1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 22,960 sq km land: 22,800 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Climate
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
Coastline
386 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Environment--current issues
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
17 15 N, 88 45 W
Geography--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
Irrigated land
20 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 92% other: 3% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Natural resources
arable land potential, timber, fish
Terrain
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 42% (male 49,991; female 48,074) 15-64 years: 55% (male 65,507; female 63,796) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,129; female 4,292) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
30.22 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%
Infant mortality rate
31.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.2 years male: 67.23 years female: 71.26 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 14 and over has ever attended school total population: 70.3% male: 70.3% female: 70.3% (1991 est.) note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%
Nationality
noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean
Net migration rate
-0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
235,789 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.42% (1999 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
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 population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Capital
Belmopan
Constitution
21 September 1981
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras
Data code
BH
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 2 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA July 1993) 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; prime minister appointed by the governor general
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
Government type
parliamentary democracy
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, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister Political parties and leaders: People's United Party or PUP [Said GOLDSON] Political pressure groups and leaders: Society for the Promotion Front
Legal system
English law
Legislative branch
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eight members; members are appointed for five-year terms, five 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.) and the National Assembly (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly--last held 1 August 1998 (next to be held NA August 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PUP 26, UDP 3
National holiday
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp
Budget
revenues: $140 million expenditures: $142 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Currency
1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$288 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient
$23.4 million (1995)
Economy--overview
The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas. The new government faces important challenges to economic stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been promised, but a lack of progress in reigning in spending could bring the exchange rate under pressure.
Electricity--consumption
145 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
145 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1--2.0000 (fixed rate)
Exports
$95.3 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
sugar 46%, bananas 26%, citrus fruits, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports--partners
US 45%, UK 30%, Mexico 3%, Canada 3% (1997)
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$700 million (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 22% industry: 22% services: 56% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
0.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$149.7 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities
machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports--partners
US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
0.2% (1996 est.)
Industries
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-0.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force
71,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
13% (1997 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1 (Voice of America relay station), FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
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
29,000 (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations
2 (1997)
Televisions
27,048 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
44 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 2,248 km paved: 427 km unpaved: 1,821 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 403 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,740,325 GRT/2,511,709 DWT ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 259, chemical tanker 5, container 9, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 58, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea/passenger 3, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries: Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1 (1998 est.)
Railways
0 km
Waterways
825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable Ports and harbors: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Military and Security
Military branches
Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$15 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
2% (FY97/98)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 58,201 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 34,531 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 2,619 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
border with Guatemala in dispute
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering center