1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Agriculture

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

Airports

total: 47 usable: 38 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,229-2,439 m: 3

Area

total area: 22,960 sq km land area: 22,800 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Birth rate

34.74 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

British Forces Belize withdrawn by the end of 1993 except for a small training detachment, Belize Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Budget

revenues: $126.8 million expenditures: $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.)

Capital

Belmopan

Climate

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

Coastline

386 km

Constitution

21 September 1981

Currency

1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $4.8 million, 1.8% of GDP (1992)

Digraph

BH

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dean LINDO chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-9636

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million

Electricity

capacity: 34,532 kW production: 90 million kWh consumption per capita: 393 kWh (1992)

Environment

current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff natural hazards: frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change

Ethnic divisions

mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)

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 Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice from the prime minister

Exports

$116 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: sugar, citrus, clothing, fish products, bananas, molasses, wood partners: US 51%, UK, other EC (1992)

External debt

$143.7 million (1991)

FAX

(202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Miami

[501] (2) 30802

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Flag

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

Highways

total: 2,710 km paved: 500 km unpaved: gravel 1,600 km; improved earth 300 km; unimproved earth 310 km

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine; an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to about 50 metric tons in 1991

Imports

$273 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 57%, UK 8%, other EC 7%, Mexico (1992)

Independence

21 September 1981 (from UK)

Industrial production

growth rate 3.7% (1990); accounts for 12% of GDP

Industries

garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum, beverages, tourism

Infant mortality rate

35.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (1991)

Inland waterways

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

International disputes

maritime border with Guatemala in dispute; desultory negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1989 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

51,500 by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3% note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)

Land boundaries

total 516 km, Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 44% other: 52%

Languages

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

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.08 years male: 66.14 years female: 70.12 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) total population: 91% male: 91% female: 91%

Location

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and Mexico

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 48,789; fit for military service 29,040; reach military age (18) annually 2,175 (1994 est.)

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World

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 miles; 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

Member of

ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Merchant marine

25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,509 GRT/80,345 DWT, bulk 6, cargo 11, container 2, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3

Names

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras

National Assembly

elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 13 UDP 15

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $550 million (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$2,700 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

5.3% (1992)

Nationality

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish

Net migration rate

-4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

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

Other political or pressure groups

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN; United Workers Front, leader NA

Overview

The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture accounts for about 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.

Political parties and leaders

People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA; United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW; National Alliance for Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON

Population

208,949 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

2.42% (1994 est.)

Ports

Belize City; additional ports for shallow draught craft include Corozol, Punta Gorda, Big Creek

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)

Senate

consists of an 8-member body, 5 are appointed on the advice of the prime minister, 2 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 after consultation with the Belize Advisory Council

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunications

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

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Total fertility rate

4.39 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

parliamentary democracy

Unemployment rate

15% (1992 est.)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City telephone: [501] (2) 77161 through 77163