1996 Edition

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

Location

17 15 N, 88 45 W -- Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly larger than Massachusetts

land area

22,800 sq km

total area

22,960 sq km

Climate

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

Coastline

386 km

Environment

current issues

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Whaling

natural hazards

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

Geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geographic 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

International disputes

border with Guatemala in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are stalled

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

total

516 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forest and woodland

44%

meadows and pastures

2%

other

52%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

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

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

highest point

Victoria Peak 1,160 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 48,291; female 46,451) 15-64 years: 53% (male 59,132; female 57,498) 65 years and over: 4% (male 3,881; female 4,043) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

32.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.58 years (1996 est.)

male

66.58 years

total population

68.53 years

Literacy

age 14 and over has ever attended school (1991 est.)

female

70.3%

male

70.3%

total population

70.3%

Nationality

adjective

Belizean

noun

Belizean(s)

Net migration rate

-2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

219,296 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.42% (1996 est.)

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)

Sex ratio

all ages

1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Belmopan

Constitution

21 September 1981

Data code

BH

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Dean R. LINDO

telephone

[1] (202) 332-9636

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993), who, according to the constitution, must be a Belizean; was appointed by the queen

head of government

Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-6888

[501] (2) 30802

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

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

Independence

21 September 1981 (from UK)

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 (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Belize

former

British Honduras

National Assembly

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Other political or pressure groups

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

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

Senate

consists of an eight-member appointed body; five members are appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one after consultation with the Belize Advisory Council (this council serves as an independent body to advise the governor general with respect to difficult decisions such as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

parliamentary democracy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador George Charles BRUNO

embassy

Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City

mailing address

P. O. Box 286, Belize City; APO: Unit 7401, APO AA 34025

telephone

[501] (2) 77161 through 77163

Agriculture

bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp

Budget

expenditures

$123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY90/91 est.)

revenues

$126.8 million

Currency

1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The small, essentially private enterprise 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.

Electricity

capacity

34,532 kW

consumption per capita

490 kWh (1993)

production

110 million kWh

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$115 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

partners

US 38%, UK, other EC (1994)

External debt

$167.5 million (1992)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $575 million (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

30%

industry

NA

services

NA (1995 est.)

GDP per capita

$2,750 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2% (1994 est.)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine; an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering center

Imports

$281 million (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

partners

US 53%, UK, other EC, Mexico (1994)

Industrial production growth rate

3.7% (1990)

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (1994 est.)

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)

Unemployment rate

10% (1993 est.)

Branches

Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $8.1 million, NA% of GDP (FY95/96)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

52,290

males fit for military service

31,086

males reach military age (18) annually

2,390 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1

Radios

NA

Telephone system

above-average system

domestic

trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

15,917 (1990 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

27,048 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

35

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

25

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

8 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

336 km

total

2,560 km

unpaved

2,224 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 9, cargo 60, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

total

89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 311,731 GRT/470,272 DWT

Ports

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Railways

0 km

Waterways

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