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. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.
Location
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Geographic coordinates
17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total
22,966 sq km
land
22,806 sq km
water
160 sq km
Area - comparative
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
Victoria Peak 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
30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Environment - current issues
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
Environment - international 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
Geography - note
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Population
294,385 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
38.9% (male 58,459/female 56,183)
15-64 years
57.5% (male 85,686/female 83,717)
65 years and over
3.5% (male 4,979/female 5,361) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
19.9 years
male
19.7 years
female
20 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.258% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
28.34 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.041 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.024 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.929 male(s)/female
total population
1.027 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
24.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male
27.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female
21.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
68.25 years
male
66.44 years
female
70.16 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.52 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
2.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
3,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality
noun
Belizean(s)
adjective
Belizean
Ethnic groups
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
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)
Country name
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Belize
former
British Honduras
Government type
parliamentary democracy
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 UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution
21 September 1981
Legal system
English 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 Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Vildo MARIN (since 5 June 2007)
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is 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 (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - number of seats will increase to 31 next election
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held in March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders
National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement [Hipolito BAUTISTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene GOMEZ]
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 Robert J. DIETER
embassy
Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address
3050 Belize Place, Washington DC 20521-3050
telephone
[501] 822-4011
FAX
[501] 822-4012
Flag description
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
Economy - overview
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.307 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.141 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$8,400 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
22.5%
industry
14.8%
services
62.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force
113,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
22.5%
industry
15.2%
services
62.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate
9.4% (2006)
Population below poverty line
33.5% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
18.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$302.5 million
expenditures
$357.5 million; including capital expenditures of $70 million (2006 est.)
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners
US 32.6%, UK 32.3%, Cote d'Ivoire 3.6% (2006)
Imports
$543 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners
US 34.8%, Mexico 14.6%, Cuba 7.5%, Guatemala 7%, China 4.2% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$78.96 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$1.2 billion (June 2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Currency (code)
Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code
BZD
Exchange rates
Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Telephones - main lines in use
33,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
93,100 (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
above-average system
domestic
trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international
country code - 501; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios
133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
5 (2006)
Televisions
41,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.bz
Internet hosts
3,905 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
35,000 (2005)
Airports
43 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
5
1,524 to 2,437 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
2
under 914 m
2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
38
2,438 to 3,047 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
11
under 914 m
26 (2006)
Roadways
total
2,872 km
paved
488 km
unpaved
2,384 km (1999)
Waterways
825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2007)
Merchant marine
total
285 ships (1000 GRT or over) 985,464 GRT/1,322,629 DWT
by type
bulk carrier 36, cargo 203, chemical tanker 7, container 4, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned
225 (China 103, Croatia 1, Cyprus 2, Estonia 3, Germany 3, Greece 2, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 2, Indonesia 2, Italy 4, Japan 2, North Korea 2, South Korea 4, Latvia 6, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 1, Mexico 1, Norway 2, Poland 2, Russia 36, Singapore 6, Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 11, UAE 5, Ukraine 7, US 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Belize City, Big Creek
Military branches
Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard
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 (2001)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
61,201
females age 18-49
60,048 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
44,238
females age 18-49
43,633 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
3,213
females age 18-49
3,100 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.4% (2006)
Disputes - international
annual ministerial meetings under the OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and Caribbean Sea; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; Honduras claims Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its constitution but agreed to a joint ecological park under the Differendum
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector
