Map of Belize | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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 1862. 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 still 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 crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 22,966 km²
Land: 22,806 km²
Water: 160 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries
Total: 542 km
Border countries (2): (2) Guatemala 266 km; Mexico 276 km

Coastline: 386 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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 limit is to provide a framework for negotiating 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
Highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,124 m
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 173 m

Natural resources

Land use
Agricultural land: 8% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Forest: 58.3% (2023 est.)
Other: 33.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 35 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

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


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Population
Total: 415,789 (2024 est.)
Male: 205,895
Female: 209,894
Distribution: approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east
Growth rate: 1.47% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages: English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.5% (2010 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English); La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Religions: Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Church of Jesus Christ, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 58,529/female 56,811)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 135,903/female 141,503)
65 years and over: 5.5% (2024 est.) (male 11,463/female 11,580)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 49.9 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 41.6 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.3 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 12 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 26.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 26.4 years
Female: 27.2 years

Population growth rate: 1.47% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 17.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

Population distribution: approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east

Urbanization
Urban population: 46.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 23,000 BELMOPAN (capital) (2018)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 10.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.6 years
Female: 76.1 years

Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.6% (2015/16)

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 7% (2024 est.); 8.3% (2023 est.); 8.8% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

Capital
Name: Belmopan
Geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name is formed from two words: 'Belize,' the name of the longest river in the country, and 'Mopan,' one of the rivers in the area that empties into the Belize River

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

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: English common law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister John BRICEÑO (since 12 November 2020)
Cabinet: governor general appoints Cabinet from among members of the National Assembly, on the advice of the prime minister
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative structure: bicameral

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: royal blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; the coat of arms is on a large white disk at the center and shows a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree, with the motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom; a green garland of 50 mahogany leaves rings the coat of arms

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'God Save the King'
Lyrics/music: unknown
History: royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 8.2% (2024 est.); 1.1% (2023 est.); 9.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 8.2% (2024 est.); 1.1% (2023 est.); 9.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 62.9% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 15.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -2.3% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 55.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -51.2% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Industry: 14.3% (2023 est.)
Services: 62.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Industrial production growth rate: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 190,000 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 7% (2024 est.); 8.3% (2023 est.); 8.8% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 7% (2024 est.); 8.3% (2023 est.); 8.8% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $554.405 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $506.316 million (2017 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 21.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $1.64 billion (2024 est.); $1.536 billion (2023 est.); $1.369 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: raw sugar, bananas, fish, shellfish, refined petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $1.724 billion (2024 est.); $1.573 billion (2023 est.); $1.574 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, orthopedic appliances, ships, garments, tobacco (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 220,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 595.389 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 283.8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 140.519 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 98.6% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 98.4%
Access electrification - rural areas: 97.1%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 52.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 32.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Imports: 32 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 800 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 6.7 million barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 662,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 3 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 662,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 30.752 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 19,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 264,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 72% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 39,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)


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Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 27 (2025)

Heliports: 5 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 774 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 49, general cargo 410, oil tanker 64, other 251

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs