1.
[syn: Belize, British Honduras]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Belize
n 1: a country on the northeastern coast of Central America on
the Caribbean; formerly under British control [syn:
Belize, British Honduras]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Belize
Introduction Belize
-------------------
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.
Geography Belize
----------------
Location: Middle 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
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 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 the
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: 96.1% (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 party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
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 Belize
-------------
Population: 262,999 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.6% (male 55,716;
female 53,581)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 73,068;
female 71,368)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,511;
female 4,755) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.65% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 31.08 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002
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: 0.95 male(s)/
female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.46 years
female: 73.87 years (2002 est.)
male: 69.17 years
Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 2,400 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 170 (1999 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
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
note: other sources list the
literacy rate as high as 75%
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 27 August
1998); Deputy Prime Minister John
BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is
hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; governor
general appoints the member of the
House of Representatives who is
leader of the majority party to be
prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists
of the Senate (12 members appointed
by the governor general - six on the
advice of the prime minister, three
on the advice of the leader of the
opposition, and one 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; members are appointed for
five-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (29 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives
- last held 27 August 1998 (next to
be held by NA August 2003)
election results: percent of vote by
party - PUP 59.2%, UDP 40.8%; seats
by party - PUP 26, UDP 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the chief justice is
appointed by the governor general on
the advice of the 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 Society for the Promotion of
leaders: Education and Research or SPEAR
[Diane HAYLOCK]; United Worker's
Front
International organization ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-
participation: 77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, 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 the 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 the chief of mission: Ambassador Russell
US: F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson
Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit
7401, APO AA 34025
telephone: [501] (2) 77161
FAX: [501] (2) 30802
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
Economy Belize
--------------
Economy - overview: The small, essentially private
enterprise economy is based
primarily on agriculture, agro-based
industry, and merchandising, with
tourism and construction assuming
greater importance. Sugar, the chief
crop, accounts for nearly half of
exports, while the banana industry
is the country's largest employer.
The government's expansionary
monetary and fiscal policies,
initiated in September 1998, led to
GDP growth of 6.4% in 1999 and 10.5%
in 2000. Growth decelerated in 2001
to 3% due to the global slowdown and
severe hurricane damage to
agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
Major concerns continue to be the
rapidly expanding trade deficit and
foreign debt. A key short-term
objective remains the reduction of
poverty with the help of
international donors.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $830
million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,250
(2001 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 lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and
all types of technical personnel
(1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 27%, industry 18%,
services 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (2000)
Budget: revenues: $186 million
expenditures: $253 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (2000 est.)
Industries: garment production, food processing,
tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4.6% (1999)
Electricity - production: 192 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 58.33%
hydro: 41.67%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 178.56 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane;
lumber; fish, cultured shrimp
Exports: $239.6 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing,
fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners: EU 45% (UK 33%), US 42%, Caricom 6%,
Canada 1% (1999)
Imports: $505 million (c.i.f., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation
equipment, manufactured goods; food,
beverages, tobacco; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners: US 51%, Mexico 12%, Central America
5%, UK 4% (1999)
Debt - external: $500 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code: BZD
Exchange rates: Belizean dollars per US dollar -
2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US
dollar)
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: 15,000 (2000)
Transportation Belize
---------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,880 km
paved: 490 km
unpaved: 2,390 km (1998 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: 315 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 1,240,551 GRT/1,761,168 DWT
ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 204,
chemical tanker 6, combination ore/
oil 1, container 12, passenger/cargo
1, petroleum tanker 39, refrigerated
cargo 15, roll on/roll off 8, short-
sea passenger 1, specialized tanker
1, 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 the 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: 44 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 40
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 29 (2001)
Military Belize
---------------
Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Army,
Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and
Volunteer Guard)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 64,909 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 38,472 (2002 est.)
service:
Military manpower - reaching males: 2,847 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $7.7 million (FY00/01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.87% (FY00/01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Belize
---------------------------
Disputes - international: the "Line of Adjacency" established
in 2000 as an agreed limit to check
squatters settling in Belize,
remains in place while the
Organization of American States
(OAS) assists states to resolve
Guatemalan territorial claims in
Belize and Guatemalan maritime
access to the Caribbean Sea;
Honduras claims the Sapodilla Cays
off the coast of Belize
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for
cocaine; small-scale illicit
producer of cannabis for the
international drug trade; minor
money-laundering center