Belize

Belize

Introduction

Background

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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 22,966 sq km
country comparison to the world: 152 land:22,806 sq km
water:160 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

386 km

Maritime claims

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

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:Doyle’s Delight 1,160 m

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

18.6 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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

Environment – international agreements

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

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Belizean(s)
adjective:Belizean

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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)

Religions

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)

Population

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

Age structure

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.)

Median age

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

Population growth rate

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

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

BELMOPAN (capital) 20,000 (2009)

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

Maternal mortality rate

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

Infant mortality rate

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.23 years
country comparison to the world: 154 male:66.53 years
female:70.02 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

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

Health expenditures

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

Physicians density

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

Hospital bed density

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

Drinking water source

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)

Sanitation facility access

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)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

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

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

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

HIV/AIDS – deaths

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

Major infectious diseases

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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Education expenditures

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

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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

Government

Country name

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

6 districts

Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence

21 September 1981 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution

21 September 1981

Legal system

English common law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

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 the World 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

Legislative branch

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

Judicial branch

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)

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

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]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

Baird’s tapir (a large, browsing, forest-dwelling mammal)

keel-billed toucan

National anthem

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)

Economy

Economy – overview

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$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 (official exchange rate)

$1.396 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146 0% (2009 est.)
3.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$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

GDP – composition by sector

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

Labor force

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

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

Unemployment rate

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

Population below poverty line

43% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Investment (gross fixed)

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

Budget

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

Taxes and other revenues

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Public debt

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

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

Stock of narrow money

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

Stock of broad money

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

Stock of domestic credit

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar

fish, cultured shrimp

lumber

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Industrial production growth rate

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

Electricity – production

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

Electricity – consumption

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

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

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

Oil – consumption

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

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Oil – imports

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

Oil – proved reserves

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

Natural gas – production

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

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas – exports

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

Natural gas – imports

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

Natural gas – proved reserves

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

Current account balance

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

Exports

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

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

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

Imports

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

Imports – commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods

fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

food, beverages, tobacco

Imports – partners

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Debt – external

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

Exchange rates

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

Transportation

Airports

45 (2010)
country comparison to the world:96

Airports – with paved runways

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

Airports – with unpaved runways

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

Roadways

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

Waterways

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

Merchant marine

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 and terminals

Belize City, Big Creek

Military

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

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)

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military expenditures

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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

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)