Belize Population: 334,297
73 VISITORS FROM HERE!«  Previous Country | Next Country  » Back to Flag Counter Overview |  |
| Background | |
| Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992 and the two countries are involved in an ongoing border dispute. Guatemala and Belize plan to hold a simultaneous referendum, set for 6 October 2013, to determine if this dispute will go before the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high unemployment, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, high crime rates, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America. |
 |
| |
| Geography | |
| Only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean | |
| Location: | Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico |
| Geographic coordinates: | 17 15 N, 88 45 W |
| Area: | total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km Size comparison: slightly smaller than Massachusetts |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km |
| Coastline: | 386 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) |
| Terrain: | flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m |
| Natural resources: | arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower |
| Land use: | arable land: 3.05% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 95.56% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 40 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) |
| Current Environment Issues: | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| ^Back to Top | |
| People | |
| Population: | 334,297 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 35.8% (male 61,118/female 58,665) 15-24 years: 21.1% (male 35,912/female 34,596) 25-54 years: 35.1% (male 59,196/female 58,024) 55-64 years: 4.4% (male 7,374/female 7,407) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 5,677/female 6,328) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 21.3 years male: 21.1 years female: 21.5 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.011% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 26.02 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 21.37 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 68.28 years male: 66.61 years female: 70.04 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.08 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 2.3% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 4,800 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 500 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean |
| Ethnic groups: | mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% (2000 census) |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 39.3%, Pentacostal 8.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.3%, Anglican 4.5%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.5%, Methodist 2.8%, Nazarene 2.8%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.6%, other 9.9% (includes Bahai Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Mormon), other (unknown) 3.1%, none 15.2% (2010 census) |
| Languages: | Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.9% male: 76.7% female: 77.1% (2000 census) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras |
| Government type: | parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm |
| Capital: | name: Belmopan geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo |
| Independence: | 21 September 1981 (from the UK) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 21 September (1981) |
| Constitution: | 21 September 1981 |
| Legal system: | English common law |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Dean Oliver BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from the General Assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held on 8 March 2012 (next to be held in 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 50.4%, PUP 47.5%, other 2.8%; seats by party - UDP 17, PUP 14 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ); Summary Jurisdiction Courts (criminal) and District Courts (civil jurisdiction) |
| Political parties and leaders: | National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [John BRICENO]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito BAUTISTA] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Nicole HAYLOCK]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene GOMEZ] |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Vinai THUMMALAPALLY embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize telephone: [501] 822-4011 FAX: [501] 822-4012 |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Economy | |
| Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner in this small economy, followed by exports of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered this growth. Exploration efforts have continued and production has increased a small amount. Growth slipped to 0% in 2009, and has remained at just over 2% per year during 2010-12, as a result of the global slowdown, natural disasters, and a temporary drop in the price of oil. With weak economic growth and a large public debt burden, fiscal spending is likely to be tight. In September 2012, the government defaulted on a $23 million payment on its global bond and is in talks with international bondholders to restructure the debt. The $544 million global bond due in 2029 - called the superbond because it was the product in 2007 of a debt consolidation - represents one-half of the country's public debt. A key government objective remains the reduction of poverty and inequality with the help of international donors. Although Belize has the second highest per capita income in Central America, the average income figure masks a huge income disparity between rich and poor. The 2010 Poverty Assessment shows that more than 4 out of 10 people live in poverty. The sizable trade deficit and heavy foreign debt burden continue to be major concerns. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.896 billion (2012 est.) $2.831 billion (2011 est.) $2.776 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $1.52 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2.3% (2012 est.) 2% (2011 est.) 2.7% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,400 (2012 est.) $8,400 (2011 est.) $8,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 9.7% industry: 19.4% services: 59% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 120,500 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2008 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 10.2% industry: 18.1% services: 71.7% (2007) |
| Unemployment rate: | 11.3% (2012) 13.1% (2009) |
| Population below poverty line: | 41.3% (2010 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2012 est.) -2.5% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 26.4% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $450 million expenditures: $450 million (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 90.8% of GDP (2012 est.) 88.5% of GDP (2011 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber |
| Industries: | garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 1.4% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 52.03 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 630 million kWh (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$59.5 million (2012 est.) -$31.3 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $555.8 million (2012 est.) $603.3 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood, crude oil |
| Exports - partners: | US 38.1%, UK 16.5%, Costa Rica 10%, Nigeria 4.4% (2011) |
| Imports: | $770.1 million (2012 est.) $773.9 million (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco |
| Imports - partners: | US 38.2%, Mexico 10.2%, Cuba 9.2%, Guatemala 5.4%, China 5%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.1% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $238.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) $237.1 million (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $1.457 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.398 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2012 est.) 2 (2011 est.) 2 (2010 est.) 2 (2009) 2 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 April - 31 March |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 28,800 (2011) country comparison to the world: 178 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 222,000 (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: above-average system; trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay domestic: fixed-line teledensity of slightly less than 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 70 per 100 persons international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .bz |
| Internet hosts: | 3,392 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 36,000 (2009) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 43 (2012) country comparison to the world: 99 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 37 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 26 (2012) |
| Roadways: | total: 3,007 km paved: 575 km unpaved: 2,432 km (2006) |
| Waterways: | 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2011) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 247 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 33, cargo 156, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 152 (Bulgaria 1, China 61, Croatia 1, Estonia 1, Greece 2, Iceland 1, Italy 3, Latvia 9, Lithuania 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 2, Russia 30, Singapore 4, Switzerland 1, Syria 4, Thailand 1, Turkey 16, UAE 3, UK 4, Ukraine 6) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Belize City, Big Creek |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Military | |
| Military branches: | Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing (includes Special Boat Unit), BDF Volunteer Guard (2011) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1; initial service obligation 12 years (2012) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 81,284 females age 16-49: 79,185 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 59,431 females age 16-49: 57,221 (2010 est.) |
| ^Back to Top | |
«
Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter OverviewSource: CIA - The World Factbook