from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Belize
Introduction
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 high
unemployment, growing involvement in the South American
drug trade, and increasing urban crime.
Geography
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Mexico
Geographic 17 15 N, 88 45 W
coordinates:
Map Central America and the Caribbean
references:
Area: total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Massachusetts
comparative:
Land total: 516 km
boundaries: border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south;
claims: 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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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 lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Natural arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
resources:
Land use: arable land: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005)
Irrigated 30 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and
hazards: coastal flooding (especially in south)
Environment - deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial
current effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste
issues: disposal
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - only country in Central America without a coastline on
note: the North Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 287,730 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.5% (male 57,923/female 55,678)
15-64 years: 57% (male 82,960/female 81,046)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,888/female 5,235) (2006
est.)
Median age: total: 19.6 years
male: 19.5 years
female: 19.8 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.31% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 28.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 24.89 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 28.07 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 21.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 68.3 years
expectancy at male: 66.43 years
birth: female: 70.26 years (2006 est.)
Total 3.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 2.4% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 3,600 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 200 (2003 est.)
deaths:
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% (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: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib),
Creole
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Government parliamentary democracy
type:
Capital: name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann
divisions: Creek, Toledo
Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)
National Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
holiday:
Constitution: 21 September 1981
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
branch: 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 bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12
branch: 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)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March
2003 (next to be held March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - PUP 21, UDP 8
Judicial Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the
branch: governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
Political People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United
parties and Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader;
leaders: Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or
pressure SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]
groups and
leaders:
International ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
organization ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
participation: IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
representation chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER
representation embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City
from the US: mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 223-0802
Flag blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the
description: 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
Economy
Economy - In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy
overview: the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange
earner followed by 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 5% in
1999-2005. Major concerns continue to be the sizable
trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term
objective remains the reduction of poverty with the
help of international donors.
GDP $1.778 billion (2004 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $908 million (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 3.8% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $6,800 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 14.2%
composition by industry: 15.2%
sector: services: 61.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of
technical personnel (2001 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 27%
by occupation: industry: 18%
services: 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment 12.9% (2003)
rate:
Population 33% (1999 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 3% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 17.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $262 million
expenditures: $329 million; including capital
expenditures of $70 million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp;
products: lumber; garments
Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism,
construction
Industrial 4.6% (1999)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 120 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 59.9%
production by hydro: 40.1%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 111.6 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003)
production:
Oil - 6,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-180 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $349.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products,
commodities: molasses, wood
Exports - US 30.6%, UK 25%, France 4.8% (2005)
partners:
Imports: $622.4 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods;
commodities: fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages,
tobacco
Imports - US 31%, Mexico 11.6%, Russia 8.8%, Cuba 6%, Guatemala
partners: 5.6%, China 4.6%, Spain 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of $87 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $NA
recipient:
Currency Belizean dollar (BZD)
(code):
Currency code: BZD
Exchange Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2
rates: (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications
Telephones - 33,300 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 93,100 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: above-average system
system: domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave
radio relay
international: country code - 501; satellite earth
station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005)
Radio AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 133,000 (1997)
Television 2 (1997)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 41,000 (1997)
Internet .bz
country code:
Internet 3,905 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 2 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 35,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 43 (2006)
Airports - total: 5
with paved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - total: 38
with unpaved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1999)
Waterways: 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2005)
Merchant total: 285 ships (1000 GRT or over) 985,464 GRT/
marine: 1,322,629 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 36, cargo 203, chemical tanker 7,
container 4, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 13,
refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 6, specialized
tanker 1
foreign-owned: 225 (China 103, Croatia 1, Cyprus 2,
Estonia 3, Germany 3, Greece 2, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 2,
Indonesia 2, Italy 4, Japan 2, North Korea 2, South
Korea 4, Latvia 6, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 1, Mexico 1,
Norway 2, Poland 2, Russia 36, Singapore 6, Spain 3,
Switzerland 1, Turkey 11, UAE 5, Ukraine 7, US 5)
(2006)
Ports and Belize City
terminals:
Military
Military Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air
branches: Wing, and Volunteer Guard
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws
service age allow for conscription only if volunteers are
and insufficient; conscription has never been implemented;
obligation: volunteers typically outnumber available positions by
3:1 (2001)
Manpower males age 18-49: 61,201
available for females age 18-49: 60,048 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 44,238
for military females age 18-49: 43,633 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 3,213
reaching females age 18-49: 3,100 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $19 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.7% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely
international: uninhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS
seeks to revive the 2002 failed Belize-Guatemala
Differendum that created a small adjustment to land
boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean,
joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and
substantial US-UK financial package
Trafficking in current situation: Belize is a source, transit, and
persons: destination country for men, women, and children
trafficked for the purposes of labor and sexual
exploitation; women and girls are trafficked mainly
from Central America, and exploited in prostitution;
children are trafficked to Belize for labor
exploitation; Belize's largely unmonitored borders with
Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico facilitate the movement
of illegal migrants who are vulnerable to traffickers;
girls are trafficked within the country for sexual
exploitation, sometimes with the consent and complicity
of their close relatives; there are unconfirmed reports
that Indian and Chinese migrants are trafficked for
involuntary servitude in homes and shops
tier rating: Tier 3 - Belize has failed to show
evidence of significant law enforcement or victim
protection efforts
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit
producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
money-laundering activity related to narcotics
trafficking and offshore sector