-erp.hn/doct/Fonamih/Maquila_migracion.pdf |title=Spanish: The impact of maquiladoras in the internal migration |author=Jorge Alberto Amaya |publisher=Foro Nacional para las Migraciones en Honduras (FONAMIH) |date=2007-04-12 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028040806/http://www.aci-erp.hn/doct/Fonamih/Maquila_migracion.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-28 |url-status=dead}}</ref>[[File:Grupo Q Tegucigalpa.jpg|thumb|right|[[Company:Nissan|Nissan]] car dealership on Central America Blvd, across the street from Plaza Miraflores Mall]]By the end of the 1990s and early 2000s (decade), Tegucigalpa continued to be a focus city for the development of industrial parks. The main obstacle to establishing factories in Tegucigalpa has been facilitating infrastructure to provide efficient access between the capital and country's economic hubs: San Pedro Sula and Puerto Cortez.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.incae.edu/ES/clacds/publicaciones/pdf/cen1600.pdf |title=Spanish: The textile maquiladora in Honduras |author=Unidad de Apoyo Técnico (U.N.A.T.) |publisher=INCAE Business School |date=2002-11-06 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006103338/http://www.incae.edu/ES/clacds/publicaciones/pdf/cen1600.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Tegucigalpa MDC panoramic view.jpg|thumb|223x223px|Tegucigalpa is one of the cities with the biggest economic growth in Central America and the Caribbean]]
While [[Finance:Foreign direct investment|foreign investment]] manufacturers and exporters have focused on northern Honduras, the presence of multinational corporations is evident in Tegucigalpa. Popular [[Finance:Retail|retail]], restaurant, and hospitality American-branded [[Finance:Franchising|franchises]] prevail throughout the Honduran capital; such as [[Company:Walmart|Walmart]], [[Company:McDonald's|McDonald's]], and Marriott, among others. Companies from other countries such as Mexico, have also made their presence with arrivals like [[Company:Cinépolis|Cinépolis]] movie theaters, which opened in 2010 in Cascadas Mall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comunicacioncorporativa.net/newswire/?p=380 |title=Cinépolis arrives in Honduras |author=Margarita López |publisher=comunicacioncorporativa.net |date=2010-06-15 |access-date=2011-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425052055/http://www.comunicacioncorporativa.net/newswire/?p=380 |archive-date=2012-04-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Foreign real estate and property developers operate in the capital District as well, such as {{illm|Grupo Roble|es|Grupo Roble}} of the Multiplaza malls.

Tegucigalpa's economic challenges are tied to those of the rest of the country, such as overcoming [[Philosophy:Crime|crime]], anomalies in the judicial system, educational backwardness, and deficient infrastructure in order to continue to encourage foreign investors and permit growth of local entrepreneurs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://honduras.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/econ_ccg09.pdf |title=Doing Business in Honduras |author=Roy Alonso |publisher=United States Department of Commerce |date=2009-09-02 |access-date=2011-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227090057/http://honduras.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/econ_ccg09.pdf |archive-date=2012-02-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Government ==
[[File:Palacio José Cecilio del Valle.jpg|thumb|Honduran Presidential palace ]]
As capital of Honduras, as department head and as a municipality, the Central District seats three separate governments: national, departmental and municipal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Decen/Honduras/honduras.html |title=Spanish: Decentralization of government in Honduras |author=Melinda Joyce |publisher=Political Database of the Americas, Georgetown University |date=2005-04-15 |access-date=2011-09-25 |archive-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103125404/http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Decen/Honduras/honduras.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to 1991, the [[Earth:Central government|central government]] held great jurisdiction over the execution of city management across the country, leading to uneven representation and improper distribution of resources and governance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hcentroamerica.fcs.ucr.ac.cr/Contenidos/hca/cong/mesas/x_congreso/regional/municipalidad-honduras.pdf |title=Spanish: The Municipal Institution in Honduras, XVII-XX Centuries |author=Fanny Daniria Durón Canales |publisher=University of Costa Rica, Portal of Central American History |date=2010-07-13 |access-date=2011-09-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423114013/http://hcentroamerica.fcs.ucr.ac.cr/Contenidos/hca/cong/mesas/x_congreso/regional/municipalidad-honduras.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-23}}</ref> As a result, in late 1990 under Decree 134-90, the National Congress of Honduras enacted the Law of Municipalities (''Ley de Municipalidades''), defining the country's department and municipal institutions, representatives and their functions to give city government autonomy and decentralize it from the national government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conadeh.hn/MFI_web/pdfs/Leyes/5.%20LEY%20%20De%20MUNICIPALIDADES%20DECRETO%20134-90.pdf |title=Spanish: Decree # 134-90 Law of Municipalities |author=Honduras National Congress |publisher=La Gazeta, Official Paper of Honduras |date=1990-11-19 |access-date=2011-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903014212/http://www.conadeh.hn/MFI_web/pdfs/Leyes/5.%20LEY%20%20De%20MUNICIPALIDADES%20DECRETO%20134-90.pdf |archive-date=2010-09-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Centro civico Honduras.jpg|thumb|Civic center of Tegucigalpa ]]
While autonomous, the Central District is still influenced by the national government given the territory remains seat of government of the republic. Major changes in public policy and funding of major city projects usually reach the Office of the President prior to approval by the District's local government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conamype.gob.sv/biblio/pdf/0155.pdf |title=Decentralization and Municipal Government in Honduras |author1=Olivier T. Godichet |author2=José Rafael del Cid |author3=Zoran S. Trputec |publisher=FLACSO Programa El Salvador |date=September 1997 |access-date=2011-09-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203160307/http://www.conamype.gob.sv/biblio/pdf/0155.pdf |archive-date=2012-02-03}}</ref>

