Belize

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

• tropical;
• very hot and humid;
• rainy season (May to November);
• dry season (February to May)

• 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

noun:

Belizean(s)

adjective:

Belizean

total:

27.2 years (2025 est.)

male:

26.4 years

female:

27.2 years

• 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

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.)

total:

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

12.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

10.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

74.3 years (2024 est.)

male:

72.6 years

female:

76.1 years

total:

5.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

3.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

8.3% (2025 est.)

male:

14.8% (2025 est.)

female:

1.8% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

6.3% (2016)

women married by age 18:

33.5% (2016)

men married by age 18:

22.2% (2016)

• deforestation;
• water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff;
• inability to properly dispose of solid waste

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

• tropical;
• very hot and humid;
• rainy season (May to November);
• dry season (February to May)

urban population:

46.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

101,400 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

10.4% (2022 est.)

municipal:

11.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

68.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Belize

former:

British Honduras

etymology:

• traditionally believed to be derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the last name of Scottish explorer Peter Wallace, who settled in the area in 1638;
• alternatively, may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered"

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

history:

previous 1954, 1963 (pre-independence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981

amendment process:

• proposed and adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly House of Representatives except for amendments relating to rights and freedoms, changes to the Assembly, and to elections and judiciary matters, which require at least three-quarters majority vote of the House;
• both types of amendments require assent of the governor general

citizenship by birth:

yes

citizenship by descent only:

yes

dual citizenship recognized:

yes

residency requirement for naturalization:

5 years

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

legislature name:

National Assembly

legislative structure:

bicameral

chamber name:

House of Representatives

number of seats:

32 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

plurality/majority

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

5 years

most recent election date:

3/12/2025

parties elected and seats per party:

People's United Party (PUP) (26); United Democratic Party (UDP) (5)

percentage of women in chamber:

12.5%

expected date of next election:

March 2030

chamber name:

Senate

number of seats:

13 (all appointed)

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

5 years

most recent election date:

5/9/2025

percentage of women in chamber:

35.7%

expected date of next election:

May 2030

highest court(s):

• Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 10 justices);
• the Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal

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

subordinate courts:

Magistrates' Courts; Family Court

• Belize People’s Front or BPF
• Belize Progressive Party or BPP (formed in 2015 from a merger of the People's National Party, elements of the Vision Inspired by the People, and other smaller political groups)
• People's United Party or PUP
• United Democratic Party or UDP
• Vision Inspired by the People or VIP

chief of mission:

Ambassador Lynn Raymond YOUNG (since 7 July 2021)

chancery:

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-2826

telephone:

[1] (202) 332-9636

FAX:

[1] (202) 332-6888

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/

consulate(s) general:

Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Katharine BEAMER (since 23 August 2025)

embassy:

4 Floral Park Road, Belmopan, Cayo

mailing address:

3050 Belmopan Place, Washington DC 20521-3050

telephone:

(501) 822-4011

FAX:

(501) 822-4012

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://bz.usembassy.gov/

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

meaning:

• the figures, the mahogany tree, and the garland refer to the logging industry that led the British to settle Belize;
• blue and red are the colors of the two main political parties

note: Belize has the only national flag that depicts humans; the flags of two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, also depict humans

title:

"Land of the Free"

lyrics/music:

Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG

history:

adopted 1981; _____

title:

"God Save the King"

lyrics/music:

unknown

history:

royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country

total World Heritage Sites:

1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System

• tourism- and agriculture-driven economy;
• strong post-pandemic rebound;
• innovative and ecological bond restructuring that significantly lowered public debt and expanded marine protections;
• central bank offering USD-denominated treasury notes;
• high mobility across borders

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

total:

16.3% (2024 est.)

male:

10.6% (2024 est.)

female:

25.6% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

lowest 10%:

2.2% (2018 est.)

highest 10%:

30% (2018 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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.)

• 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 (2019)

total ports:

2 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

1

very small:

0

size unknown:

1

ports with oil terminals:

1

key ports:

Belize City, Big Creek

Belize Defense Force (BDF):

Army, Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard (BCG) (2025)

note: the Ministry of National Defense and Border Security is responsible for oversight of the BDF and the Coast Guard, while the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries has responsibility for the Belize Police Department (BPD) and prisons

• 18-23 years of age for voluntary military service;
• laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient, but conscription has never been implemented;
• initial service obligation is 12 years (2025)

refugees:

2,287 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

8 (2024 est.)