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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

8,650 telephones; above-average system based on microwave radio relay local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $11 million, 2.2% of GDP (FY93/94) BENIN

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 50,499; males fit for military service 30,040; males reach military age (18) annually 2,285 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

commercial crops: bananas, coca, citrus fruits, fish, cultured shrimp, lumber

Budget [time series]

revenues: $126.8 million expenditures: $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY90/91 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 34,532 kW production: 110 million kWh consumption per capita: 490 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)

Exports [time series]

$115 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood partners: US 51%, UK, other EC (1992)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$158 million (1992)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$281 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 57%, UK 8%, other EC 7%, Mexico (1992)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 3.7% (1990); accounts for 12% of GDP

Industries [time series]

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.5% (1991)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $575 million (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$2,750 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

2% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification program.

Unemployment rate [time series]

10% (1993 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 22,960 sq km land area: 22,800 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

386 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

border with Guatemala in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are stalled

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 516 km, Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 44% other: 52%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

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 miles; 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 resources [time series]

arable land potential, timber, fish

Note [time series]

national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

Terrain [time series]

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Belmopan

Constitution [time series]

21 September 1981

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dean R. LINDO chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice from the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[501] (2) 30802

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

21 September 1981 (from UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

English law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Assembly) [time series]

elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 13 UDP 15

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN; United Workers Front, leader NA

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA; United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW; National Alliance for Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

consists of an 8-member appointed body; 5 members are appointed on the advice of the prime minister, 2 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 after consultation with the Belize Advisory Council (this council serves as an independent body to advise the governor-general with respect to difficult decisions such as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador George Charles BRUNO embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City; APO: Unit 7401, APO AA 34025 telephone: [501] (2) 77161 through 77163

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44% (female 45,812; male 47,618) 15-64 years: 53% (female 55,630; male 57,230) 65 years and over: 3% (female 3,970; male 3,801) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

33.71 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

34.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

51,500 by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3% note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.32 years male: 66.37 years female: 70.36 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 91% male: 91% female: 91%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

214,061 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.42% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

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)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.25 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 46 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 35 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,710 km paved: 500 km unpaved: gravel 1,600 km; improved earth 300 km; unimproved earth 310 km

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 170,002 GRT/270,893 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 25, container 4, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 1

Ports [time series]

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km