The government in Honduras is very unstable, the government has a very hard time providing the proper resources for citizens and forming their citizens in investing in medical equipment and education for medical professions in Honduras, they also have difficulties with controlling the criminals in cities and gangs that resulted in such high crime rates in the country.<ref name="pacificprime.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pacificprime.com/country/americas/honduras-health-insurance-pacific-prime-international/ |title=Honduras Health Insurance - Pacific Prime International |website=www.pacificprime.com |access-date=2016-11-14 |archive-date=15 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115132509/https://www.pacificprime.com/country/americas/honduras-health-insurance-pacific-prime-international/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=19281 |title=Honduras 2016 Crime & Safety Report |date=2016-03-14 |website=www.osac.gov |access-date=2016-11-14 |archive-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215132529/https://www.osac.gov/Pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=19281 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Central District ===
[[File:Tegucigalpa Skyline 2020s.jpg|thumb|225x225px|Central distric night skyline.]]
Legally and politically speaking, the capital of Honduras is the Municipality of the Central District ([[Social:Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Distrito Central or DC'') and Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela are two entities within the district. However, nearly all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, so for all practical purposes Tegucigalpa is the capital.<ref name="Official Capital"/> Traditionally, they are regarded as twin or sister cities in part because they were founded as two distinct cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2010/04/13/comayaguela/ |title=Spanish: History of Comayagüela |publisher=La Tribuna de Honduras |date=2010-04-13 |access-date=2010-09-28}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> When the Central District was formed on 30 January 1937 under Decree 53 of reformed Article 179 of the 1936 Honduran Constitution, both cities became one political entity sharing the title of ''Capital of Honduras''.<ref name="1937 Constitution"/>

The Constitution of Honduras, under Chapter 1, Article 8, states (translated), "The cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela, jointly, constitute the Capital of the Republic."<ref name="1982 Constitution"/> Furthermore, Chapter 11, Article 295, states (translated) "The Central District consists of a single municipality made up of the former municipalities of Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela";<ref name="1982 Constitution 2"/> however, municipalities in Honduras are defined as political entities similar to counties, and they may contain one or more cities. For example, in the Department of Atlántida, La Ceiba is the largest city—being also the third largest in Honduras—both in terms of population and metropolitan area;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geonames.org/HN/largest-cities-in-honduras.html |title=Largest cities in Honduras |author=Instituto Nacional de Estadistica de Honduras |publisher=geonames.org |date=2006-12-18 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-date=27 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527121404/http://www.geonames.org/HN/largest-cities-in-honduras.html |url-status=live }}</ref> however, Tela, one of the eight municipalities of Atlántida, is the biggest municipality in terms of physical administrative area in that department.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gifex.com/mapas_honduras/Mapa_Departamento_Atlantida_Honduras.htm |title=Department of Atlántida |author=Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Honduras |publisher=zonu.com |date=2009-05-13 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326031158/https://www.gifex.com/mapas_honduras/Mapa_Departamento_Atlantida_Honduras.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the Municipality of Tela is not considered the entire city of Tela, it is not bigger than La Ceiba.

There are an additional of 41 villages and 293 hamlets through the Central District Municipality.<ref name="Political Division"/> These may be assigned deputy mayors (''alcalde auxiliar'') to serve as local representatives.

===National and departmental governments===
[[File:US Embassy in Tegucigapa 2.jpg|thumb|right|United States Embassy on La Paz Avenue]]
Tegucigalpa is the political and administrative center of Honduras.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.honduras.com/honduras-constitution-english.html |title=Constitution of Honduras-Articles 8, 54, 189, 295, and 308 |author=National Constituent Assembly |publisher=honduras.com |date=2005-05-04 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-date=23 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923003637/http://www.honduras.com/honduras-constitution-english.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is also the seat of government of the Francisco Morazán department.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mipueblonatal.com/francisco_morazan_honduras.html |title=Spanish: Department of Francisco Morazán |publisher=MiPuebloNatal.com |date=2010-03-22 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-date=28 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828144535/http://www.mipueblonatal.com/francisco_morazan_honduras.html |url-status=live }}</ref> All three branches of the national government as well as their immediate divisions—including the 16 departments of the Executive Branch,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gob.hn/portal/poder_ejecutivo/ |title=Honduras Execute Branch Departments-locations |author=Government of Honduras |publisher=Official Honduras Government Portal |date=2001-02-11 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715195217/http://www.gob.hn/portal/poder_ejecutivo/ |archive-date=2010-07-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the National Congress,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gob.hn/portal/poder_legislativo/ |title=Honduras National Congress-location |author=Government of Honduras |publisher=Official Honduras Government Portal |date=2001-02-11 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715195242/http://www.gob.hn/portal/poder_legislativo/ |archive-date=2010-07-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the Supreme Court of Justice,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gob.hn/portal/poder_judicial/ |title=Honduras Supreme Court-location |author=Government of Honduras |publisher=Official Honduras Government Portal |date=2001-02-11 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715195319/http://www.gob.hn/portal/poder_judicial/ |archive-date=2010-07-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the Armed Forces and National Police headquarters—are located in the city. Most public agencies and state-owned companies are headquartered in the capital as well.<ref name="Government Offices"/>

===Local government===
City government takes the form of a mayor-council system and is regulated under the Law of Municipalities that came into effect on 1 January 1991. The Central District Municipal Government (''Alcaldía Municipal del Distrito Central'' or AMDC) is the city's governing authority. As established by city governing law, AMDC is structured as a [[Finance:Municipal corporation|municipal corporation]], which is the deliberative-legislative body, voter-elected, and highest authority within the municipality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/corporacion.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175556/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/corporacion.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-03-27 |title=Powers of the Municipal Corporation |author=Honduras National Congress |publisher=AMDC |date=1991-05-23 |access-date=2011-09-25}}</ref>

The Municipal Corporation is formed by a mayor serving as chief executive, general administrator and legal representative of the municipality<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/alcalde.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175600/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/alcalde.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-03-27 |title=Powers of the Central District Mayor |author=Honduras National Congress |publisher=AMDC |date=1991-05-23 |access-date=2011-09-25}}</ref> and a vice mayor to serve as acting mayor when required and to oversee functions within AMDC as instructed by the mayor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/vicealcalde.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175607/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/vicealcalde.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-03-27 |title=AMDC Vice Mayor |author=Honduras National Congress |publisher=AMDC |date=1991-05-23 |access-date=2011-09-25}}</ref>

Ten aldermen (''regidores'') are also members of the Municipal Corporation who along with the mayor execute the duties as described in the Law of Municipalities, including [[Social:Management|management]], budgeting, and local law and ordinance legislation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Tegucigalpa/Ediciones/2010/01/25/Noticias/Ocho-nuevos-rostros-en-la-Corporacion-Municipal |title=Spanish: Eight new faces in the Municipal Corporation |author=Nolvia Eguigure |publisher=El Heraldo de Honduras |date=2010-01-24 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430125731/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Tegucigalpa/Ediciones/2010/01/25/Noticias/Ocho-nuevos-rostros-en-la-Corporacion-Municipal |archive-date=2010-04-30 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

A [[Social:City manager|general manager]], appointed by the mayor, serves as chief [[Social:Comptroller|comptroller]] to manage city funds and their allocation. A municipal secretary, also appointed by the mayor, serves as the city clerk in charge of keeping record of all official proceedings. The Municipal Corporation also consults with a Municipal Development Council (''Consejo de Desarrollo Municipal''), which serves as an advising cabinet on all the areas of issues of the city such as human development, public safety, utilities, etc.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/consejo.php |title=Spanish: Duties of the Municipal Development Council |publisher=El Heraldo de Honduras |date=2009-12-01 |access-date=2011-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175743/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/consejo.php |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Current administration===
[[File:Government Civic Center Tegucigalpa.jpg|thumb|Government Civic Center housing the Supreme Court of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]
The mayor of the Central District is Jorge Aldana (LIBRE)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elheraldo.hn/tegucigalpa/asfura-en-toma-de-posesion-de-jorge-aldana-un-abrazo-con-mucho-carino-y-hay-mucho-trabajo-por-hacer-GA5200866 |title=Asfura en toma de posesión de Jorge Aldana: "Un abrazo con mucho cariño" y hay "mucho trabajo" por hacer |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 January 2022 |website=El Heraldo |publisher= |access-date=21 February 2022 |quote=Haciendo un llamado a la tranquilidad en aras del bienestar del pueblo hondureño y enviando un abrazo fraterno a Jorge Aldana, el alcalde saliente Nasry 'Tito' Asfura llegó este martes a la toma de posesión de su sucesor en el centro de la capital. |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221213957/https://www.elheraldo.hn/tegucigalpa/asfura-en-toma-de-posesion-de-jorge-aldana-un-abrazo-con-mucho-carino-y-hay-mucho-trabajo-por-hacer-GA5200866 |url-status=live }}</ref> who is serving his first term (2022–2026) after being elected in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elheraldo.hn/especiales/eleccioneshonduras/jorge-aldana-fin-bipartidismo-alcaldia-capital-distrito-central-honduras-FYEH1504717 |title=Jorge Aldana derrumba el bipartidismo en la administración de la capital |last=Marín García |first=Robert |date=30 November 2021 |website=El Heraldo |publisher= |access-date=21 February 2022 |quote=Hasta la noche de este lunes, según los conteos del Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE), Aldana, candidato del partido Libertad y Refundación (Libre) obtenía 141,806 votos, equivalentes al 48.29 % del total de 308,601 votos procesados; mientras que su más próximo seguidor el nacionalista David Chávez sacaba 95,795 sufragios, que representan el 32.62%. |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221213959/https://www.elheraldo.hn/especiales/eleccioneshonduras/jorge-aldana-fin-bipartidismo-alcaldia-capital-distrito-central-honduras-FYEH1504717 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is the ninth person to serve as mayor of the Central District since local elections were restored in 1986 (prior to 1986, the Central District local government, known as ''Consejo Metropolitano'' (Metropolitan Council), was appointed by the President); and this is the tenth elected mayoral term since then as well as the first elected mayor not to belong to the National Party since 1997.

Of the 10 aldermen serving, six are men and four are women. Five belong to LIBRE while another four belong to the National Party and one alderman belongs to the Christian Democratic Party.

Both the city mayor and aldermen are elected to 4-year terms by voters of the Central District. Removal of the mayor or any alderman for any cause is reserved to the Ministry of the Interior, Justice and Decentralization (''Secretaría de Gobernación, Justicia y Descentralización'').<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sgjd.gob.hn/quienes-somos/informacion-institucional/competencias |title=Competencias |author=Secretaría de Gobernación, Justicia y Descentralización |publisher= |date=1 February 2020 |access-date=24 February 2022 |archive-date=23 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223223234/https://www.sgjd.gob.hn/quienes-somos/informacion-institucional/competencias |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Law enforcement===
Law enforcement in the city is the responsibility of the National Police of Honduras, the nationwide police force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cohep.com/pdf/LEY%20ORGANICA%20POLICIA%20NAC%20%20DECRETO%2067-2008.pdf |title=Spanish: Organic Law of the National Police |author=Honduras National Congress |publisher=Central District Mayor's Office |date=2008-10-31 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316214640/http://www.cohep.com/pdf/LEY%20ORGANICA%20POLICIA%20NAC%20%20DECRETO%2067-2008.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-16 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/Ley%20de%20Policia%20y%20Convivencia%20social.pdf |title=Spanish: Law of the Police and Social Coexistence |author=Government of Honduras |publisher=Central District Mayor's Office |date=2003-05-10 |access-date=2010-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175946/http://www.capital450.hn/transparencia/documentos/Ley%20de%20Policia%20y%20Convivencia%20social.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The National Police maintains its headquarters in the Central District in Colonia Casamata. The Metropolitan Police Headquarters No. 1 (''Jefatura Metropolitana No. 1'') is the police department in charge of law and order in the city. It operates seven police districts throughout the metropolitan area. These are Police District 1-1 ''El Edén'', Police District 1–2 ''El Mandén'', Police District 1–3 ''San Miguel'', Police District 1–4 ''Kennedy'', Police District 1–5 ''El Belén'', Police District 1–6 ''La Granja'' and Police District 1–7 ''San Francisco''. For 2011, the Secretary of Security designated L.2.162 billion (US$114.283 million) to law enforcement and criminal investigation in the Central District.

