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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

8 privately-owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV provides access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations broadcasting on roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio was privatized in 1998 (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.bz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

2,880 (2010) country comparison to the world: 147

Internet users [time series]

36,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 178

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: above-average system; trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay domestic: fixed-line teledensity of 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 60 per 100 persons 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) (2008)

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

30,300 (2010) country comparison to the world: 181

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

194,200 (2010) country comparison to the world: 177

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $350 million expenditures: $400 million (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-3.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Central bank discount rate [time series]

18% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 12% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

13.9% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 14.1% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$24.1 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 -$82.8 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.01 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $954.1 million (2008 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner in this small economy, 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 GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered this growth. Exploration efforts have continued and production has increased a small amount. In February 2007, the government restructured nearly all of its public external commercial debt, which helped reduce interest payments and relieved some of the country's liquidity concerns. Growth slipped to 0% in 2009 and 1.5% in 2010 as a result of the global slowdown, natural disasters, and the drop in the price of oil. With weak economic growth and a large public debt burden, fiscal spending is likely to be tight. A key government objective remains the reduction of poverty and inequality with the help of international donors. Although Belize has the second highest per capita income in Central America, the average income figure masks a huge income disparity between rich and poor. The 2010 Poverty Assessment shows that more than 4 out of 10 people live in poverty. The sizable trade deficit and heavy foreign debt burden continue to be major concerns.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

200.4 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

215.5 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Exchange rates [time series]

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2010) 2 (2009) 2 (2008) 2 (2007) 2 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$475.7 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $383.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 30.3%, UK 20.8%, Costa Rica 12.7%, Cote dIvoire 4.6%, Nigeria 4.6% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.396 billion (2010 est.)

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

$2.651 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 $2.599 billion (2009 est.) $2.6 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 21.6% industry: 20.2% services: 58.2% (2010 est.)

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

$8,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 $8,400 (2009 est.) $8,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 0% (2009 est.) 3.8% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$647.2 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $620.5 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 34%, Mexico 14.3%, Cuba 9.5%, Guatemala 7.6%, China 4.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.3% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Industries [time series]

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 -1.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

24.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Labor force [time series]

120,500 country comparison to the world: 178 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2008 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 10.2% industry: 18.1% services: 71.7% (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Oil - consumption [time series]

7,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Oil - imports [time series]

7,326 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Oil - production [time series]

4,252 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

6.7 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Population below poverty line [time series]

43% (2010 est.)

Public debt [time series]

83% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 83.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$201.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $213.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.282 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $1.084 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$950 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$354 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $356.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

25.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Unemployment rate [time series]

13.1% (2009) country comparison to the world: 138 8.2% (2008)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 22,966 sq km country comparison to the world: 152 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]

40 sq km (2008)

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 Vinai THUMMALAPALLY 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 Oliver 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 from the General Assembly (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition 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 of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various elements of the coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahogany tree, and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry that led to British settlement of Belize note: Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts human beings; two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, also depict humans

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

21 September 1981 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, 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); Court of Appeal; Privy Council in the UK; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ); Summary Jurisdiction Courts (criminal) and District Courts (civil jurisdiction)

Legal system [time series]

English common law

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 on 6 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 56.3%, PUP 40.9%; seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Land of the Free" lyrics/music: Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG note: adopted 1981; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

National symbol(s) [time series]

Baird's tapir (a large, browsing, forest-dwelling mammal); keel-billed toucan

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 [John BRICENO]; 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 [Nicole HAYLOCK]; 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 and the two countries are involved in an ongoing border dispute. Guatemala and Belize plan to hold a simultaneous referendum to determine if this dispute will go before the International Court of Justice at The Hague, though they have not yet set a date. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high unemployment, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, high crime rates, and one of the highest prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS in Central America.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 81,284 females age 16-49: 79,185 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 59,431 females age 16-49: 57,221 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 3,723 female: 3,584 (2010 est.)

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

Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing (includes Special Boat Unit), BDF Volunteer Guard (2011)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 105

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; law allows for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2008)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36.8% (male 60,327/female 57,933) 15-64 years: 59.6% (male 96,886/female 94,605) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,404/female 5,960) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

26.43 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

4.9% (2006) country comparison to the world: 86

Death rate [time series]

5.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 0% of population total: 1% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.7% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 36

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]

2.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

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

4,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

3.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 174

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 144

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 21.95 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 91 male: 24.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 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: 68.23 years country comparison to the world: 154 male: 66.53 years female: 70.02 years (2011 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 urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

BELMOPAN (capital) 20,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

94 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 75

Median age [time series]

total: 21 years male: 20.8 years female: 21.2 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.828 physicians/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 110

Population [time series]

321,115 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Population growth rate [time series]

2.056% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 25.5% (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)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 93% of population rural: 86% of population total: 90% of population unimproved: urban: 7% of population rural: 14% of population total: 10% of population (2008)

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

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2009)

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: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.21 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 19.5% country comparison to the world: 60 male: 13.8% female: 28.8% (2005)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 52% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; offshore sector money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and other crimes (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

45 (2010) country comparison to the world: 96

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 27 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 231 country comparison to the world: 33 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 37, cargo 146, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 10 foreign-owned: 171 (Chile 1, China 64, Croatia 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Greece 2, Iceland 2, Italy 3, Japan 1, Latvia 10, Lithuania 2, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 2, Norway 3, Peru 1, Russia 32, Singapore 7, Spain 1, Syria 2, Turkey 18, UAE 5, UK 4, Ukraine 6) (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Belize City, Big Creek

Roadways [time series]

total: 3,007 km country comparison to the world: 166 paved: 575 km unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)

Waterways [time series]

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2010) country comparison to the world: 71