Country name conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras Background 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.Location Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Area total: 22,966 sq km
water: 160 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km Area - comparative slightly smaller than Massachusetts Coastline 386 km Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) Terrain flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m Natural hazards frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) Environment - current issues deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal Geography - note only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean Population 266,440 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 41.1% (male 55,880; female 53,706)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 74,612; female 72,813)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,571; female 4,858) (2003 est.) Median age total: 18.9 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 19 years (2002) Sex ratio 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 (2003 est.) Nationality noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean Ethnic groups mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% Religions 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) Languages English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole Internet country code .bz Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.) Government type parliamentary democracy National holiday Independence Day, 21 September (1981) Legal system English law International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Economy - overview 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. Exports - partners US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002) Currency Belizean dollar (BZD) Currency code BZD Exchange rates Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999), 2 (1998) Airports 42 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002) Airports - with unpaved runways total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 27 (2002) Disputes - international Guatemala has claimed half of southern Belize; Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along the border despite a 2000 agreement; OAS brokered a Differendum in 2002 that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in the Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to a popular referendum |