As established by the Law on Police and Social Coexistence (''Ley de Policía y Convivencia Social''), municipalities can fund their own municipal police (''Policía Municipal'') and the Central District operates a Municipal Police force of 160 officers. The Municipal Department of Justice (''Departamento Municipal de Justicia'') through its Municipal Police Court (''Juzgado de Policía Municipal'') enforces and prosecutes local law offenses.

The Public Ministry (''Ministerio Público'') is the district attorney with nationwide jurisdiction in charge of prosecuting crimes on behalf of the people. It is also headquartered in the Central District and maintains regional prosecution offices throughout the country. The Attorney General of the Republic (''Procuraduría General de la República'') is the country's chief legal representative and prosecutes crimes on behalf of [[Earth:Sovereign state|the state]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aiamp.net/sistema/UserFiles/File/MP_Honduras_AIAMP.pdf |title=Spanish: Attorney General of Honduras |author=Government of Honduras |publisher=Asociación Iberoamericana de Ministerios Públicos |date=2008-11-25 |access-date=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326155636/http://www.aiamp.net/sistema/UserFiles/File/MP_Honduras_AIAMP.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Education ==
[[File:UNAH Tegucigalpa.jpg|thumb|Campus of [[Organization:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras|Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras]] (UNAH)]]
[[File:UNICAH Tegucigalpa.jpg|thumb|right|''Jesus' Sacred Heart'' campus in Comayagüela of the Catholic University of Honduras (UNICAH)]]
Tegucigalpa serves as the national education center, hosting most of the universities and higher education institutions in the country. For 2011, the national government allocated L. 9.175 billion (US$484.9 million) of the national public education budget (equal to 42.1 percent of total) to the Central District.

The public and private education system in Tegucigalpa is divided into 16 school districts (''distritales'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://190.5.81.199/SEE/busqueda.php?pagina=1&nombre_centro=&codigo=&boleta=&depto=8&munic=110&admin=&tipo=&zona=&pais=&docentes=&pueblo=&filtrar=Buscar+Centros |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425002605/http://190.5.81.199/SEE/busqueda.php?pagina=1&nombre_centro=&codigo=&boleta=&depto=8&munic=110&admin=&tipo=&zona=&pais=&docentes=&pueblo=&filtrar=Buscar+Centros |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-04-25 |title=''Spanish:'' Educational Statistics System |author=Honduras Secretary of Education (SE) |publisher=se.gob.hn |date=2011-09-28 |access-date=2011-09-28}}</ref> All districts are part of the Departmental Directorate of Education (''Dirección Departamental de Educación''), which in turn is a part of the country's Secretary of Education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.se.gob.hn/index.php?a=Webpage&url=estructura |title=''Spanish:'' Secretary of Education Management Chart |author=Honduras Secretary of Education (SE) |publisher=se.gob.hn |date=2004-01-17 |access-date=2011-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009172241/http://www.se.gob.hn/index.php?a=Webpage&url=estructura |archive-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

There are 1,235 public schools in the Central District broken down as 488 preschools, 563 elementary schools, and 184 [[Social:Middle school|middle]] and high schools. In 2003, there were a total of 287,517 students enrolled throughout the municipality—28,915 in preschool, 159,679 in elementary school, and 98,923 in middle or high school.<ref name="Education"/>
The literacy rate, {{as of|2011|lc=y}}, is at 80%.

=== Private schools ===

There are about 147 bilingual schools in Tegucigalpa.<ref>Jerez, Blanca. ''Lista de Escuelas Bilingüe en el Distrital # 16''. Tegucigalpa: Sistema de Estadística Educativa, 2010, Distrital # 16.</ref> The American School of Tegucigalpa (K–12), Discovery School (K–12), DelCampo International School (K–12), La Estancia School (K–11) and International School of Tegucigalpa (K–12, Christian) are considered the most expensive private schools of the city. Total K–12 tuition of The American School of Tegucigalpa costs a total of L.1.366 million (US$72,248) for all years (amount based on 10–11 academic year). These private schools are highly recognized by American institutions such as the [[Organization:Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] (SACS-CASI) and the American School of Tegucigalpa is the only one that has the International Baccalaureate (IB Program). Most of their students study abroad. Other popular private/bilingual schools include Elvel School (K–11), Dowal School (K–11, secular), La Estancia School (K–11), England School (K–11), Shadai School (K–11, Christian), Lycée Franco-Hondurien (K–12, French), Magic Castle Preschool (K), Summer-Hill School (K–11), Macris School (E-HS, Catholic), and ABC Educational Center (N-8avo, Christian).

There are two modalities in regards to the school calendar: American Period (August to July), mostly used by private and bilingual schools; and Latin Period (February to November), used by public schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.se.gob.hn/index.php?a=Webpage&url=calendario |title=''Spanish:'' Secretary of Education School Calendars |author=Honduras Secretary of Education (SE) |publisher=se.gob.hn |date=2004-01-17 |access-date=2011-07-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009021656/http://www.se.gob.hn/index.php?a=Webpage&url=calendario |archive-date=2011-10-09}}</ref>

=== Universities ===
There are 12 universities in Tegucigalpa, including three state-funded higher education institutions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.altillo.com/en/universities/universities_honduras.asp |title=Universities in Honduras |author=Honduras Secretary of Education |publisher=altillo.com |date=2010-07-06 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811132657/http://www.altillo.com/en/universities/universities_honduras.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

The National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), founded in 1847, is the country's most important university and operates eight regional campuses in several other cities in the country: UNAH-Valle de Sula, UNAH-La Ceiba, UNAH-Comayagua, UNAH-Copán, UNAH-Choluteca, UNAH-Juticalpa, UNAH-Valle del Aguán, and University Technological Center UNAH–Danlí.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unah.edu.hn/?cat=1013 |title=''Spanish:'' UNAH-Introduction |author=Rectoría y Comisión de Transición |publisher=UNAH.edu.hn |date=2008-02-20 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=26 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026220651/https://www.unah.edu.hn/?cat=1013 |url-status=live }}</ref> It employs 4,980 people throughout its campuses at an average annual salary of L.241,184 (US$12,747).

The other two publicly funded institutions are Francisco Morazán National Pedagogic University (UPNFM), founded in 1989, focusing on preparing future educators in several disciplines,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.upnfm.edu.hn/ |title=''Spanish:'' UPHFM Official Website |author=UPNFM |publisher=upnfm.edu.hn |date=2011-09-24 |access-date=2011-09-25 |archive-date=1 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101043518/http://upnfm.edu.hn/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the National Institute of Professional Formation (INFOP), founded in 1972, focusing on economic and social development disciplines. The National University of Agriculture (UNA), founded in 1950, also state-funded and located in Catacamas, Olancho, maintains a liaison office in Tegucigalpa.

There are 10 private universities in Tegucigalpa:
{|
|-
|valign="top"|
* Pan-American Agricultural School (Zamorano), located in Zamorano valley, {{convert|30|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} east of the city, founded in 1941;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zamorano.edu/conozca-zamorano/about-us/history-legacy/ |title=''Spanish:'' Zamorano University-History and Legacy |publisher=zamorano.edu |date=2011-03-07 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714065823/http://www.zamorano.edu/conozca-zamorano/about-us/history-legacy/ |archive-date=2011-07-14 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Organization:Central American Technological University|Central American Technological University]] (UNITEC), founded in 1987 in Jacaleapa,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unitec.edu/acerca/mensaje-del-rector/ |title=''Spanish:'' UNITEC-Message of the Rector |author=Luis Zelaya Medrano, Rector |publisher=UNITEC.edu |date=2011-06-21 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628011917/http://www.unitec.edu/acerca/mensaje-del-rector/ |archive-date=2011-06-28 |url-status=dead}}</ref> member of Laureate International Universities;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laureate.net/OurNetwork.aspx |title=Laureate International Universities-Locations |author=Laurete Education, Inc. |publisher=laureate.net |date=2010-07-12 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=14 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714013454/http://www.laureate.net/OurNetwork.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Organization:Universidad José Cecilio del Valle|José Cecilio del Valle University]] (UJCV), founded in 1979;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ujcv.edu.hn/bienvenida.htm |title=''Spanish:'' José Cecilio del Valle University-Welcome |author=Carlos Ávila Molina, Rector |publisher=UJCV.edu.hn |date=2008-09-10 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723111943/http://www.ujcv.edu.hn/bienvenida.htm |archive-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Organization:Universidad Tecnológica de Honduras|Technological University of Honduras]] (UTH), founded in 1986;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uth.hn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6:bienvenida-del-presidente&catid=3&Itemid=16 |title=''Spanish:'' UTH-Welcome |author=Don Roger Valladares, President |publisher=UTH.hn |date=2001-01-31 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-date=4 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004200400/http://www.uth.hn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6:bienvenida-del-presidente&catid=3&Itemid=16 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Organization:Universidad Católica de Honduras|Catholic University of Honduras]] (UNICAH), founded by the [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]] in 1992;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unicah.edu/?ver=Nosotros&sub=Historia |title=''Spanish:'' UNICAH-History |author=Catholic University of Honduras |publisher=UNICAH.edu |date=2011-07-15 |access-date=2011-07-16 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720093307/http://www.unicah.edu/?ver=Nosotros&sub=Historia |url-status=live }}</ref>
|valign="top"|
* Center of Design, Architecture, and Construction (CEDAC), founded in 1996;
* Metropolitan University of Honduras (UMH), founded in 2001;
* Evangelical Christian New Millennium University (UCENM-Tegucigalpa Campus), founded in 2001;
* Polytechnic University of Honduras (UPH), founded in 2006;
* Polytechnic University of Engineering (UPI), founded in 2007.
|}

There are also two higher education centers: the Technological University Center (CEUTEC), part of UNITEC; and Guaymura University Center (CUG), founded in 1982.

== Sport ==
[[File:Estadio Chelato Uclés.jpg|thumb|Chelato Uclés Football Stadium]]
[[File:Chochi Sosa Baseball stadium Tegucigalpa..jpg|thumb|Chochi Sosa Baseball Stadium]]
*C.D. Dinamo Español, Honduran football club 
*C.D. Olimpia 
*F.C. Motagua 

== Transportation ==
[[File:AnilloPerifericoTegucigalpa.jpg|thumb|right|Southbound view of Anillo Periférico (beltway) at the María Pediatric Hospital exit]]
[[File:Ring road Tegucigalpa Honduras.jpg|thumb|left|Rush hour on Central America Blvd as viewed northbound from the Plaza Miraflores pedestrian bridge]]
All ''barrios'' and ''colonias'' in Tegucigalpa can be accessed by automobile, although some neighborhoods in the city suffer from unpaved, narrow, or hilly streets making them difficult to maneuver.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2010/05/18/las-calles-tegucigalpenses/ |title=''Spanish:'' The streets of Tegucigalpa |author=La Tribuna writer |publisher=laTribuna.hn |date=2010-05-18 |access-date=2011-09-28}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A grid of surface streets and a network of major avenues and boulevards cross through the major areas of the capital. However, the most transited roads suffer from heavy traffic congestion due to the region's geography and disorganized urbanization.

An estimate of 400,000 vehicles take on the city streets and roads every day. The oldest districts were not built with the advent of the automobile in mind and therefore lack efficient roadways to accommodate the overwhelming number of vehicles. Newer developments, such as the malls, have been built with the car in mind allowing for large parking lots to accommodate their visitors. In the last decades, several of the boulevards and avenues have been retrofitted with grade separations to ease up the flow of traffic.

