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.

Map reference:

Area
Total: 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

Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)

Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Natural resources: arable land: potential, timber, fish
Arable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 2%
Forest and woodland: 44%
Other: 52%

Irrigated land: 20 km² (1989 est.)

Population: 203,957 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.42% (1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Belizean(s)
Adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups: Mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%

Languages: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)

Religions:

Population 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.)

Environment
Current 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

Infant mortality rate: 36.5 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 67.85 years
Male: 65.91 years
Female: 69.88 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.53 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
Male: 91%
Female: 91%

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Belize
Former: British Honduras

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Belmopan

Administrative divisions:

Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September

Constitution: 21 September 1981

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 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

International organization participation:

Diplomatic representation
In 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

Economy 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 growth rate: 10% (1990)

Real gdp per capita: $1,635 (1990 est.)

Agriculture 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:

Unemployment rate: 12% (1991 est.) capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports: $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)

Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)

Electricity
Production: 34,532 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 393 kWh per capita (1992)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $5.4 million, 2% of GDP (1992)

Airports
Usable: 32
With permanentsurface runways: 3
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 12292439 mr: 2

Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable

Merchant marine:

Disputes international: border with Guatemala in dispute; negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun

Illicit 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