2019 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. Both nations have voted to send the dispute for final resolution to the International Court of Justice. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, 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

Highest Point

Doyle's Delight 1,124 m

Lowest Point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Mean Elevation

173 m

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

Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 276 km

Total

542 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

6.9% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

3.3% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

1.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

2.2% (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)

Current Health Expenditure

6.1% (2016)

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 Rural

100% of population

Improved Total

99.5% of population

Improved Urban

98.9% of population

Unimproved Rural

0% of population

Unimproved Total

0.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

1.1% of population

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.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

1.9% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<200 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

4,900 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

13.3 deaths/1,000 live births

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.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

76.3 years

Male

73.1 years

Total Population

74.7 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

23,000 BELMOPAN (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

24.4 years

Male

23.2 years

Total

23.7 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Belizean

Noun

Belizean(s)

Net Migration Rate

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

24.1% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.13 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

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 Rural

88.2% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

90.5% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

93.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

11.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

9.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

6.5% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

13 years (2017)

Male

13 years

Total

13 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.06 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.95 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.98 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.8 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

24.8% (2017 est.)

Male

9.5%

Total

15.3%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

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

Urban Population

45.9% of total population (2019)

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 of 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 of the House; both types of amendments require assent of the governor general; amended several times, last in 2018 (2019)

History

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

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&rsquo;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

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 10 justices); 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

Magistrates' Courts; Family Court

Legal System

English common law

Legislative Branch

Description

bicameral National Assembly consists of: Senate (14 seats, including the president); 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, non-governmental organizations in good standing, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; Senate president elected from among the Senate members or from outside the Senate; term of appointment NA House of Representatives (31 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

Election Results

Senate - composition as of June 2019 - men 11, women 3, percent of women 21.4% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - UDP 50%, PUP 47.3%, other 2.7%; seats by party - UDP 19, PUP 12; composition - men 29, women 2; percent of women 6.5%; note - total National Assembly percent of women as of June 2019 - 11.1%

Elections

Senate - last appointed 13 November 2015 (next appointments NA) 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

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

1 November 2016

9.14%

1 November 2017

9.58%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

9.84%

31 December 2017

9.46%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$163 million

2017

-$143 million

Debt External

31 December 2016

$1.338 billion

31 December 2017

$1.315 billion

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

2013

2

2014

2

2015

2

2016

2

2017

2

Currency

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$442.7 million

2017

$457.5 million

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.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$8,800

2016

$8,500

2017

$8,300

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$3.21 billion

2016

$3.194 billion

2017

$3.218 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

3.8%

2016

-0.5%

2017

0.8%

Gross National Saving

2015

14.2% of GDP

2016

13.3% of GDP

2017

11.3% of GDP

Imports

2016

$916.2 million

2017

$845.9 million

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

2016

0.7%

2017

1.1%

Labor Force

120,500 (2008 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

10.2%

Industry

18.1%

Services

71.7% (2007 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

41% (2013 est.)

Public Debt

2016

95.9% of GDP

2017

99% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$376.7 million

31 December 2017

$312.1 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$735.9 million

31 December 2017

$768.8 million

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

NA

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$1.278 billion

31 December 2017

$1.323 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$735.9 million

31 December 2017

$768.8 million

Taxes And Other Revenues

29.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

8%

2017

9%

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 (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

6.7 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

88.4% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

92.2% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

97.1% (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

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 (2019)

Internet Country Code

.bz

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

44.6% (July 2016 est.)

Total

157,735

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 (2018)

General Assessment

govt telecom company, Belize Telemedia Ltd. (BTL), continues to hold a monopoly in fixed-line services and mobile and broadband fixed-line teledensity; small market, underinvestment with lack of competition, yet BTL reports stable telecom revenue for fiscal 2017 (2018)

International

country code - 501; landing points for the ARCOS and SEUL 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) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

6 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

23,000

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

63 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

227,000

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 54, container ship 4, general cargo 383, oil tanker 57, other 266 (2018)

Total

764

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

Belize City, Big Creek

Roadways

Paved

601 km (2017)

Total

3,281 km (2017)

Unpaved

2,680 km (2017)

Waterways

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

Military And Security Forces

Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

1.06% of GDP

2015

1.09% of GDP

2016

1.17% of GDP

2017

1.58% of GDP

2018

1.26% of GDP

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 interior; both 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 indefinitely; Belize 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)