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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.bz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

2,751 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

32,000 (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of 12 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 40 per 100 persons domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2007)

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

33,900 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

118,300 (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

5 (2006)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $307 million expenditures: $344 million (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

14.33% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Current account balance [time series]

-$43 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.2 billion (June 2005 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy, tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by exports of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered the economic growth in 2006 and 2007. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and unsustainable foreign debt. In February 2007, the government restructured nearly all of its public external commercial debt, which will reduce interest payments and relieve liquidity concerns. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

193.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

213.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$429 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 28.7%, UK 16.3%, Thailand 5.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.4%, Finland 4.2%, Spain 4% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.274 billion (2007 est.)

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

$2.444 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 21.3% industry: 13.7% services: 65% (2007 est.)

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

$7,900 (2007 est.)

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

2.2% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$642 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 31.2%, Mexico 13.6%, Cuba 8.5%, Guatemala 8%, Russia 4.6% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.5% (2007 est.)

Industries [time series]

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

19.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

113,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 22.5% industry: 15.2% services: 62.3% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

7,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

1,960 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports [time series]

7,122 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

3,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

6.7 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$109 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$877.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$323.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$549 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.4% (2006)

Geography

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: Doyle's Delight 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%) per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3.05% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 95.56% (2005)

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 negotiating 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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

18.6 cu km (2000)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Belmopan geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Robert J. DIETER embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize telephone: [501] 822-4011 FAX: [501] 822-4012

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ 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 Dean BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: 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, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 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; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

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

National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito BAUTISTA]

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

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene GOMEZ]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 74,605 females age 16-49: 72,926 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 54,627 females age 16-49: 53,500 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 3,580 female: 3,449 (2008 est.)

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

Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing, BDF Volunteer Guard (2007)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.4% of GDP (2006)

Military service 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 (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38.4% (male 58,987/female 56,674) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 88,521/female 86,450) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,095/female 5,543) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.3% of GDP (2004)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

2.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

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

3,600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 23.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.19 years male: 66.39 years female: 70.08 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.9% male: 76.7% female: 77.1% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

Median age [time series]

total: 20.1 years male: 20 years female: 20.3 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate [time series]

NA (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

301,270 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.207% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2004)

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: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures saw cooperation in repatriation of Guatemalan squatters and other areas, but Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea remain unresolved; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; Honduras claims Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its constitution but agreed to a joint ecological park under the Differendum

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector

Transportation

Airports [time series]

44 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 216 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 32, cargo 152, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 178 (Australia 1, China 71, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, Estonia 6, Greece 1, Iceland 2, Italy 3, Japan 8, South Korea 1, Latvia 12, Norway 3, Peru 1, Russia 31, Singapore 2, Spain 1, Turkey 15, Ukraine 7, UAE 5, UK 5) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Belize City, Big Creek

Roadways [time series]

total: 3,007 km paved: 575 km unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)

Waterways [time series]

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2007)