Statistical information Belize 1993

Belize in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and Mexico
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard
Time Zones of the World
AreaTotal: 22,960 km²
Land: 22,800 km²
Land boundaries: total 516 km, Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline: 386 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Caye, Belize's territorial sea is 3 miles; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for
Maritime claimsClimate: 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
Arable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 2%
Forest and woodland: 44%
Other: 52%
Land useIrrigated land: 20 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 203,957 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.42% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Belizean(s)
Adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups: Mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%,
Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.42% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 35.75 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 6.15 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.44 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south); deforestation
Current issues note: 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
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 36.5 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 67.85 years
Male: 65.91 years
Female: 69.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.53 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
Male: 91%
Female: 91%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September
Constitution: 21 September 1981
Legal system: English law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador James V. HYDE
In the us chancery: 2,535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: (202) 332-9,636
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA
From the us embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City
From the us telephone: 501 (2) 77,161 through 77,163
From the us fax: 501 (2) 30,802
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture accounts for about 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 10% (1990)
Real gdp per capita: $1,635 (1990 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 22% of GDP (including fish and forestry; commercial crops include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods
Industries: garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum, beverages, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 3.7% (1990; accounts for 12% of GDP
Labor force: 51,500
By occupation agriculture: 30%
By occupation services: 16%
By occupation government: 15.4%
By occupation commerce: 11.2%
By occupation manufacturing:10.3%
shortageofskilledlaborandalltypesoftechnicalpersonnel(1985)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1991 est.) capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetTaxes 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: $95.6 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: sugar, citrus, clothing, bananas, fish products, molasses
Partners: US 49%, UK, EC, Mexico (1991)
Imports: $194 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Partners: US 60%, UK, EC, Mexico (1991)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 34,532 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 393 kWh per capita (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $5.4 million, 2% of GDP (1992)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirportsUsable: 32
With permanentsurface runways: 3
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 12292439 mr: 2
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable
Merchant marine:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,768 GRT/12,721
DWT; includes 3 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off
Ports and terminalsBelize - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international: border with Guatemala in dispute; negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to about 50 metric tons in 1991; transshipment point for cocaine