Statistics Belize 
Belize in the World
Belize - Introduction 2015
top of pageBackground: 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 1854. 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 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 unemployment growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade high crime rates and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.
Area
Total: 22,966 km²
Land: 22,806 km²
Water: 160 km²
Rank: 152
Comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Maritime claims
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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Land use
Agricultural land: 6.9%
arable land: 3.3%
permanent crops: 1.4%
permanent pasture: 2.2%
permanent crops: 1.4%
permanent pasture: 2.2%
Forest: 60.6%
Other: 32.5%
Natural hazards: frequent devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Belize - People 2015
top of pagePopulation: 347,369 (July 2015 est.)
Rank: 178
Growth rate: 1.87% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 59
Below poverty line: 41% (2013 est.)
Ethnic groups: mestizo 52.9% Creole 25.9% Maya 11.3% Garifuna 6.1% East Indian 3.9% Mennonite 3.6% white 1.2% Asian 1% other 1.2% unknown 0.3%
Note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic origin
Languages: English 62.9% (official) Spanish 56.6% Creole 44.6% Maya 10.5% German 3.2% Garifuna 2.9% other 1.8% unknown 0.3% none 0.2% (cannot speak)
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 Morman Muslim Rastafarian) unknown 0.6% none 15.5% (2010 est.)
Demographic profile:
Migration continues to transform Belize's population. About 16% of Belizeans live abroad while immigrants constitute approximately 15% of Belize's population. Belizeans seeking job and educational opportunities have preferred to emigrate to the United States rather than former colonizer Great Britain because of the United States' closer proximity and stronger trade ties with Belize. Belizeans also emigrate to Canada Mexico and English-speaking Caribbean countries. The emigration of a large share of Creoles (Afro-Belizeans) and the influx of Central American immigrants mainly Guatemalans Salvadorans and Hondurans has changed Belize's ethnic composition. Mestizos have become the largest ethnic group and Belize now has more native Spanish speakers than English or Creole speakers despite English being the official language. In addition Central American immigrants are establishing new communities in rural areas which contrasts with the urbanization trend seen in neighboring countries. Recently Chinese European and North American immigrants have become more frequent.
Immigration accounts for an increasing share of Belize's population growth rate which is steadily falling due to fertility decline. Belize's declining birth rate and its increased life expectancy are creating an aging population. As the elderly population grows and nuclear families replace extended households Belize's government will be challenged to balance a rising demand for pensions social services and healthcare for its senior citizens with the need to reduce poverty and social inequality and to improve sanitation.
Immigration accounts for an increasing share of Belize's population growth rate which is steadily falling due to fertility decline. Belize's declining birth rate and its increased life expectancy are creating an aging population. As the elderly population grows and nuclear families replace extended households Belize's government will be challenged to balance a rising demand for pensions social services and healthcare for its senior citizens with the need to reduce poverty and social inequality and to improve sanitation.
Age structure
0-14 years: 34.87%
15-24 years: 20.86%
25-54 years: 35.88%
55-64 years: 4.69%
65 years and over: 3.7% (2015 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 56.8%
Youth dependency ratio: 50.9%
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.9%
Potential support ratio: 17%
Urbanization
Urban population: 44% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.93% annual rate of change
Environment
Current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage industrial effluents agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male/female
Total population: 1.03 male/female
Infant mortality rate
Total: 19.82 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 22.08 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 17.44 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 87
Drinking water source:
urban: 98.9% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.5% of population
urban: 1.1% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.5% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.5% of population
urban: 1.1% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.5% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 93.5% of population
rural: 88.2% of population
total: 90.5% of population
urban: 6.5% of population
rural: 11.8% of population
total: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 88.2% of population
total: 90.5% of population
urban: 6.5% of population
rural: 11.8% of population
total: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)
Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.18% (2014 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 38
People living with hivaids: 2,700 (2014 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 114
Deaths: 100 (2014 est.)
Deaths rank: 128
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Belize - Government 2015
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Belize
Former: British Honduras
Etymology: may be named after the Belize River whose name possibly derives from the Maya word 'belix' meaning 'muddy-watered'
National holiday: Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day) September 10 1798; Independence Day 21 September (1981)
Constitution: previous 1954 1963 (preindependence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981; amended several times last in 2012 (2015)
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II ; represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG Sr. (since 17 November 1993)
Head of government: Prime Minister Dean Oliver BARROW ; Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Assembly
Electionsappointments: 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
Description: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2015
Election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 50.52% PUP 47.77% other 1.71%; seats by party - UDP 19 PUP 12
Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court of Judicature ; in 2005 Belize ceased final appeals in civil and criminal cases to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) replacing it with the Caribbean Court of Justice the judicial organ of the Caribbean Community
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75; in 2013 the Supreme Court chief justice overturned a constitutional amendment that had restricted Court of Appeal judge appointments to as short as 1 year
Subordinate courts: Summary Jurisdiction Courts and District Courts (civil)
Political parties and leaders:
Belize Progressive Party or BPP [Patrick ROGERS] (formed in 2015 from a merger of the People's National Party elements of the VIP and other smaller political groups)
People's United Party or PUP [vacant]
United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean Oliver BARROW]
People's United Party or PUP [vacant]
United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean Oliver BARROW]
International organization participation: ACP AOSIS C Caricom CD CDB CELAC FAO G-77 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (NGOs) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM ITU LAES MIGA NAM OAS OPANAL OPCW PCA Petrocaribe SICA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick ANDREWS
In the us chancery: 2,535 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 332-9,636
In the us FAX: [1] 332-6,888
In the us consulate general: Los Angeles
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Roberto MORENO
From the us embassy: Floral Park Road Belmopan City Cayo District
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 497 Belmopan City Cayo District Belize
From the us telephone: [501] 822-4,011
From the us FAX: [501] 822-4,012
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 of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various elements of the coat of arms - the figures the tools the mahogany tree and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry that led to British settlement of Belize
Note: Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts human beings; two British overseas territories Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands also depict humans
National symbols: Baird's tapir (a large browsing forest-dwelling mammal) keel-billed toucan Black Orchid; national colors: red blue
National anthem
Name: 'Land of the Free'
Lyrics and music: Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG
Note: adopted 1981; as a Commonwealth country in addition to the national anthem 'God Save the Queen' serves as the royal anthem
Belize - Economy 2015
top of pageEconomy overview: Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner in this small economy followed by exports of crude oil marine products sugar citrus and bananas. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies initiated in September 1998 led to GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered this growth and oil exploration continues but production has fallen in recent years and future oil revenues remain uncertain. Growth slipped to 0% in 2009 due to the global economic slowdown natural disasters and a temporary drop in the price of oil but growth grew to 2.5% in 2014. Although Belize has the third highest per capita income in Central America the average income figure masks a huge income disparity between rich and poor and a key government objective remains reducing poverty and inequality with the help of international donors. High unemployment a growing trade deficit and heavy foreign debt burden continue to be major concerns.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$2.975 billion (2014 est.)
