| Belize |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Belize | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime.

Belize | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Middle 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: | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM 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 the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

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: 10% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 84% other: 3% (2000 est.)

Irrigated land: | 20 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: | frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues: | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: | only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

Belize | People | Top of Page

Population: | 256,062 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: 42.04% (male 54,876; female 52,780) 15-64 years: 54.43% (male 70,534; female 68,837) 65 years and over: 3.53% (male 4,403; female 4,632) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: | 2.7% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: | 31.69 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: | 4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 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: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: | 25.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 71.19 years male: 68.91 years female: 73.57 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: | 4.05 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 2.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 2,400 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 170 (1999 est.)

Nationality: | noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups: | mestizo 43.7%, Creole 29.8%, Maya 10%, Garifuna 6.2%, other 10.3%

Religions: | Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)

Languages: | English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.3% male: 70.3% female: 70.3% (1991 est.) note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Belize | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras

Government type: | parliamentary democracy

Capital: | Belmopan

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 (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998) 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; governor general appoints the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime minister

Legislative branch: | bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governor general; members are appointed for five-year terms); and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998 (next to be held by NA August 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 59.2%, UDP 40.8%; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3

Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)

Political parties and leaders: | People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW, Doug SINGH]

Political pressure groups and leaders: | Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Diane HAYLOCK]; United Worker's Front

International organization participation: | ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN 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 Carolyn CURIEL embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025 telephone: [501] (2) 77161 FAX: [501] (2) 30802

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

Belize | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas. The tourist and construction sectors strengthened in early 1999, supporting growth of 6% in 1999 and 4% in 2000. Aided by international donors, the government's key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $790 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: | 4% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line: | 33% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2% (2000 est.)

Labor force: | 71,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 38%, industry 32%, services 30% (1994)

Unemployment rate: | 12.8% (1999)

Budget: | revenues: $157 million expenditures: $279 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Industries: | garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate: | 4.6% (1999)

Electricity - production: | 185 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 56.76% hydro: 43.24% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption: | 172.1 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products: | bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp

Exports: | $235.7 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities: | sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports - partners: | US 42%, UK 33%, EU 12%, Caricom 4.8%, Canada 2%, Mexico 1% (1999)

Imports: | $413 million (c.i.f., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities: | machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods; food, beverages, tobacco; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners: | US 58%, Mexico 12%, UK 5% EU 5%, Central America 5%, Caricom 4% (1998)

Debt - external: | $338 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient: | $NA

Currency: | Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code: | BZD

Exchange rates: | Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

Fiscal year: | 1 April - 31 March

Belize | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 31,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | 3,023 (1997)

Telephone system: | general assessment: above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios: | 133,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: | 2 (1997)

Televisions: | 41,000 (1997)

Internet country code: | .bz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)

Internet users: | 12,000 (2000)

Belize | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | 0 km

Highways: | total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: | 825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable)

Ports and harbors: | Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Merchant marine: | total: 402 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,575,851 GRT/2,241,731 DWT ships by type: bulk 27, cargo 265, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, container 14, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 56, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Cuba 1, Singapore 1, US 1 (2000 est.)

Airports: | 44 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 29 (2000 est.)

Belize | Military | Top of Page

Military branches: | Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)

Military manpower - military age: | 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 62,698 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 37,174 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 2,847 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $17 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 2.4% (FY98/99)

Belize | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | Guatemala periodically asserts claims to territory in southern Belize; to deter cross-border squatting, both states in 2000 agreed to a "line of adjacency" based on the de facto boundary, which is not recognized by Guatemala

Illicit drugs: | minor transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering center