2021 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

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% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 3.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 2.2% (2018 est.)

forest

60.6% (2018 est.)

other

32.5% (2018 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

32.57% (male 66,454/female 63,700)

15-24 years

19% (male 39,238/female 36,683)

25-54 years

37.72% (male 73,440/female 77,300)

55-64 years

6.18% (male 12,235/female 12,444)

65 years and over

4.53% (male 8,781/female 9,323) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

21.62 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.6% (2015/16)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

51.4% (2015/16)

Current Health Expenditure

5.7% (2018)

Death rate

3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2021 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

7.6

potential support ratio

13.1 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

52

youth dependency ratio

44.4

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 98.6% of population

improved: total

total: 99.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.8% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

7.9% of GDP (2020)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,800 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

10.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

12.64 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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); note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2010 est.)

major-language sample(s)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.24 years (2021 est.)

male

73.96 years

total population

75.56 years

Major urban areas - population

23,000 BELMOPAN (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

24.8 years (2020 est.)

male

23 years

total

23.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Belizean

noun

Belizean(s)

Net migration rate

-0.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.1% (2016)

Physicians density

1.12 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

405,633 (July 2021 est.)

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

Population growth rate

1.67% (2021 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, Church of Jesus Christ, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 95.3% of population

improved: total

total: 96.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 98.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 4.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 3.1% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2020)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.07 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.94 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.66 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

28.5% (2019 est.)

male

12.7%

total

19.3%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

46.2% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

the decision to move the capital of the country inland to higher and more stable land was made in the 1960s; the name chosen for the new city was formed from the union of two words: "Belize," the name of the longest river in the country, and "Mopan," one of the rivers in the area of the new capital that empties into the Belize River

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 2017

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’Affaires Leyla MOSES-ONES(since August 2021)

email address and website

ACSBelize@state.govhttps://bz.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Floral Park Road, Belmopan, Cayo

FAX

(501) 822-4012

mailing address

3050 Belmopan Place, Washington DC  20521-3050

telephone

(501) 822-4011

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-2826

chief of mission

Ambassador Lynn Raymond YOUNG (since 7 July 2021)

consulate(s)

Miami

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York (consular services temporarily suspended beginning 18 December 2020)

email address and website

reception.usa@mfa.gov.bzhttps://www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/

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 Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021)

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 Juan Antonio BRICENO (since 12 November 2020); Deputy Prime Minister Cordel HYDE (since 16 November 2020)

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

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

election results

Senate - all members appointed; composition - men 9, women 5, percent of women 35.7%House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PUP 59.6%, UDP 38.8%, other 1.6%; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 5; composition -  men 27, women 4, percent of women 12.9%; note - total percent of women in the National Assembly 20%

elections

Senate -  last appointed 11 November 2020 (next appointments in November 2025)House of Representatives - last held on 11 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2025)

note

 

National anthem

lyrics/music

Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG

name

Land of the Free

note

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

Agricultural products

sugar care, oranges, bananas, maize, poultry, rice, sorghum, papayas, grapefruit, soybeans

Budget

expenditures

572 million (2017 est.)

revenues

553.5 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Credit ratings

Moody's rating

Caa3 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating

CCC+ (2020)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$163 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$143 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$1.338 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$1.315 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic 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

currency

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

2 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

2 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

2 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

2 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

2 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$1.07 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$1.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$710 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities

raw sugar, bananas, fruit juice, fish products, crude petroleum (2019)

Exports - partners

United Kingdom 27%, United States 24%, Spain 6%, Jamaica 5%, Ireland 5% (2019)

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.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2018

$1.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$1.2 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$900 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cigarettes, recreational boats, natural gas, cars (2019)

Imports - partners

United States 36%, China 13%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 10% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.6% (2017 est.)

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

0.7% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.1% (2017 est.)

Labor force

120,500 (2008 est.)

note

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.)

Population below poverty line

41% (2013 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

95.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

99% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$2.78 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$2.83 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$2.43 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

3.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

-0.5% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

0.8% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$7,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$7,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$6,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$376.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$312.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

8% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

9% (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

28.5% (2019 est.)

male

12.7%

total

19.3%

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 - 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.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

100% (2018)

electrification - total population

99.5% (2018)

electrification - urban areas

98.2% (2018)

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

7.58 (2019 est.)

total

29,600 (2019)

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

47.08% (2019 est.)

total

188,900 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

5 per 100 fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 65 per 100 persons; mobile sector accounting for over 90% of all phone subscriptions (2019)

general assessment

Belize’s fixed-line tele-density and mobile penetration is lower than average for the region, due to insufficient competition, underinvestment in services, and lax standards; mobile accounts for 90% of all phones; operator aims to provide cheaper prices and customer retention through investment in broadband to over 80% of premises and LTE infrastructure; operator launched safe cities project to fight crime; government distributed tablets to students to promote e-learning; submarine cable to Ambergris Caye enables FttP service in San Pedro; importer of broadcast equipment from the United States (2020)

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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4.74 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

18,500 (2019)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

65.3 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

254,919 (2019)

Airports

total

47 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

6

under 914 m

3 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

11

total

41

under 914 m

29 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V3

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 54, container ship 1, general cargo 428, oil tanker 70, other 260 (2021)

total

813

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

3.78 million mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,297,533 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

28

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

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 - note

the BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala; the BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817 the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; as of 2021, the presence consisted of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partners

Military and security forces

Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard (independent from the BDF, but under the Ministry of Defense) (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Belize Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 1,300 active personnel; approximately 300 Belize Coast Guard (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the BDF's inventory is limited and consists mostly of UK- and US-origin equipment (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.3% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.3% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.2% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.2% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

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 (2021)

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

Belize is a transit country for illegal drugs, mainly cocaine, originating from countries in South America; low domestic drug consumption problem outside of recreational cannabis

Trafficking in persons

current situation

human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims and Belizeans abroad; Belizean and foreign women, men, and girls and LGBTI persons, mainly from Central America, are sex trafficked in bars, nightclubs, hotels, and brothels; men, women, and children from Central America, Mexico, and Asia may migrate voluntarily to Belize seeking work and then are subjected to forced labor in restaurants, shops, domestic work, and agriculture; foreign child sex tourists exploit children in tourist areas

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Belize does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities initiated more trafficking investigations, convicted a trafficker, screened for potential trafficking victims during labor inspections, and continued to implement a 2018-2020 national anti-trafficking action plan; anti-trafficking training was provided to the anti-trafficking police unit, immigration officers, prosecutors, judges, prison officials, and social workers; however, the government did not initiate any new trafficking prosecutions and continued to apply victim identification procedures inconsistently; corruption and official complicity in trafficking remained concerns, but no investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees were reported (2020)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.57 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.55 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

21.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, 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

Land use

agricultural land

6.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 3.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 2.2% (2018 est.)

forest

60.6% (2018 est.)

other

32.5% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.31% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

21.734 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

68.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

21.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

11.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

46.2% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

101,379 tons (2015 est.)