$2.872 billion (2013 est.)
$2.829 billion (2012 est.)
$2.872 billion (2013 est.)
$2.829 billion (2012 est.)
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 186
Real gdp per capita:
$8,300 (2014 est.)
$8,000 (2013 est.)
$7,900 (2012 est.)
$8,000 (2013 est.)
$7,900 (2012 est.)
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 145
Gross national saving:
8.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
11% of GDP (2013 est.)
12.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
11% of GDP (2013 est.)
12.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 156
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 69.5%
Government consumption: 17.2%
Investment in fixed capital: 17.3%
Investment in inventories: 0.7%
Exports of goods and services: 58.8%
Imports of goods and services: -63.5%: (2014 est.)
Labor force: 120,500
Note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
Rank: 180
By occupation agriculture: 10.2%
By occupation industry: 18.1%
By occupation services: 71.7%
Budget
Revenues: $500 million
Expenditures: $550 million
Surplus or deficit: -2.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 117
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.8% (31 December 2014 est.)
11.57% (31 December 2013 est.)
11.57% (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 75
Stock of narrow money:
$657 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$561 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$561 million (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 160
Stock of broad money:
$1.372 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.239 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$1.239 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 166
Stock of domestic credit:
$1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$947.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$947.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 157
Exports:
$588.6 million (2014 est.)
$608 million (2013 est.)
$608 million (2013 est.)
Rank: 168
Commodities: sugar bananas citrus clothing fish products molasses wood crude oil
Partners: UK 20.5% US 20.5% Mexico 6% Nigeria 5.7% Cote d'Ivoire 4.8% Netherlands 4.6% Trinidad and Tobago 4.1% (2014)
Imports:
$925.5 million (2014 est.)
$876 million (2013 est.)
$876 million (2013 est.)
Rank: 182
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment manufactured goods; fuels chemicals pharmaceuticals; food beverages tobacco
Partners: US 21.8% Mexico 10.8% Cuba 9.6% China 8.8% Guatemala 8.5% Trinidad and Tobago 5.2% Spain 4.6% (2014)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$634.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$486.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$486.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 142
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar -
2 (2014 est.)
2 (2013 est.)
2 (2012 est.)
2 (2011 est.)
2 (2010 est.)
2 (2014 est.)
2 (2013 est.)
2 (2012 est.)
2 (2011 est.)
2 (2010 est.)
Belize - Energy 2015
top of pageElectricity
Production: 423 million kWh (2012 est.)
Production rank: 165
Consumption: 605 million kWh (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 169
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 108
Imports: 234 million kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 87
Installed generating capacity: 194,100 kW (2012 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 161
Generation sources fossil fuels: 46.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 155
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 52
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 27.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 83
Generation sources other renewable sources: 25.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 6
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 1818 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 89
Crude oil exports: 3,240 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 76
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 162
Crude oil proven reserves: 6.7 million bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 95
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products production rank: 159
Products consumption: 3,500 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products consumption rank: 179
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products exports rank: 154
Products imports: 3,486 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Products imports rank: 171
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 160
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 120
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 64
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 164
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 115
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 675,200 Mt (2012 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 174
Belize - Communication 2015
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 22,700
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7
Fixed lines rank: 180
Mobile cellular total: 172,300
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51
Mobile cellular rank: 182
Telephone system
General assessment: above-average system; trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
Domestic: fixed-line teledensity of slightly less than 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 70 per 100 persons
International: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America parts of the Caribbean and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2 unknown - 6) (2011)
Broadcast media: 8 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV provides access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations broadcasting on roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio was privatized in 1998 (2007)
Belize - Military 2015
top of pageMilitary service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1; initial service obligation 12 years (2012)
Belize - Transportation 2015
top of pageAirports: 47 (2013)
Rank: 92
With paved runways total: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 3
With unpaved runways total: 41
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11
With unpaved runways: 29 (2013)
Merchant marine
Total: 247
By type: barge carrier 1 bulk carrier 33 cargo 156 chemical tanker 2 liquefied gas 1 passenger/cargo 4 petroleum tanker 9 refrigerated cargo 30 roll on/roll off 10 specialized tanker 1
Foreign owned: 152 (2010)
Rank: 33
Belize - Transnational issues 2015
top of pageDisputes international: Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize but agrees to the Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda scheduled for 6 October 2013 to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution but this vote was suspended indefinitely; Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis primarily for local consumption; offshore sector money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and other crimes (2008)
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