2001 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

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.)

Agriculture - products

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

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

Area

total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

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

Birth rate

31.69 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

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

Capital

Belmopan

Climate

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

Coastline

386 km

Constitution

21 September 1981

Country name

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

Currency

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code

BZD

Death rate

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$338 million (1998)

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

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

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

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

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.

Electricity - consumption

172.1 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

185 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 56.76% hydro: 43.24% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

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; 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

Ethnic groups

mestizo 43.7%, Creole 29.8%, Maya 10%, Garifuna 6.2%, other 10.3%

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

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

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)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

[501] (2) 30802

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Belize Communications

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

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geography - note

only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean Belize People

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Highways

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

170 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,400 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Illicit drugs

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

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)

Independence

21 September 1981 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

4.6% (1999)

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Infant mortality rate

25.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2000 est.)

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

Internet country code

.bz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

12,000 (2000) Belize Transportation

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

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

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)

Land boundaries

total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Land use

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

Languages

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

Legal system

English law

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.19 years male: 68.91 years female: 73.57 years (2001 est.)

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

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

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.)

Military branches

Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$17 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.4% (FY98/99) Belize Transnational Issues

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 - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 2,847 (2001 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Nationality

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

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

Population

256,062 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

33% (1999 est.)

Population growth rate

2.7% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

133,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

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: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

31,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,023 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

41,000 (1997)

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Total fertility rate

4.05 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

12.8% (1999)

Waterways

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