===Roads and highways===
[[File:Central District Map 2.png|thumb|right|Map showing the network of roads and highways throughout the Central District and its borders]]
The Secretariat of Public Works, Transport and Housing (Honduras) (SOPTRAVI) presently divides the country's highway network into international routes (''ruta internacional''), national routes (''ruta nacional''), and provincial routes (''ruta vecinal''). These are assigned numbers; however, they are more often identified using their physical destinations (e.g. Tegucigalpa-Danlí highway) rather the number itself since road signage is scarce.

International routes are given a "CA-" [[Road designation or abbreviation|designation]] followed by a [[Route number|highway number]] (i.e. CA-1) that can be of one or two digits enclosed in a highway shield. "CA-" highways are part of the Central American highway network (hence the "CA" letters) that interconnects Honduras with its neighboring countries as part of the Pan-American Highway. National highways are assigned a two or three-digit number and provincial routes are assigned a three-digit number.

====Arterial roads====
[[File:AnilloPerifericoOverpass.jpg|thumb|left|Anillo Periférico (beltway) at the Suyapa Boulevard overpass near Basilica of Suyapa]]
[[File:Boulevard Fuerzas Armadas Tegus.jpg|thumb|right|Heading westbound on Armed Forces Blvd near the Metro Mall interchange]]
The ''Anillo Periférico'' (beltway or ring road) and ''Boulevard Fuerzas Armadas'' (Armed Forces Blvd) are the city's two expressways—equipped with center dividers, interchanges, overpasses and underpasses—allowing for controlled-access traffic. These connect with the city's other major boulevards: Central America Blvd, Suyapa Blvd, European Community Blvd, and Kuwait Blvd—which are essentially limited-access roadways as they have been equipped with interchanges but may lack underpasses or overpasses to bypass crossing surface road traffic.

Despite a network of major highways, none reach directly into the historic downtown, forcing drivers to rely heavily on surface streets. Like in most Central American cities, orientation and driving may be difficult to first-time visitors due to the nature of how streets are named, insufficient road signage and the natives' driving behavior.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Tegucigalpa.htm |title=Satellite View and Map of the City of Tegucigalpa (Tegus) |author=One World – Nations Online |publisher=nationsonline.org |date=2007-06-13 |access-date=2010-07-23 |archive-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813095708/http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Tegucigalpa.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The city administration has green lit several road infrastructure projects to help reduce traffic congestion and improve the overall aspect of the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hondudiario.com/content/alcald%C3%AD-habilita-un-carril-del-paso-desnivel-en-la-hacienda |title=Spanish: Mayor opens one lane at La Hacienda and Suyapa intercharge |author=Issis Ochoa |publisher=hondudiario.com |date=2011-10-04 |access-date=2011-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026080541/http://www.hondudiario.com/content/alcald%C3%AD-habilita-un-carril-del-paso-desnivel-en-la-hacienda |archive-date=2011-10-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

List of major thoroughfares in the Central District, including [[Engineering:Urban area|urban core]] arteries and [[Earth:Rural–urban fringe|outskirt]] roads:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
'''International highways'''
*CA-5 Northern stretch
*CA-5 Southern stretch
*CA-6

{{col-break}}
'''National highways'''
*15
*25
*33
*64
*79

{{col-break}}
'''Rural highways'''
*717
*782
*816
*853
*873
*880

{{col-break}}
'''City highways'''
*Anillo Periférico
*Blvd Fuerzas Armadas
*Blvd Centro América
*Blvd Suyapa
*Blvd Juan Pablo II
*Blvd Kuwait
*Blvd Comunidad Europea

{{col-break}}
'''Major roads and streets'''
*Ave Los Próceres/Ave La Paz
*Blvd Morazán
*Blvd Norte
*Carretera Lepaterique/Carretera al Batallón
*Carretera a Col. Country Club
*Carretera a Col. Valle Los Laureles
{{col-end}}

===Public transportation===
Public transportation in Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela is based on buses and taxis, covering 71 percent of the capital's road migration. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Bus routes are named based on the neighborhood they cover. For example, routes that travel from the downtown area to UNAH are labeled ''Centro-UNAH'' or ''Centro-Multiplaza-UNAH''. Taxis are the quickest way to move around the city after personal auto transportation. Taxis are relatively cheap for the international tourist.{{cn|date=June 2022}} They are not the cheapest form of public transportation for the locals, however. There are over 12,000 taxis in the Central District. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

The public transportation system in Tegucigalpa is, however, highly disorganized.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2010/10/02/Noticias/Ordenar-transporte-publico-es-solucion-al-trafico-vial |title=Organizing public transport is the solution to traffic congestion |author=Karla Gómez |publisher=ElHeraldo.hn |date=2010-10-01 |access-date=2011-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204092111/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2010/10/02/Noticias/Ordenar-transporte-publico-es-solucion-al-trafico-vial |archive-date=2015-02-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Being a for-profit business, it encourages competition between the fleet owners where revenue is the priority while ignoring the quality and efficiency of the service. Public transportation regulation is very flawed. Bus drivers must compete for passengers in order to bring the highest earnings possible while becoming a hazard for other drivers and pedestrians and contributing to traffic jams.<ref name="public transport">{{cite web |url=http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=35490469 |title=Central District Public Transportation Project |author=Miroslava de Nevo, Project Team Leader; Vera Lucía Vicentini, Alejandro Taddia, Carlos Mojica, and Caterina Vecco (INE/TSP); Trinidad Zamora (TSP/CHO); Irma Liliam Castillo, Xiomara Hernández, and Fabio Gordillo (consultants); Miguel Orellana (PDP/CHO); and Juan Carlos Pérez Segnini (LEG/SGO). |publisher=Inter-American Development Bank |date=2010-11-08 |access-date=2011-07-16 |archive-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930133638/http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=35490469 |url-status=live }}</ref> There is an overflow of public transportation vehicles on the roads.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2010/09/23/Noticias/Buses-y-taxis-causan-caos-vial-en-Tegucigalpa |title=''Spanish:'' Buses and taxis create road chaos in Tegucigalpa |publisher=elHeraldo.hn |date=2010-09-23 |access-date=2011-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929172330/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2010/09/23/Noticias/Buses-y-taxis-causan-caos-vial-en-Tegucigalpa |archive-date=2010-09-29 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The government has declared its public transportation system to be oversupplied and inefficient.<ref name="public transport"/>

There is a project under construction to give the public transportation system an upgrade with the addition of a bus rapid transit fleet. In late May 2011, the National Congress approved the project under a new law as part of the financing deal with the Inter-American Development Bank (IAB).{{cn|date=June 2022}} The BRT system will be solely managed by the Central District government.

