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Introduction Belize
Background:
 Territorial disputes between UK and Guatemala delayed independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize new nation until 1992. Tourism has become mainstay of economy. country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in South American drug trade, and increased urban crime.
Geography Belize
Location:
 Middle America, bordering Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Geographic coordinates:
 17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references:
 Central America and Caribbean
Area:
 total: 22,966 sq km
water: 160 sq km
land: 22,806 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:
 exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM in north, 3 NM in south; note - from mouth of Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 NM; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
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 resources:
 arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land: 2.81%
permanent crops: 1.1%
other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 30 sq km (1998 est.)
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of selected agreements
Geography - note:
 only country in Central America without a coastline on North Pacific Ocean
People Belize
Total 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)
Population growth rate:
 2.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
 30.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
 6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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
Population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
 total: 27.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 30.56 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy:
 Population: 67.36 years
male: 65.19 years
female: 69.63 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
 3.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
 2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
 2,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
 300 (2001 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
Literacy:
 definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Government Belize
Country name:
 conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Government type:
 parliamentary democracy
Capital:
 Belmopan
Administrative divisions:
 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:
 21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday:
 Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:
 21 September 1981
Legal system:
 English law
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 Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on advice of prime minister
elections: none; monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by monarch; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by governor general; prime minister recommends deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
 bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (12 members appointed by governor general - six on advice of prime minister, three on advice of leader of opposition, and one each on advice of Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Belize Better Business Bureau, and National Trade Union Congress and Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and 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
Judicial branch:
 Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by governor general on advice of prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:
 People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
 Society for Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]
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
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from US:
 chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 30802
Flag description:
 blue with a narrow red stripe along top and bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing coat of arms; coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in Shade) on a scroll at bottom, all encircled by a green garland
Economy Belize
Economy - overview:
 In this limited , essentially private enterprise economy tourism industry is number one foreign exchange earner followed by cane sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. 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 sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains reduction of poverty with help of international donors.
GDP:
 buying power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
 3.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
 buying power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
 agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
 33% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
 lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
 1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
 90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
Labor force - by occupation:
 agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
 9.1% (2002)
Budget:
 revenues: $224 million
expenditures: $209 million, includes capital expenditures of $70 million (2002 est.)
Industries:
 garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
 4.6% (1999)
Electricity - production:
 199.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
 fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
 185.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
 0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
 5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
 NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
 NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
 bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Exports:
 $290 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
 sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners:
 US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002)
Imports:
 $430 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
 machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:
 US 35.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 6.1%, Japan 5.9%, Cuba 5.7%, UK 5.4% (2002)
Debt - external:
 $475 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
 $NA
Currency:
 Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code:
 BZD
Exchange rates:
 Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999), 2 (1998)
Fiscal year:
 1 April - 31 March
Communications Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:
 31,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
 3,023 (1997)
Telephone system:
 general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
 AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
 133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
 2 (1997)
Televisions:
 41,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
 .bz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
 2 (2000)
Internet users:
 18,000 (2002)
Transportation Belize
Railways:
 0 km
Highways:
 total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
 825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable)
Ports and harbors:
 Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Merchant marine:
 total: 292 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,030,141 GRT/1,499,777 DWT
ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 200, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 1, container 12, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 2, Belgium 3, British Virgin Islands 6, Cambodia 1, China 38, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Eritrea 1, Estonia 7, Germany 3, Greece 4, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 6, Italy 2, Japan 4, Jordan 1, Lebanon 1, Liberia 5, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall Islands 13, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 12, Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Romania 1, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, South Korea 10, Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 3, United Arab Emirates 9, United Kingdom 2, United States 4, Virgin Islands (UK) 6, Yemen 1 (2002 est.)
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)
Military Belize
Military branches:
 Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)
Military manpower - military age:
 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
 males age 15-49: 66,332 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
 males age 15-49: 39,337 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
 males: 3,046 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
 $7.7 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 1.87% (FY00/01)
Transnational Issues Belize
Disputes - international:
 Guatemala has claimed half of southern Belize; Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along border despite a 2000 agreement; OAS brokered a Differendum in 2002 that created a limited adjustment to 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 previously not brought to a popular referendum
Illicit drugs:
 major transshipment point for cocaine; limited -scale illicit producer of cannabis for international drug trade; some money-laundering activity related to offshore sector