2018 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 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992 and the two countries are involved in an ongoing border dispute. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high unemployment, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, high crime rates, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.

Area

land

22,806 sq km

total

22,966 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

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea

mean elevation

173 m

note

1124 highest point: Doyle's Delight

Environment Current Issues

deforestation; water pollution, including pollution of Belize's Barrier Reef System, from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; inability to properly dispose of solid waste

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

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

35 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (2)

Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 276 km

total

542 km

Land Use

arable land: 3.3% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.4% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 2.2% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

6.9% (2011 est.)

forest

60.6% (2011 est.)

other

32.5% (2011 est.)

Location

Central 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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

Natural Hazards

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

Natural Resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Population Distribution

approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Age Structure

0-14 years

33.61% (male 66,207 /female 63,466)

15-24 years

18.74% (male 37,184 /female 35,127)

25-54 years

37.43% (male 70,222 /female 74,187)

55-64 years

5.88% (male 11,397 /female 11,284)

65 years and over

4.35% (male 8,293 /female 8,487) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

22.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

4.6% (2015)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

51.4% (2015/16)

Death Rate

4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Migration continues to transform Belize's population. About 16% of Belizeans live abroad, while immigrants constitute approximately 15% of Belize's population. Belizeans seeking job and educational opportunities have preferred to emigrate to the United States rather than former colonizer Great Britain because of the United States' closer proximity and stronger trade ties with Belize. Belizeans also emigrate to Canada, Mexico, and English-speaking Caribbean countries. The emigration of a large share of Creoles (Afro-Belizeans) and the influx of Central American immigrants, mainly Guatemalans, Salvadorans, and Hondurans, has changed Belize's ethnic composition. Mestizos have become the largest ethnic group, and Belize now has more native Spanish speakers than English or Creole speakers, despite English being the official language. In addition, Central American immigrants are establishing new communities in rural areas, which contrasts with the urbanization trend seen in neighboring countries. Recently, Chinese, European, and North American immigrants have become more frequent.Immigration accounts for an increasing share of Belize's population growth rate, which is steadily falling due to fertility decline. Belize's declining birth rate and its increased life expectancy are creating an aging population. As the elderly population grows and nuclear families replace extended households, Belize's government will be challenged to balance a rising demand for pensions, social services, and healthcare for its senior citizens with the need to reduce poverty and social inequality and to improve sanitation.

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.9 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

17 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

56.8 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

50.9 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 98.9% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 99.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, white 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3% (2010 est.)

note

percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic origin

Health Expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

1.9% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<200 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

4,500 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

12 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.3%, none 0.2% (cannot speak) (2010 est.)

note

shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

76.3 years (2018 est.)

male

73.1 years (2018 est.)

total population

74.7 years (2018 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk

high (2016)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

23,000 BELMOPAN (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

28 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

24.4 years (2018 est.)

male

23.2 years

total

23.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Belizean

noun

Belizean(s)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

24.1% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.77 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

385,854 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.8% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 93.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 88.2% of population (2015 est.)

total: 90.5% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 6.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 11.8% of population (2015 est.)

total: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

13 years (2015)

male

13 years (2015)

total

13 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.89 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.8 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

28.4% (2016 est.)

male

11% (2016 est.)

total

17.7% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.32% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

45.7% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 46 W

name

Belmopan

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed and adopted by two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly House of Representatives except for amendments relating to rights and freedoms, changes to the Assembly, and to elections and judiciary matters, which require at least three-quarters majority vote by the House; both types of amendments require assent by the governor general; amended several times, last in 2018 (2018)

history

previous 1954, 1963 (preindependence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981 (2018)

Country Name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Belize

etymology

may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered"

former

British Honduras

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Keith R. GILGES (since 24 July 2018)

embassy

4 Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District

FAX

[011] (501) 822-4012

mailing address

P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize

telephone

[011] (501) 822-4011

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Francisco Daniel GUTIEREZ (since 21 July 2017)

consulate(s)

Miami

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 332-6888

telephone

[1] (202) 332-9636

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Assembly

chief of state

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

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Dean Oliver BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Patrick FABER (since 7 June 2016)

Flag Description

royal 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 of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various elements of the coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahogany tree, and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry that led to British settlement of Belize

note

Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts human beings; two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, also depict humans

Government Type

parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence

21 September 1981 (from the UK)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 2 judges); note - in 2010, Belize acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London

judge selection and term of office

Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75; in 2013, the Supreme Court chief justice overturned a constitutional amendment that had restricted Court of Appeal judge appointments to as short as 1 year

subordinate courts

Magistrate Courts; Family Court

Legal System

English common law

Legislative Branch

description

bicameral National Assembly consists of:

election results

percent of vote by party - UDP 50%, PUP 47.3%, other 2.7%; seats by party - UDP 19, PUP 12

elections

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 CongressHouse of Representatives (31 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

note

House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2015 (next to be held in November 2020)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG

name

Land of the Free

note

adopted 1981; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

National Holiday

Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

National Symbol S

Baird's tapir (a large, browsing, forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, Black Orchid; national colors: red, blue

Political Parties And Leaders

Belize Progressive Party or BPP [Patrick ROGERS] (formed in 2015 from a merger of the People's National Party, elements of the Vision Inspired by the People, and other smaller political groups)People's United Party or PUP [Johnny BRICENO]United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean Oliver BARROW]Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Hubert ENRIQUEZ]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

572 million (2017 est.)

revenues

553.5 million (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

9.58% (1 November 2017)

9.14% (1 November 2016)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

9.46% (31 December 2017 est.)

9.84% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$143 million (2017 est.)

-$163 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$1.315 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.338 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Economy Overview

Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner in this small economy, followed by exports of sugar, bananas, citrus, marine products, and crude oil.The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007, but GPD growth has averaged only 2.1% from 2007-2016, with 2.5% growth estimated for 2017. Belize’s dependence on energy imports makes it susceptible to energy price shocks.Although Belize has the third highest per capita income in Central America, the average income figure masks a huge income disparity between rich and poor, and a key government objective remains reducing poverty and inequality with the help of international donors. High unemployment, a growing trade deficit and heavy foreign debt burden continue to be major concerns. Belize faces continued pressure from rising sovereign debt, and a growing trade imbalance.

Exchange Rates

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar -

2 (2017 est.)

2 (2016 est.)

2 (2015 est.)

2 (2014 est.)

2 (2013 est.)

Exports

$457.5 million (2017 est.)

$442.7 million (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

UK 33.9%, US 22%, Jamaica 6.7%, Italy 6.4%, Barbados 5.9%, Ireland 5.5%, Netherlands 4.3% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

49.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption

15.2% (2017 est.)

household consumption

75.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-63.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.2% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

10.3% (2017 est.)

industry

21.6% (2017 est.)

services

68% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$1.854 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$8,300 (2017 est.)

$8,500 (2016 est.)

$8,800 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$3.218 billion (2017 est.)

$3.194 billion (2016 est.)

$3.21 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

0.8% (2017 est.)

-0.5% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

11.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

13.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

14.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$845.9 million (2017 est.)

$916.2 million (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

US 35.6%, China 11.2%, Mexico 11.2%, Guatemala 6.9% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-0.6% (2017 est.)

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

1.1% (2017 est.)

0.7% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

120,500 (2008 est.)

note

shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

10.2%

industry

18.1%

services

71.7% (2007 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

note

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

41% (2013 est.)

Public Debt

99% of GDP (2017 est.)

95.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$312.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$376.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$768.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$735.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

note

NA

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$1.323 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.278 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$768.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$735.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

29.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

9% (2017 est.)

8% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

556,700 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

1,220 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

2,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

6.7 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

453 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

22% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

243 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

198,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

280 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

4,161 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

36 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

6 (2017 est.)

total

22,000 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

8 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV provides access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations broadcasting on roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio was privatized in 1998 (2009)

Internet Country Code

.bz

Internet Users

percent of population

44.6% (July 2016 est.)

total

157,735 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

mobile sector accounting for over 90% of all phone subscriptions; 6 per 100 fixed-line; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 65 per 100 persons (2017)

general assessment

govt telecome company, BTL, continues to hold a monopoly in fixed-line services and mobile and broadband fixed-line teledensity; small market, underinvestment with lack of competion, yet BTL reports stable telecome revenue for fiscal 2017 (2017)

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); mid-2017 completing a submarine cable to Ambergris Caye; SEUL submarine cable connecting the mainland with Ambergris Caye completed (2017)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

6 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

23,000 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

63 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

227,000 (July 2016 est.)

Airports

47 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2017)

total

6 (2017)

under 914 m

3 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

11 (2013)

total

41 (2013)

under 914 m

29 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

V3 (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 53, container ship 3, general cargo 373, oil tanker 55, other 272 (2017)

total

756 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

2,463,420 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

935,603 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

28 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

2 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Belize City, Big Creek

Roadways

paved

488 km (2011)

total

2,870 km (2011)

unpaved

2,382 km (2011)

Waterways

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2011)

Military Branches

Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard; Belize Police Department (2017)

Military Expenditures

1.17% of GDP (2016)

1.09% of GDP (2015)

1.06% of GDP (2014)

1.1% of GDP (2013)

0.97% of GDP (2012)

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; initial service obligation 12 years (2012)

Disputes International

Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to approximately half of Belize, but agrees to the Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interiorboth countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution, but this vote was suspended indefinitelyBelize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty

Illicit Drugs

major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; offshore sector money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and other crimes

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

Belize is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the coerced prostitution of women and children by family members has not led to arrests; child sex tourism, involving primarily US citizens, is on the rise; sex trafficking and forced labor of Belizean and foreign women and LGBT individuals occurs in bars, nightclubs, brothels, and domestic service; workers from Central America, Mexico, and Asia may fall victim to forced labor in restaurants, shops, agriculture, and fishing

tier rating

Tier 3 – Belize does not comply fully with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; authorities did not initiate any new trafficking investigations of prosecutions, and cases from previous years remain pending; law enforcement efforts to use informal means to identify and refer victims were ineffective and draft procedures for referring victims to services are still not finalized; trafficking victims were more commonly arrested, detained, or deported based on immigration violations than provided with assistance; the government did not make progress in implementing the 2012-14 anti-trafficking national strategic plan (2015)