| 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 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. |
| Location |
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico |
| Area |
total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 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) |
| Terrain |
lat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south |
| Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m |
| Natural resources |
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower |
| Land use |
arable land: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005) |
| 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 |
| Geography - note |
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean |
| Population |
301,270 (July 2008 est.) |
| Age structure |
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) (2008 est.) |
| Population growth rate |
2.207% (2008 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate |
total: 23.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth |
total population: 68.19 years
male: 66.39 years
female: 70.08 years (2008 est.) |
| Ethnic groups |
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% (2000 census) |
| Religions |
Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000) |
| Languages |
Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census) |
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census) |
| Government type |
parliamentary democracy |
| Capital |
Belmopan |
| Independence |
21 September 1981 (from UK) |
| Legal system |
English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage |
18 years of age; universal |
| 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
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| Economy - overview |
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. |
| GDP - per capita |
$7,900 (2007 est.) |
| Labor force |
113,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2006 est.) |
| Unemployment rate |
9.4% (2006) |
| Industries |
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil |
| Agriculture - products |
bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments |
| Exports - commodities |
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood |
| Imports - commodities |
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco |
