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Communications

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 - $8.1 million, NA% of GDP (FY95/96)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 52,290 males fit for military service: 31,086 males reach military age (18) annually: 2,390 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

15,917 (1990 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

27,048 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

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: ODA, $NA

Economic 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.

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 38%, UK, other EC (1994)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$167.5 million (1992)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 30% industry: NA services: NA (1995 est.)

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

$2,750 (1994 est.)

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

2% (1994 est.)

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 53%, UK, other EC, Mexico (1994)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.7% (1990)

Industries [time series]

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.3% (1994 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)

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, Whaling

Geographic coordinates [time series]

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geography - note (Geographic 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

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 border countries: 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 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 resources [time series]

arable land potential, timber, fish

Terrain [time series]

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

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

Data code [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), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993), who, according to the constitution, must be a Belizean; was appointed by the queen head of government: Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993) cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice of 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)

International organization participation [time series]

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, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

English law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly

Country name (Name of country) [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 NA 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 eight-member appointed body; five members are appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one 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 of government) [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: 43% (male 48,291; female 46,451) 15-64 years: 53% (male 59,132; female 57,498) 65 years and over: 4% (male 3,881; female 4,043) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.53 years male: 66.58 years female: 70.58 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 14 and over has ever attended school (1991 est.) total population: 70.3% male: 70.3% female: 70.3%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

219,296 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.42% (1996 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)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.96 male(s)/female all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 35 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 25 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,560 km paved: 336 km unpaved: 2,224 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 311,731 GRT/470,272 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 60, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

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