===National and international ground transportation===
Tegucigalpa is connected with the rest of the country through its city to city bus services. There are several bus lines connecting the capital with the rest of Honduras.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/tegucigalpa/transport/getting-there-away |title=Getting there & away |author=BBC Worldwide-Lonely Planet |publisher=lonelyplanet.com |date=2010-08-23 |access-date=2011-07-16 |archive-date=11 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111154149/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/tegucigalpa/transport/getting-there-away |url-status=live }}</ref> There is no central bus terminal in the city; in turn, there are several bus stations scattered throughout the city, particularly in Comayagüela, and some of these stations are operated directly by the bus company serving from there. Tegucigalpa is connected with the rest of Central America and Mexico through its international bus lines. Buses leave for Guatemala, El Salvador,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pullmantur.com/itinerarios.html |title=''Spanish:'' Tegucigalpa to Guatemala and El Salvador |author=Pullmantur, S.A. de C.V. |publisher=pullmantur.com/ |date=2009-09-11 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821160244/http://www.pullmantur.com/itinerarios.html |archive-date=2011-08-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico every day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ticabus.com/rutas_horarios_hodu_teguci.html |title=''Spanish:'' International Destinations from Tegucigalpa |author=Transportes Internacionales Centroamericanos (Ticabus) |publisher=ticabus.com |date=2003-08-27 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704135642/http://www.ticabus.com/rutas_horarios_hodu_teguci.html |archive-date=2011-07-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.king-qualityca.com/main_frames/main_tardes/honduras/tapachula.html |title=''Spanish:'' Tegucigalpa to Tapachula, Mexico |author=King Quality Corporation |publisher=king-qualityca.com |date=2008-09-28 |access-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327174934/http://www.king-qualityca.com/main_frames/main_tardes/honduras/tapachula.html |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Air transportation ===
[[File:Aerial view of Tegucigalpa 2008-12-14 02.jpg|thumb|View from aircraft as it banks sharply to align with runway on final approach. Las Hadas residential neighborhood lies below.]]
[[File:757landing-toncontin.jpg|thumb|An American Airlines Boeing 757 landing at Toncontín International Airport]]
Toncontín International Airport (IATA: '''TGU''', ICAO: '''MHTG''') formerly served as the main airport in and out of Tegucigalpa. The airport was frequently criticized as being dangerous due to its location next to a [[Earth:Mountain range|sierra]], short runway, and difficult approach. Large commercial jets are required to execute a tight hairpin left turn at very low altitude to land on the short runway. International airline pilots flying into Toncontín receive additional training for the Toncontín approach.

Toncontín was improved by the work of the Airport Corporation of Tegucigalpa (CAT), which is owned by TACA of El Salvador. It is managed by InterAirports, the company hired by the government of Honduras to manage the four airports in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interairports.hn/ |title=''Spanish:'' Airports of Honduras |author=Interairports, S.A. |publisher=InterAirports.hn |date=2007-05-13 |access-date=2011-07-16 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721094752/http://www.interairports.hn/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

