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

25,400 (2012) country comparison to the world: 180

Telephones - mobile cellular

164,200 (2012) country comparison to the world: 184

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $410.1 million expenditures: $352.4 million (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

3.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Central bank discount rate

18% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 12% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.8% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 12.4% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$32 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 -$28 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$1.048 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $1.033 billion (31 December 2012 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, resulting from the global economic slowdown, natural disasters, and a temporary drop in the price of oil, but grew to 2.5% in 2013. With weak economic growth and a large public debt burden, fiscal spending is likely to be tight. In January 2013, the government announced that it had reached a deal with creditors to restructure its $544 million commercial external debt, commonly referred to as the "superbond." The superbond 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 sizable trade deficit and heavy foreign debt burden continue to be major concerns.

Exchange rates

Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2013 est.) 2 (2012 est.) 2 (2010 est.) 2 (2009) 2 (2008)

Exports

$633 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $628.3 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 31.8%, UK 21.9%, Nigeria 4.8%, Japan 4.1%, Netherlands 4.1% (2012)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.637 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.083 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $3.008 billion (2012 est.) $2.857 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 79.3% government consumption: 16.8% investment in fixed capital: 31.2% investment in inventories: 1.2% exports of goods and services: 62.1% imports of goods and services: -90.6% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 13% industry: 23% services: 64% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,800 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $8,800 (2012 est.) $8,500 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 5.3% (2012 est.) 1.9% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

31.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 29.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 28.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$864 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $837.1 million (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 23.6%, Germany 15%, Mexico 11.5%, Cuba 8.4%, Guatemala 4.8%, China 4.7%, Singapore 4% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

-1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Industries

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 1.3% (2012 est.)

Labor force

120,500 country comparison to the world: 180 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)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

41% (2013 est.)

Public debt

75.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 84.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$273 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $288.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $1.222 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.05 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$573 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 $551.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Unemployment rate

15.5% (2013) country comparison to the world: 141 11.3% (2012)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

536,300 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

4,345 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Crude oil - production

3,239 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Crude oil - proved reserves

6.7 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - consumption

630 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity - from fossil fuels

51.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

32% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - from other renewable sources

16.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Electricity - imports

171 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Electricity - installed generating capacity

178,100 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - production

524.2 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Refined petroleum products - consumption

7,044 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,493 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

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: 0.22 cu km/yr (4%/49%/46%) per capita: 845.2 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

30 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 542 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 276 km

Land use

arable land: 3.27% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 95.34% (2011)

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

18.55 cu km (2011)

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

previous 1954, 1963 (preindependence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981; amended several times, last in 2012 (2013)

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Margaret HAWTHORNE 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 (since 10 July 2008) 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

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 2 judges) note - in 2005, Belize ceased final appeals in civil and criminal cases to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London), replacing it with the Caribbean Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the Caribbean Community judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75 subordinate courts: Summary Jurisdiction Courts (criminal) and District Courts (civil)

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 2.1%; seats by party - UDP 17, PUP 14

National anthem

name: "Land of the Free"

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 Oliver 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. 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 HIV/AIDS prevalence rates 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

NA% (2012) 1.08% of GDP (2011) NA% (2010)

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: 35.3% (male 61,480/female 59,000) 15-24 years: 21% (male 36,432/female 35,093) 25-54 years: 35.5% (male 61,112/female 59,809) 55-64 years: 4.6% (male 7,719/female 7,807) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 5,848/female 6,544) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

25.14 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 27,751 percentage: 40 % (2001 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.2% (2011) country comparison to the world: 81

Contraceptive prevalence rate

55.2% (2011)

Death rate

5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

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.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 59.7 % youth dependency ratio: 53.3 % elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 % potential support ratio: 15.6 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 98.4% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.3% of population unimproved: urban: 1.6% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.7% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 29

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Health expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 120

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 20.31 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 89 male: 22.78 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 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: 68.49 years country comparison to the world: 160 male: 66.88 years female: 70.17 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population

BELMOPAN (capital) 14,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

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

Median age

total: 21.8 years male: 21.6 years female: 22 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

33.7% (2008) country comparison to the world: 15

Physicians density

0.83 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

340,844 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Population growth rate

1.92% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

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 Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Mormon), other (unknown) 3.1%, none 15.2% (2010 census)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 94.2% of population rural: 87.6% of population total: 90.5% of population unimproved: urban: 5.8% of population rural: 12.4% of population total: 9.5% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.02 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 19.5% country comparison to the world: 61 male: 13.8% female: 28.8% (2005)

Urbanization

urban population: 44.7% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.54% 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, which was scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution, though this has been suspended indefinitely; 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

47 (2013) country comparison to the world: 92

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 29 (2013)

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

major seaport(s): Belize City, Big Creek

Roadways

total: 2,870 km country comparison to the world: 169 paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,382 km (2011)

Waterways

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