Honduras national census faces delays amid citizen distrust

The national population census in Honduras is facing significant delays and low participation rates. Nearly three months after the operation began on August 10, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) has recorded only 3,237,148 people, a figure significantly lower than the estimated population of 10 million.

Government advisor Leonel Núñez reported that between 19% and 20% of the population has reportedly refused to participate. Núñez attributed this resistance, in part, to messages from certain mayors and council members of the Libertad y Refundación (Libre) party intended to discourage participation.

While the original plan involved a one-month data collection period followed by follow-up visits, the operation may now extend until December. Former INE director Eugenio Sosa has called for greater transparency regarding the number of households remaining and the use of allocated economic resources. Experts have expressed concern over whether the census will reach the 95% coverage threshold required for representative demographic and socioeconomic data.