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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $140 million expenditures: $142 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$217 million (1996)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

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 more than one-third 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 is likely to continue in 1998. Political tension in the run-up to the elections will tend to discourage investment, already suffering as a result of tight monetary and fiscal policies. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas and could increase further if a pre-election boost in government spending leads to a rise in imports. The ruling in 1997 by the World Trade Organization against the European Union's banana import regime-which had granted Belize preferential treatment - is also hurting the prospects for growth, and could contribute to an increase in already high unemployment.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

23,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

491 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

105 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

total value: $166 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood partners: US 44%, UK 42%, other EU 5%, Canada 3% (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April-31 March Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$680 million (1997 est.)

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

agriculture: 20% industry: 27% services: 53% (1996 est.)

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

purchasing power parity-$3,000 (1997 est.)

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

2.9% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $262 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 55%, Mexico 12%, UK 5% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.2% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

1% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 71,000 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 (1997 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 9, 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]

29,000 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

27,048 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

13% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 22,960 sq km land: 22,800 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

386 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geography - note (Geography-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

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1993 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: 1% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 92% other: 3% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

arable land potential, timber, fish

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

Constitution [time series]

21 September 1981

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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: [501] (2) 77161 through 77163

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (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 July 1993) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; prime minister appointed by the governor general

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

[1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles mailing address: 5825 W. Sunset Boulevard, Suite 206, Hollywood, CA 90028 telephone: [1] (213) 469-7343

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

[501] (2) 30802

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

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, 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 consists of the Senate (8 members; members are appointed for five-year terms, five 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.) and the National Assembly (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly-last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held no later than September 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PUP 13, UDP 15, NABR 1

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Belmopan

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

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

People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW]; National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR [Philip GOLDSON]

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

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Assad SHOMAN]; United Workers Front

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$15 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 56,142 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 33,328 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 2,536 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42% (male 49,486; female 47,596) 15-64 years: 54% (male 63,259; female 61,567) 65 years and over: 4% (male 4,048; female 4,204) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

31.05 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

32.36 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.97 years male: 67.01 years female: 71.03 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 14 and over has ever attended school total population: 70.3% male: 70.3% female: 70.3% (1991 est.) note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

230,160 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.42% (1998 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 (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.87 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

44 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 30 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,248 km paved: 427 km unpaved: 1,821 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 265 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,298,562 GRT/2,055,027 DWT ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 184, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 26, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 8 countries: Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 1, Panama 1, Singapore 2, UAE 2, and US 1 (1997 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [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