Belize

Broadcast media

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

.bz

Internet hosts

3,392 (2012) country comparison to the world: 152

Internet users

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

Telephone system

general assessment: above-average system; trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay domestic: fixed-line teledensity of slightly less than 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 70 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) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

28,800 (2011) country comparison to the world: 178

Telephones - mobile cellular

222,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 178

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $450 million expenditures: $450 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Central bank discount rate

18% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 12% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.7% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 13.36% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$59.5 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 -$31.3 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$1.457 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $1.398 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

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. Growth slipped to 0% in 2009, and has remained at just over 2% per year during 2010-12, as a result of the global slowdown, natural disasters, and a temporary drop in the price of oil. With weak economic growth and a large public debt burden, fiscal spending is likely to be tight. In September 2012, the government defaulted on a $23 million payment on its global bond and is in talks with international bondholders to restructure the debt. The $544 million global bond due in 2029 - called the superbond because it was the product in 2007 of a debt consolidation - represents one-half of the country's public debt. 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.

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2012 est.) 2 (2011 est.) 2 (2010 est.) 2 (2009) 2 (2008)

Exports

$555.8 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 $603.3 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 38.1%, UK 16.5%, Costa Rica 10%, Nigeria 4.4% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.52 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.896 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $2.831 billion (2011 est.) $2.776 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 9.7% industry: 19.4% services: 59% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,400 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 $8,400 (2011 est.) $8,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 2% (2011 est.) 2.7% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$770.1 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $773.9 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 38.2%, Mexico 10.2%, Cuba 9.2%, Guatemala 5.4%, China 5%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.1% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

1.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 -2.5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Labor force

120,500 country comparison to the world: 179 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 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

43% (2010 est.)

Public debt

90.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 88.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$238.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $237.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.263 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $1.101 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $968 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$426.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $419.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Unemployment rate

13.1% (2009) country comparison to the world: 135 8.2% (2008)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

980,500 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Crude oil - production

4,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Crude oil - proved reserves

6.7 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - consumption

285.7 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - from fossil fuels

33.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

37.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - from other renewable sources

29.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - installed generating capacity

102,100 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - production

307.2 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Refined petroleum products - consumption

7,044 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,553 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

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

Climate

tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

Coastline

386 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Geographic coordinates

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

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

Natural hazards

frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Total renewable water resources

18.6 cu km (2000)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Constitution

21 September 1981

Country name

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

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

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

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 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 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

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

21 September 1981 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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)

Legal system

English common law

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 8 March 2012 (next to be held in 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 50.4%, PUP 47.5%, other 2.8%; seats by party - UDP 17, PUP 14

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

National symbol(s)

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

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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, tentatively set for October 2013, to determine if this dispute will go before the International Court of Justice at The Hague. 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.

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 branches

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

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 104

Military service age and obligation

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; initial service obligation 12 years (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.3% (male 60,730/ female 58,313) 15-64 years: 60.1% (male 99,683/ female 97,321) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 5,538/ female 6,134) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

26.02 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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

Death rate

5.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Demographic profile

Migration continues to transform Belize's population. About 16% of Belizeans live abroad, while immigrants constitute approximately 15% of Belize's population. Belizeans seeking job and educational opportunities have preferred to emigrate to the United States rather than former colonizer Great Britain because of the United States' closer proximity and stronger trade ties with Belize. Belizeans also emigrate to Canada, Mexico, and English-speaking Caribbean countries. The emigration of a large share of Creoles (Afro-Belizeans) and the influx of Central American immigrants, mainly Guatemalans, Salvadorans, and Hondurans, has changed Belize's ethnic composition. Mestizos have become the largest ethnic group, and Belize now has more native Spanish speakers than English or Creole speakers, despite English being the official language. In addition, Central American immigrants are establishing new communities in rural areas, which contrasts with the urbanization trend seen in neighboring countries. Recently, Chinese, European, and North American immigrants have become more frequent. Immigration accounts for an increasing share of Belize's population growth rate, which is steadily falling due to fertility decline. Belize's declining birth rate and its increased life expectancy are creating an aging population. As the elderly population grows and nuclear families replace extended households, Belize's government will be challenged to balance a rising demand for pensions, social services, and healthcare for its senior citizens with the need to reduce poverty and social inequality and to improve sanitation.

Education expenditures

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

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

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

Health expenditures

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

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 21.37 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 90 male: 23.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.28 years country comparison to the world: 156 male: 66.61 years female: 70.04 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

BELMOPAN (capital) 20,000 (2009)

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)

Maternal mortality rate

53 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 105

Median age

total: 21.3 years male: 21.1 years female: 21.5 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Physicians density

0.828 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

327,719 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Population growth rate

2.011% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Religions

Roman Catholic 39.3%, Pentacostal 8.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.3%, Anglican 4.5%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.5%, Methodist 2.8%, Nazarene 2.8%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.6%, other 9.9% (includes Bahai Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Mormon), other (unknown) 3.1%, none 15.2% (2010 census)

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (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: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.15 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

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

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to the Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution; 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)

Airports

43 (2012) country comparison to the world: 99

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 37 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 26 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 247 country comparison to the world: 33 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 33, cargo 156, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 152 (Bulgaria 1, China 61, Croatia 1, Estonia 1, Greece 2, Iceland 1, Italy 3, Latvia 9, Lithuania 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 2, Russia 30, Singapore 4, Switzerland 1, Syria 4, Thailand 1, Turkey 16, UAE 3, UK 4, Ukraine 6) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Belize City, Big Creek

Roadways

total: 3,007 km country comparison to the world: 167 paved: 575 km unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)

Waterways

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2011) country comparison to the world: 71