1989 Edition

Climate

tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter

Coastline

386 km

121 km

103 km

Comparative area

slightly larger than Massachusetts

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

Disputes

claimed by Guatemala, but boundary negotiations are under way

Environment

frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south); deforestation

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter; deforestation; desertification

ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; consists of about 360 small coral islands

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Land boundaries

516 km total; Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

1,989 km total; Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

none

Land use

2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 2% meadows and pastures; 44% forest and woodland; 52% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

1 2% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 45% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 20% forest and woodland; 80% other

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Note

national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no natural harbors

1 ,050 km east of North Carolina; some reclaimed land leased by US Government

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Territorial sea

3 nm

200 nm

1 2 nm

Total area

22,960 km2; land area: 22,800 km2

112,620 km2; land area: 110,620km2

50 km2; land area: 50 km2

Birth rate

38 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

50 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

15 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

6 deaths/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

16 deaths/ 1,000 population (1990)

7 deaths/ 1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

39.7% Creole, 33.1% Mestizo, 9.5% Maya, 7.6% Garifuna, 2.1% East Indian, 8.0% other

99% African (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba); 5,500 Europeans

61% black, 39% white and other

Infant mortality rate

35 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

121 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

12 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

51,500; 30.0% agriculture, 16.0% services, 15.4% government, 1 1.2% commerce, 10.3% manufacturing; shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)

1,900,000 (1987); 60% agriculture, 38% transport, commerce, and public services, less than 2% industry; 49% of population of working age (1985) Organized labor about 75% of wage earners

32,000; 25% clerical, 22% services, 21% laborers, 13% professional and technical, 10% administrative and managerial, 7% sales, 2% agriculture and fishing (1984)

Language

English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)

French (official); Fon and Yoruba most common vernaculars in south; at least six major tribal languages in north

English

Life expectancy at birth

67 years male, 72 years female (1990)

48 years male, 52 years female (1990)

72 years male, 78 years female (1990)

Literacy

93% (est.)

25.9%

98%

Nationality

noun — Belizean(s); adjective — Belizean

noun — Beninese (sing., pi.); adjective — Beninese

noun — Bermudian(s); adjective— Bermudian

Net migration rate

4 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

NEGL migrants/ 1,000 population (1990)

— 6 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

30% of labor force; 1 1 unions currently active

8,573 members (1985); largest union is Bermuda Industrial Union

Population

219,737 (July 1990), growth rate 3.7% (1990)

4,673,964 (July 1990), growth rate 3.3% (1990)

58,337 (July 1990), growth rate 1.5% (1990)

Religion

60% Roman Catholic; 40% Protestant (Anglican, Seventh-Day Adventist, Methodist, Baptist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonite)

70% indigenous beliefs, 1 5% Muslim, 1 5% Christian

37% Anglican, 14% Roman Catholic, 10% African Methodist Episcopal (Zion), 6% Methodist, 5% SeventhDay Adventist, 28% other

Total fertility rate

4.8 children born/ woman (1990)

7.1 children born/ woman (1990)

1 .7 children born/ woman (1990)

Administrative divisions

6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou

9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

Capital

Belmopan

Porto-Novo (official), Cotonou (de facto)

Hamilton

Communists

negligible

dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989

negligible

Constitution

21 September 1981

23 May 1977 (nullified 1 March 1990); new constitution to be drafted by April 1990

8 June 1968

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Edward A. LAING; Chancery at Suite 2J, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 3634505; US— Ambassador Robert G. RICH, Jr.; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize City); telephone [501] 77 161 through 77 163

Ambassador Theophile NATA; Chancery at 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-6656; USAmbassador Harriet ISOM; Embassy at Rue Caporal Anani Bernard, Cotonou (mailing address is B. P. 2012, Cotonou); telephone [229] 30-06-50

as a dependent territory of the UK, Bermuda's interests in the US are represented by the UK; US— Consul General James M. MEDAS; Consulate General at Vallis Building, ParlaVille Road (off Front Street West), Hamilton (mailing address is P. O. Box 325, Hamilton, or FPO New York 09560); telephone (809) 295-1342

Elections

National Assembly — last held 4 September 1989 (next to be held September 1994); results — percent of vote by party NA; seats— (28 total) PUP 15 seats, UDP 13 seats; note — in January 1990 one member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count 16 PUP, UDP 12

President — last held July 1989 (next to be held July 1994); results— President Mathieu Kerekou was reelected by the National Revolutionary Assembly; National Revolutionary Assembly — dissolved 1 March 1990 and replaced by a 24-member interim High Council of the Benin (continued) Republic with legislative elections for new institutions planned for February 1991

House of Assembly — last held 9 February 1989 (next to be held by February 1994); results — percent of vote by party NA; seats— (40 total) UBP 23, PLP 15, NLP 1, other 1

Executive branch

British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister. Cabinet

president, prime minister, cabinet

British monarch, governor, deputy governor, premier, deputy premier, Executive Council (cabinet)

Flag

green with a red five-pointed star in the upper hoist-side corner

Hag

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 with a mahogany tree at the top and the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

Independence

21 September 1981 (from UK; formerly British Honduras)

1 August 1960 (from France; formerly Dahomey)

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Central People's Court (Cour Central Populaire)

Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State— Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Elmira Minita GORDON (since 21 September 1981); Head of Government — Prime Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4 September 1989) Political parties and leaders: People's United Party (PUP), George Price, Florencio Marin, Said Musa; United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel Esquivel, Curl Thompson, Dean Barrow; Belize Popular Party (BPP), Louis Sylvestre

Chief of State and Head of Government—President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 27 October 1972) Political parties and leaders: only party — People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB), President Mathieu Kerekou, chairman of the Central Committee

Chief of State — Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir Desmond LANGLEY (since NA October 1988); Head of Government — Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January 1982) Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D. Swan; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick Wade; National Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert Darrell

Legal system

English law

based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

English law

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

unicameral National Revolutionary Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Revolutionnaire) dissolved 1 March 1990 and replaced by a 24-member interim High Council of the Republic during the transition period

bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly

Long-form name

none

Republic of Benin

none

Member of

ACP, CARICOM, CDB, Commonwealth, FAO, GATT, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, G-77, ISO, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

ACP, AfDB, CEAO, EAMA, EGA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, Niger River Commission, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

INTERPOL, WHO

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September

National Day, 30 November (1975)

Bermuda Day, 22 May

Other political or pressure groups

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR) headed by former PUP minister; United Workers Front

Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), headed by Ottiwell Simmons

Suffrage

universal at age 18

universal at age 18

universal at age 21

Type

parliamentary

dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system by 1991 planned

dependent territory of the UK

Agriculture

accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial crops include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods

small farms produce 90% of agricultural output; production is dominated by food crops — corn, sorghum, cassava, beans, and rice; cash crops include cotton, palm oil, and peanuts; poultry and livestock output has not kept up with consumption

accounts for less than 1% of GDP; most basic foods must be imported; produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers, dairy products

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $94 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $194 million

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $41 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.0 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $101 million

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $267 million

Budget

revenues $94.6 million; expenditures $74.3 million, including capital expenditures of $33.9 million (1988 est.)

revenues $168 million; expenditures $317 million, including capital expenditures of $97 million (1989)

revenues $280 million; expenditures $279 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (FY89 est.)

Currency

Belizean dollar (plural — dollars); 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural — francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Bermudian dollar (plural — dollars); 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents

Electricity

34,000 kW capacity; 88 million kWh produced, 500 kWh per capita (1989)

28,000 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced, 5 kWh per capita (1989)

1 34,000 kW capacity; 446 million kWh produced, 7,680 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1— 2.00 (fixed rate) Fiscal year 1 April-31 March

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1— 287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Bermudian dollar (BdS) per US$1— 1.0000 (fixed rate)

Exports

$120 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and wood products; partners—US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987)

$226 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa; partners — FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 7%

$23 million (f.o.b.,1985); commodities— semitropical produce, light manufactures; partners — US 25%, Italy 25%, UK 14%, Canada 5%, other 31%

External debt

$140 million (December 1988) Benin

$1.0 billion (December 1989 est.)

NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

1 April31 March

GDP

$225.6 million, per capita $1,285; real growth rate 6% (1989 est.)

$1.7 billion, per capita $335; real growth rate 1.8% (1988)

$1.3 billion, per capita $23,000; real growth rate 2.0% (1989 est.)

Illicit drugs

an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to 66 metric tons in 1989; transshipment point for cocaine

Imports

$176 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities— machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, Pharmaceuticals; partners— US 55%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1987)

$413 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods; partners— France 34%, Netherlands 10%, Japan 7%, Italy 6%, US 5%

$402 million (c.i.f., 1985); commodities— fuel, foodstuffs, machinery; partners — US 58%, Netherlands Antilles 9%, UK 8%, Canada 6%, Japan 5%, other 14%

Industrial production

growth rate 6% (1988)

growth rate —0.7% (1988)

growth rate NA%

Industries

sugar refining, clothing, timber and forest products, furniture, rum, soap, beverages, cigarettes, tourism

palm oil and palm kernel oil processing, textiles, beverages, petroleum Bermuda (dependent territory of the UK)

tourism, finance, structural concrete products, paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1 .5% (1988)

4.3% (1988)

4.8% (1988)

Overview

The economy is based primarily on agriculture and merchandising. Agriculture accounts for more than 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification program. In 1987 the drop in income from sugar sales to the US because of quota reductions was almost totally offset by higher world prices for sugar.

Benin is one of the least developed countries in the world because of limited natural resources and a poorly developed infrastructure. Agriculture accounts for almost 45% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and generates a major share of foreign exchange earnings. The industrial sector contributes only about 1 5% to GDP and employs 2% of the work force. Persistently low prices in recent years have limited hard currency earnings from Benin's major exports of agricultural products and crude oil.

Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than 90% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported.

Unemployment

NA

2.0% (1988)

Unemployment rate

14% (1988 est.)

Airports

38 total, 30 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

6 total, 5 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 4 with runways 1, 220-2,439 m

1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Branches

British Forces Belize, Belize Defense Force, Police Department

Army, Navy, Air Force Military manpower eligible 15-49, 2,0 15,206; of the 950,921 males 15-49, 486,620 are fit for military service; of the 1,064,285 females 15-49, 537,049 are fit for military service; about 55,550 males and 53,663 females reach military age (18) annually; both sexes are liable for military service

Civil air

3 major transport aircraft

16 major transport aircraft

Defense expenditures

2.0% of GDP, or $4.6 million (1989 est.) Cot PORTO-NOVO Sfe regional map VII Bight of Benin

1.7% of GDP, or $28.9 million (1988 est.) North Atlantic Ocean North Atlantic Ocean Sec regional map II

Highways

2,575 km total; 340 km paved, 1,190 km gravel, 735 km improved earth, and 310 km unimproved earth

5,050 km total; 920 km paved, 2,600 laterite, 1,530 km improved earth

210 km public roads, all paved (about 400 km of private roads)

Inland waterways

825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable

navigable along small sections, important only locally

Merchant marine

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) of 2,999 GRT/4,407 DWT

93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,163,947 GRT/7,744,319 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 10 cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 10 roll-on/roll-off, 27 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 1 combination ore/oil, 10 liquefied gas, 20 bulk; note — a flag of convenience registry

Military manpower

males 15-49, 50,988; 30,502 fit for military service; 2,500 reach military age (18) annually

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Ports

Belize City, Belize City Southwest Civil air no major transport aircraft

Cotonou

Freeport, Hamilton, St. George

Railroads

578 km, all 1 .000-meter gauge, single track

Telecommunications

8,650 telephones; above-average system based on radio relay; stations— 6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station Defense Forces

fair system of open wire, submarine cable, and radio relay; 16,200 telephones; stations — 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station Defense Forces

modern with fully automatic telephone system; 46,290 telephones; stations — 5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; 3 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations Defense Forces