World Facts Index
 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.
Geography of Belize
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Location:
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Middle America, bordering
the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico |
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Coordinates:
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17 15 N, 88 45 W |
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Area:
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total: 22,966 sq km
water: 160 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly smaller than
Massachusetts |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km |
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Coastline:
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386 km |
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Maritime claims:
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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 the
negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with
Guatemala |
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Climate:
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tropical; very hot and
humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) |
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Terrain:
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flat, swampy coastal plain;
low mountains in south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m |
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Natural resources:
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arable land potential,
timber, fish, hydropower |
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Natural hazards:
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frequent, devastating
hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; water
pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid
and sewage waste disposal |
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Geography - note:
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only country in Central
America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
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More Geography
Population of Belize
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Population:
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301,270 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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19.6 years |
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Infant mortality:
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24.89 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 68.19 years
male: 66.39 years
female: 70.08 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.6 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean |
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%,
Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27%
(Anglican 5.3%, Methodist 3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal
7.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% |
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Languages:
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English (official), Spanish, Mayan,
Garifuna (Carib), Creole |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Belmopan |
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Administrative divisions:
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6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange
Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo |
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Independence:
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21 September 1981 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21 September (1981) |
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Constitution:
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21 September 1981 |
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Legal system:
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English law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12
members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on
the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council
of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and
the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the
House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
five-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (the chief justice is
appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister) |
Economy
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.
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GDP:
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$2.444 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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3.8% |
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GDP per capita:
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$7,900 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 14.2%
industry: 15.2%
services: 61.2% |
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Inflation rate:
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3% |
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Labor force:
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90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 27%
industry: 18%
services: 55% |
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Unemployment:
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12.9% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $262 million
expenditures: $329 million |
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Industries:
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garment production, food processing,
tourism, construction |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
other: 0%
nuclear: 0% |
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Agriculture:
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bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish,
cultured shrimp; lumber; garments |
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Exports:
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sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish
products, molasses, wood |
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Export partners:
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US 30.6%, UK 25.1%, Jamaica 4.9%, France 4.8% |
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Imports:
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machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco |
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Import partners:
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US 29.9%, Mexico 10%, Russia 9%, Guatemala 6.2%, Cuba 6%,
China 4.4%, Spain 4.2% |
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Currency:
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Belizean dollar (BZD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |