2006 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 39.5% (male 57,923/female 55,678) 15-64 years: 57% (male 82,960/female 81,046) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,888/female 5,235) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments

Airports

43 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m

26 (2006)

Area

land

22,806 sq km

total

22,966 sq km

water

160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Background

Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increasing urban crime. Geography Belize

Belize Defense Force (BDF)

Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard

Birth rate

28.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$329 million; including capital expenditures of $70 million (2005 est.)

revenues

$262 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 46 W

name

Belmopan

time difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 (code)

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code

BZD

Current account balance

$-180 million (2005 est.)

Death rate

5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert J. DIETER

embassy

29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City

mailing address

P. O. Box 286, Belize City

telephone

[501] 227-7161 through 7163

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN

telephone

[1] (202) 332-9636

Disputes - international

Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS seeks to revive the 2002 failed Belize-Guatemala Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK financial package

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 5% in 1999-2005. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

Electricity - consumption

111.6 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

120 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

59.9%

hydro

40.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Victoria Peak 1,160 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)

Exports

$349.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 30.6%, UK 25%, France 4.8% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-6888

[501] 223-0802

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Belize

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 Economy Belize

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

14.2%

industry

15.2%

services

61.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.8% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$908 million (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.778 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,600 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

Imports

$622.4 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Imports - partners

US 31%, Mexico 11.6%, Russia 8.8%, Cuba 6%, Guatemala 5.6%, China 4.6%, Spain 4.4% (2005)

Independence

21 September 1981 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

4.6% (1999)

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Infant mortality rate

female

21.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

28.07 deaths/1,000 live births

total

24.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.bz

Internet hosts

3,905 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

35,000 (2005) Transportation Belize

Investment (gross fixed)

17.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

90,000

note

shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

27%

industry

18%

services

55% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

total

516 km

Land use

arable land

3.05%

other

95.56% (2005)

permanent crops

1.39%

Languages

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

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; 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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8

elections

House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held March 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.26 years (2006 est.)

male

66.43 years

total population

68.3 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.1% (2003 est.) Government Belize

male

94.1%

total population

94.1%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

60,048 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

61,201

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

43,633 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

44,238

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

3,100 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

3,213

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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

Median age

female

19.8 years (2006 est.)

male

19.5 years

total

19.6 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 36, cargo 203, chemical tanker 7, container 4, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned

225 (China 103, Croatia 1, Cyprus 2, Estonia 3, Germany 3, Greece 2, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 2, Indonesia 2, Italy 4, Japan 2, North Korea 2, South Korea 4, Latvia 6, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 1, Mexico 1, Norway 2, Poland 2, Russia 36, Singapore 6, Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 11, UAE 5, Ukraine 7, US 5) (2006)

total

285 ships (1000 GRT or over) 985,464 GRT/1,322,629 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$19 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.7% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Belize

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Nationality

adjective

Belizean

noun

Belizean(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural hazards

frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003)

Political parties and leaders

People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]

Population

287,730 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

33% (1999 est.)

Population growth rate

2.31% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Belize City Military Belize

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

133,000 (1997)

Religions

Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$87 million (2005 est.)

Roadways

paved

488 km

total

2,872 km

unpaved

2,384 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay

general assessment

above-average system

international

country code - 501; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

33,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

93,100 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

41,000 (1997)

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Total fertility rate

3.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Belize is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked mainly from Central America, and exploited in prostitution; children are trafficked to Belize for labor exploitation; Belize's largely unmonitored borders with Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico facilitate the movement of illegal migrants who are vulnerable to traffickers; girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation, sometimes with the consent and complicity of their close relatives; there are unconfirmed reports that Indian and Chinese migrants are trafficked for involuntary servitude in homes and shops

tier rating

Tier 3 - Belize has failed to show evidence of significant law enforcement or victim protection efforts

Unemployment rate

12.9% (2003)

Waterways

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2005)