After years of efforts to replace Toncontín International with an airport at Palmerola in Comayagua where the Soto Cano Air Base is located,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2011/04/09/%E2%80%9Calza-vuelo%E2%80%9D-en-septiembre-inicia-construccion-de-palmerola/ |title=''Spanish:'' Construction of Palmerola will start in September |publisher=laTribuna.com |date=2011-04-09 |access-date=2011-08-28}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Comayagua International Airport finally opened on 15 October 2021. All international flights are expected to move there, leaving Toncontín with only domestic flights.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
Tegucigalpa is twinned with:
{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|BRA}} Belo Horizonte, Brazil<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gflsci.org/Belo_Horizonte_Brazil.html |title=Sister cities of Belo Horizonte |author=Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International |publisher=gflsci.org |date=2007-05-04 |access-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726081300/http://www.gflsci.org/Belo_Horizonte_Brazil.html |archive-date=2011-07-26}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} New Orleans, United States<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nola.gov/PRESS/City-Of-New-Orleans/All-Articles/NEW-ORLEANS-MOSQUITO-CONTROL-BOARD-DIRECTOR-TO-TRAVEL-TO-HONDURAS-TO-ASSIST-WITH-DENGUE-FEVER |title=Tegucigalpa...and New Orleans have an existing sister city partnership |author=City of New Orleans Mayor's Press Office |publisher=nola.gov |date=2010-07-22 |access-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102133247/http://www.nola.gov/PRESS/City-Of-New-Orleans/All-Articles/NEW-ORLEANS-MOSQUITO-CONTROL-BOARD-DIRECTOR-TO-TRAVEL-TO-HONDURAS-TO-ASSIST-WITH-DENGUE-FEVER |archive-date=2011-11-02}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|MEX}} Guadalajara, Mexico<ref name="Guadalajara sisters">{{cite web |url=http://www.guadalajara.gob.mx/dependencias/relacionespublicas/versioningles/sistercities.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302011742/http://www.guadalajara.gob.mx/dependencias/relacionespublicas/versioningles/sistercities.html |archive-date=March 2, 2012 |title=Sister Cities, Public Relations |publisher=Guadalajara municipal government |access-date=March 12, 2013}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Place:Lima|Lima]], Peru
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Place:Madrid|Madrid]], Spain<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/El-Ayuntamiento/Deportes/Mapa-Mundi-de-las-ciudades-hermanadas?vgnextfmt=especial1&vgnextoid=4e84399a03003110VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=cb1a171c30036010VgnVCM100000dc0ca8c0RCRD&idContenido=7b9b7aefd9b5b010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&rmEspecial=a70858fe026de11058fe026de1100c205a0aRCRD&rmCapitulo=a02858fe026de11058fe026de1100c205a0aRCRD |title=Sister cities of Madrid |author=Madrid City Government |publisher=madrid.es |date=2009-10-18 |access-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322134421/http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/El-Ayuntamiento/Deportes/Mapa-Mundi-de-las-ciudades-hermanadas?vgnextfmt=especial1&vgnextoid=4e84399a03003110VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=cb1a171c30036010VgnVCM100000dc0ca8c0RCRD&idContenido=7b9b7aefd9b5b010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&rmEspecial=a70858fe026de11058fe026de1100c205a0aRCRD&rmCapitulo=a02858fe026de11058fe026de1100c205a0aRCRD |archive-date=2012-03-22}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ECU}} [[Place:Quito|Quito]], Ecuador<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.elheraldo.hn/14650/show/8a7301d292ee0a26675d4199e2bfcfa4&t=05b7274eb69c91427ed9ee0ac3b0de14 |title=''Spanish:'' Tegucigalpa and Quito are now sister cities |publisher=ElHeraldo.hn |date=2010-10-14 |access-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920113329/http://m.elheraldo.hn/14650/show/8a7301d292ee0a26675d4199e2bfcfa4%26t%3D05b7274eb69c91427ed9ee0ac3b0de14 |archive-date=2014-09-20}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ROC}} [[Place:Taipei|Taipei]], Taiwan<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tcc.gov.tw/eng/sister_cities.htm |title=Sister cities of Taipei |author=Taipei City Government |publisher=tcc.gov.tw |date=1999-09-21 |access-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520154141/http://www.tcc.gov.tw/eng/sister_cities.htm |archive-date=2011-05-20}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Place:Amman|Amman]], Jordan
||
*{{flagicon|COL}} [[Place:Bogotá|Bogotá]], Colombia
*{{flagicon|VEN}} [[Place:Caracas|Caracas]], Venezuela
*{{flagicon|NIC}} [[Place:Managua|Managua]], Nicaragua
*{{flagicon|GUA}} [[Place:Guatemala City|Guatemala City]], Guatemala
*{{flagicon|BOL}} [[Place:La Paz|La Paz]], Bolivia
*{{flagicon|IDN}} Banjarbaru, Indonesia
*{{flagicon|IDN}} Palu, Indonesia
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Place:Seoul|Seoul]], South Korea
|}
{{wide image|Tegucigalpa 2.jpg|1000px|alt=Tegucigalpa viewed from El Picacho-United Nations Park|Tegucigalpa viewed from El Picacho-United Nations Park}}

==Notable people==

==See also==

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

=== Definitions ===
{{Refbegin}}
{{note|tegus|[a]}}'''Tegucigalpa''' refers to the urban area formed east of the Choluteca River when distinguished from Comayagüela. When broadly speaking to refer to the capital of the country, it includes Comayagüela and vice versa.

{{note|comayagüela|[b]}}'''Comayagüela''' refers to the urban area formed west of the Choluteca River. Once a city of its own, it was incorporated as part of Tegucigalpa on September 28, 1890.

{{note|cd|[c]}}'''Central District''' refers to the entire municipality containing both Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela. As established by the Constitution of Honduras, it serves as national capital and therefore its limits as government seat are not reduced to the urban area formed by Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela but extend to the entire municipality; in turn, the Central District as a whole, is the capital of Honduras.

The Central District is not a [[Social:Federal district|federal district]] since it is not an entity outside the departments of Honduras (e.g. [[Place:Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]], [[Place:Mexico City|Mexico City]]); it is one of the municipalities making up the Department of Francisco Morazán.
{{refend}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Miroslava de Nevo, Project Team Leader; Vera Lucía Vicentini, Alejandro Taddia, Carlos Mojica, and Caterina Vecco (INE/TSP); Trinidad Zamora (TSP/CHO); Irma Liliam Castillo, Xiomara Hernández, and Fabio Gordillo (consultants); Miguel Orellana (PDP/CHO); and Juan Carlos Pérez Segnini (LEG/SGO) (2010), [http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=35490469 ''Central District Public Transportation Project (Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela)''], Inter-American Development Bank – Assessment of the Central District's current public transportation situation and proposal for improvement.
*Olivier T. Godichet, José Rafael del Cid, Zoran S. Trputec (1997) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120203160307/http://www.conamype.gob.sv/biblio/pdf/0155.pdf ''Decentralization and Municipal Government in Honduras''] (in Spanish) Latin American School of Social Sciences (FLACSO) – Analysis of Honduras's municipal governments.
* Shlomo Angel with Katherine Bartley, Mary Derr, Anshuman Malur, James Mejía, Pallavi Nuka, Micah Perlin, Sanjiv Sahai, Michael Torrens, and Manett Vargas (2004) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100623215302/http://wws.princeton.edu/research/final_reports/wws591g_f03.pdf Rapid Urbanization in Tegucigalpa, Honduras] Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, [[Organization:Princeton University|Princeton University]] – Assessment of Tegucigalpa's current urban situation and future projections.
* Observatorio de la Violencia (2010) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120425230511/http://iudpas.org/pdfs/Mortalidad%20Local%20Ed%2010.pdf ''Observatory on Violence in the Central District''] [http://iudpas.org/ Instituto Universitario en Democracia, Paz y Seguridad] (IUDPAS) – UNAH Crime Report on the Central District during 2009.

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{EB1911 Poster|Tegucigalpa}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080911172930/http://www.gob.hn/ Official Portal of the Government of Honduras]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150801183918/http://lacapitaldehonduras.hn/ Official Portal of the Government of Tegucigalpa]
* [http://www.infohn.com/tegucigalpa/index.html Interactive map of Tegucigalpa] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034755/http://www.infohn.com/tegucigalpa/index.html |date=24 September 2015 }}


[[Category:Capitals in North America]]

{{Sourceattribution|Tegucigalpa}}