2000 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

22,800 sq km

total

22,960 sq km

water

160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate

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

Coastline

386 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Victoria Peak 1,160 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

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

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

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

total

516 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forests and woodland

92%

other

3% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

2%

Location

Middle 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 the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

Natural hazards

frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 54,009; female 51,945) 15-64 years: 54% (male 68,052; female 66,366) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,298; female 4,513) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

32.29 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

mestizo 44.1%, Creole 31%, Maya 9.2%, Garifuna 6.2%, other 9.5%

Infant mortality rate

25.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.28 years (2000 est.)

male

68.66 years

total population

70.91 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

70.3% (1991 est.)

male

70.3%

note

other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

total population

70.3%

Nationality

adjective

Belizean

noun

Belizean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

249,183 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.75% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.14 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Belmopan

Constitution

21 September 1981

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Belize

former

British Honduras

Data code

BH

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL

embassy

Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City

mailing address

P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025

telephone

(2) 77161 through 77163

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY

telephone

(202) 332-9636

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; governor general appoints the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)

FAX

(202) 332-6888

(2) 30802

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

21 September 1981 (from UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governor general; 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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3

elections

House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998 (next to be held NA August 2003)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Political parties and leaders

People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP

Political pressure groups and leaders

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR ; United Worker's Front

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$180 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

revenues

$140 million

Currency

1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$380 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$23.4 million (1995)

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 tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas. The new government faces important challenges to economic stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been promised, but a lack of progress in reining in spending could bring the exchange rate under pressure. The tourist and construction sectors strengthened in early 1999, leading to a preliminary estimate of revived growth at 4%.

Electricity - consumption

163 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

175 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

57.14%

hydro

42.86%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.0000 (fixed rate)

Exports

$150 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 45.5%, UK 30%, EU 10%, Caricom 4.2%, Mexico 3.4%, Canada 3.3% (1997)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $740 million (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

22%

industry

22%

services

56% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,100 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$320 million (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

-4.4% (1998)

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.9% (1999 est.)

Labor force

71,000

note

shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 38%, industry 32%, services 30% (1994)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

14.3% (1998)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

133,000 (1997)

Telephone system

above-average system

domestic

trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

29,600 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,237 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

41,000 (1997)

Airports

44 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 30 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

488 km

total

2,872 km

unpaved

2,384 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

note

a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries: Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1 (1998 est.)

ships by type

bulk 36, cargo 275, chemical tanker 7, container 9, liquified gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 51, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off 9, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.)

total

414 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,647,452 GRT/2,339,134 DWT

Ports and harbors

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Railways

0 km

Waterways

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

Military branches

Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$15 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 60,482 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 35,874 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

2,735 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

territory in Belize claimed by Guatemala; precise alignment of boundary in dispute

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering center

BENIN