2008 Edition

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 an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate

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

Coastline

386 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%) per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 3.05% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 95.56% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

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 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 exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Total renewable water resources

18.6 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.4% (male 58,987/female 56,674) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 88,521/female 86,450) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,095/female 5,543) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

27.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2004)

Ethnic groups

mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 23.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.19 years male: 66.39 years female: 70.08 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.9% male: 76.7% female: 77.1% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Median age

total: 20.1 years male: 20 years female: 20.3 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

Population

301,270 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

2.207% (2008 est.)

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2004)

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: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Belmopan geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

21 September 1981

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize telephone: [501] 822-4011

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: 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

FAX

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

[501] 822-4012

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; 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; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Political parties and leaders

National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito BAUTISTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene GOMEZ]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $307 million expenditures: $344 million (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.33% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code

BZD

Current account balance

-$43 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.2 billion (June 2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$12.91 million (2005)

Economy - overview

In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy, tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by exports of 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 4% in 1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered the economic growth in 2006 and 2007. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and unsustainable foreign debt. In February 2007, the government restructured nearly all of its public external commercial debt, which will reduce interest payments and relieve liquidity concerns. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

Electricity - consumption

193.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

213.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 59.9% hydro: 40.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)

Exports

$429 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 28.7%, UK 16.3%, Thailand 5.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.4%, Finland 4.2%, Spain 4% (2007)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 21.3% industry: 13.7% services: 65% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.274 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.444 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$642 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 31.2%, Mexico 13.6%, Cuba 8.5%, Guatemala 8%, Russia 4.6% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

0.5% (2007 est.)

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

113,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 22.5% industry: 15.2% services: 62.3% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

7,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

1,960 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports

7,122 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

3,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

6.7 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

33.5% (2002 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$109 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$877.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$323.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$549 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

9.4% (2006)

Internet country code

.bz

Internet hosts

2,751 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

32,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios

133,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of 12 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 40 per 100 persons domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

33,900 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

118,300 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

5 (2006)

Televisions

41,000 (1997)

Airports

44 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 216 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 32, cargo 152, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 178 (Australia 1, China 71, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, Estonia 6, Greece 1, Iceland 2, Italy 3, Japan 8, South Korea 1, Latvia 12, Norway 3, Peru 1, Russia 31, Singapore 2, Spain 1, Turkey 15, Ukraine 7, UAE 5, UK 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Belize City, Big Creek

Roadways

total: 3,007 km paved: 575 km unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)

Waterways

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2007)

Belize Defense Force (BDF)

Army, BDF Air Wing, BDF Volunteer Guard (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 74,605 females age 16-49: 72,926 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 54,627 females age 16-49: 53,500 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 3,580 female: 3,449 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2006)

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 (2008)

Disputes - international

OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures saw cooperation in repatriation of Guatemalan squatters and other areas, but Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea remain unresolved; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; Honduras claims Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its constitution but agreed to a joint ecological park under the Differendum

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008