Internet country code [time series]

.bz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

2,613 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

30,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

33,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

60,400 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $222 million expenditures: $300 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

BZD

Current account balance [time series]

$-142 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$475 million (2001 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

185.5 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

199.5 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

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

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

agriculture: 22.7% industry: 24.5% services: 52.8% (2003 est.)

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

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

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

3.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 41.9%, Mexico 12.4%, UK 5.9%, Cuba 5.5% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.6% (1999)

Industries [time series]

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

33% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

90,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

33% (1999 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$84.7 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.1% (2002)

Area [time series]

total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Climate [time series]

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

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 [time series]

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

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geography - note [time series]

only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

Irrigated land [time series]

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 1.71% other: 95.44% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

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 exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Natural resources [time series]

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Belmopan

Constitution [time series]

21 September 1981

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 FAX: [501] 2-30802

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general 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

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, 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 [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

English law

Legislative branch [time series]

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) elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8

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 [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]

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

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$18 million (2003)

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

2% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 68,518 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 40,619 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

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 [time series]

males: 3,122 (2004 est.)

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

2.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

3,600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 26.37 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.43 years male: 65.11 years female: 69.86 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.1% male: 94.1% female: 94.1% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 19.1 years male: 19 years female: 19.3 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

272,945 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.39% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

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 [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.77 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Airports [time series]

43 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 336 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT by type: bulk 13, cargo 240, chemical tanker 11, combination bulk 4, 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 foreign-owned: Bahamas 2, Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 11, 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 registered in other countries: 25 (2004 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Waterways [time series]

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