2004 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

22,806 sq km

total

22,966 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)

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 and sewage waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

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

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

total

516 km

Land use

arable land

2.85%

other

95.44% (2001)

permanent crops

1.71%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

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

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from

Natural hazards

frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) 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: 40.6% (male 56,530; female 54,322) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 77,118; female 75,309) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,674; female 4,992) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

29.89 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

22.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

29.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

26.37 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

69.86 years (2004 est.)

male

65.11 years

total population

67.43 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.1% (2003 est.)

male

94.1%

total population

94.1%

Median age

female

19.3 years (2004 est.)

male

19 years

total

19.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Belizean

noun

Belizean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

272,945 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

2.39% (2004 est.)

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)

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.77 children born/woman (2004 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

FAX: [501] 2-30802

chief of mission

Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN

embassy

29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City

mailing address

P. O. Box 286, Belize City

telephone

[501] 227-7161 through 7163

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888

chancery

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

telephone

[1] (202) 332-9636

Executive branch

represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)

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

the prime minister

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

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general

head of government

Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28

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, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

English law

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)

to be held NA March 2008)

PUP 21, UDP 8

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -

elections

House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments

Budget

million (2003 est.)

expenditures

$300 million, including capital expenditures of $70

revenues

$222 million

Currency

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code

BZD

Current account balance

$-142 million (2003)

Debt - external

$475 million (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

NA

Economy - overview

In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by cane sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000, 4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. 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.

Electricity - consumption

185.5 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

199.5 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999)

Exports

$207.8 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 39.1%, UK 25%, France 4% (2003)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

22.7%

industry

24.5%

services

52.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$500.6 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 41.9%, Mexico 12.4%, UK 5.9%, Cuba 5.5% (2003) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $84.7 million (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

4.6% (1999)

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

33% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

90,000

(2001 est.)

note

shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel

Labor force - by occupation

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

Oil - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

33% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.1% (2002)

Internet country code

.bz

Internet hosts

2,613 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

30,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

133,000 (1997)

Telephone system

Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic

trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay

general assessment

above-average system

international

country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1

Telephones - main lines in use

33,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

60,400 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

41,000 (1997)

Airports

43 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2

total

5

under 914 m

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11

total

38

under 914 m

26 (2004 est.)

Highways

paved

488 km

total

2,872 km

unpaved

2,384 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

combination ore/oil 1, container 10, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 2

Cambodia 6, China 67, Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 8, Germany 5, Greece 2, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia 4, Italy 2, Japan 5, Jordan 1, South Korea 13, Latvia 5, Liberia 2, Malaysia 4, Malta 1, Isle of Man 1, Marshall Islands 16, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 2, Panama 15, Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Russia 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 9, Spain 6, Switzerland 2, Taiwan 1, Thailand 3, Tunisia 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 3, United Kingdom 1, United States 3, Yemen 1

by type

bulk 13, cargo 240, chemical tanker 11, combination bulk 4,

foreign-owned

Bahamas 2, Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 11,

registered in other countries

25 (2004 est.)

total

336 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT

Ports and harbors

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Waterways

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$18 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

68,518 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

40,619 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

3,122 (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along the border region; an OAS brokered Differendum in 2002 created a small adjustment to the land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to popular referendum leaving Guatemala to continue to claim the southern half of Belize

Illicit drugs

major 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 This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Benin