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Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime.

[edit] Geography

Location 

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

Geographic coordinates 

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references 

Central America and the Caribbean

Area 

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

Area - comparative 

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries 

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

Coastline 

386 km

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 the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

Climate 

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

Terrain 

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Natural resources 

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use 

arable land: 2.81%
permanent crops: 1.1%
other: 96.09% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards 

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

Environment - current issues 

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Environment - international agreements 

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note 

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

[edit] People

Population 

262,999 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 41.6% (male 55,716; female 53,581)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 73,068; female 71,368)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,511; female 4,755) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

2.65% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

31.08 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio 

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

24.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 71.46 years
female: 73.87 years (2002 est.)
male: 69.17 years

Total fertility rate 

3.96 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

2.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

2,400 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

170 (1999 est.)

Nationality 

noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups 

mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%

Religions 

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% (2000)

Languages 

English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Literacy 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

[edit] Government

Country name 

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

Government type 

parliamentary democracy

Capital 

Belmopan

Administrative divisions 

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

Independence 

21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday 

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution 

21 September 1981

Legal system 

English law

Suffrage 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch 

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; 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

Legislative branch 

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one 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)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8

Judicial branch 

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

Political parties and leaders 

People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders 

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]

International organization participation 

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
telephone: [501] 227-7161
FAX: [501] 230-802

Flag description 

blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

[edit] Economy

Economy - overview 

The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.4% in 1999 and 10.5% in 2000. Growth decelerated in 2001 to 3% due to the global slowdown and severe hurricane damage to agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Major concerns continue to be the rapidly expanding trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $830 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $3,250 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line 

33% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

1.7% (2001 est.)

Labor force 

90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation 

agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate 

11.5% (2000) (2000)

Budget 

revenues: $186 million
expenditures: $253 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.)

Industries 

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate 

4.6% (1999) (1999)

Electricity - production 

192 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 

178.56 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp

Exports 

$239.6 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities 

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

Exports - partners 

EU 45% (UK 33%), US 42%, Caricom 6%, Canada 1% (1999)

Imports 

$505 million c.i.f. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities 

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

Imports - partners 

US 51%, Mexico 12%, Central America 5%, UK 4% (1999)

Debt - external 

$500 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient 

$NA

Currency 

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code 

BZD

Exchange rates 

Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

Fiscal year 

1 April - 31 March

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

31,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

3,023 (1997)

Telephone system 

general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios 

133,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

2 (1997)

Televisions 

41,000 (1997)

Internet country code 

.bz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

2 (2000)

Internet users 

18,000 (2002)

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

0 km

Highways 

total: 2,880 km
paved: 490 km
unpaved: 2,390 km (1998 est.)

Waterways 

825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable)

Ports and harbors 

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Merchant marine 

total: 315 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,240,551 GRT/1,761,168 DWT
ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 204, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, container 12, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 39, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 2, Belgium 3, British Virgin Islands 6, Cambodia 1, China 38, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Eritrea 1, Estonia 7, Germany 3, Greece 4, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 6, Italy 2, Japan 4, Jordan 1, Lebanon 1, Liberia 5, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall Islands 13, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 12, Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Romania 1, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, South Korea 10, Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 3, United Arab Emirates 9, United Kingdom 2, United States 4, Virgin Islands (UK) 6, Yemen 1 (2002 est.)

Airports 

44 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 27 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military branches 

Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)

Military manpower - military age 

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 64,909 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 38,472 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually 

males: 2,847 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$7.7 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

1.87% (FY00/01)

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

the "Line of Adjacency" established in 2000 as an agreed limit to check squatters settling in Belize, remains in place while the Organization of American States (OAS) assists states to resolve Guatemalan territorial claims in Belize and Guatemalan maritime access to the Caribbean Sea; Honduras claims the Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize

Illicit drugs 

major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; some money-laundering activity related to offshore sector