Statistical information Belize 1989

Belize in the World
top of pageBackground: Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country is plagued by high unemployment growing involvement in the South American drug trade and increased urban crime.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
516 km total
Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea:3 nm
Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
ElevationNatural resources: arable land: potential, timber, fish
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 2% meadows and pastures; 44% forest and woodland; 52% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1
top of pagePopulation: 175,555 (July 1989), growth rate 2.3% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Belizean(s; adjective - Belizean
Ethnic groups: 39.7% Creole, 33.1% Mestizo, 9.5% Maya, 7.6% Garifuna, 2.1% East Indian, 6.8% other
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)
Religions: 60% Roman Catholic; 40% Protestant (Anglican, Seventh-Day Adventist, Methodist, Baptist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonite)
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 36 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south; deforestation
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 36 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 72 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 93% (est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Belmopan
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Dependent areasIndependence: 21 September 1981 (from UK; formerly British Honduras)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September
Constitution: 21 September 1981
Legal system: English law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State - Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Elmira Minita GORDON (since 21 September 1981; Head of Government - Prime Minister Manuel A. ESQUIVEL (since 17 December 1984)
Legislative branch: British Forces Belize, Belize Defense Force, Police Department
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CARICOM, CDB, Commonwealth, FAO, GATT, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, G-77, ISO, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Edward A. LAING; Chancery at Suite 2J, 3,400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 363-4,505; US - Ambassador Robert G. RICH, Jr.; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize City; telephone Õ501å 77,161 through 77,163
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 with a mahogany tree at the top and the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is based primarily on agriculture and merchandising. Agriculture accounts for more than 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification program. In 1987 the drop in income from sugar sales to the US because of quota reductions was almost totally offset by higher world prices for sugar.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 30% of GDP (including forestry and fishing; commercial crops - sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods; an illegal producer of cannabis for the international drug trade
Industries: sugar refining, clothing, timber and forest products, furniture, rum, soap, beverages, cigarettes, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1988)
Labor force:
51,500; 30.0% agriculture, 16.0%
services, 15.4% government, 11.2% commerce, 10.3% manufacturing; shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)
Unemployment rate: 14% (1988 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $64.2 million; expenditures $89.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $99 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and wood products
Partners: US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987)
Imports: $144 million (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Partners: US 55%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1987)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $140 million (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 34,000 kW capacity; 88 million kWh produced, 500 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 38 total, 31 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsBelize - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: claimed by Guatemala, but boundary negotiations are underway
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs