Belize
none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras
parliamentary democracyIndependence 21 September 1981 (from UK)
Belize as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
18 fieldsMaritime claims
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM 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 the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
Land use
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 84% other: 3% (2000 est.)
Natural hazards
frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Environment - current issues
- deforestation;
- water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff;
- solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Religions(1980)
Age structure
0-14 years: 42.04% (male 54,876; female 52,780) 15-64 years: 54.43% (male 70,534; female 68,837) 65 years and over: 3.53% (male 4,403; female 4,632) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.19 years male: 68.91 years female: 73.57 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.3% male: 70.3% female: 70.3% (1991 est.) note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%
Government
Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August 1998)
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 29 seatsone dot, one seat
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August 1998);
- Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none;
- the monarch is hereditary;
- governor general appointed by the monarch;
- governor general appoints the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime minister
Legislative branch
- bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governor general; members are appointed for five-year terms);
- and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998 (next to be held by NA August 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 59.2%, UDP 40.8%;
- seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders
People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW, Doug SINGH]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Diane HAYLOCK]; United Worker's Front
International organization participation
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025 telephone: [501] (2) 77161
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
The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance.
32 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer.
The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas. The tourist and construction sectors strengthened in early 1999, supporting growth of 6% in 1999 and 4% in 2000. Aided by international donors, the government's key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty.
Budget
revenues: $157 million expenditures: $279 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Imports - commodities
- machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods;
- food, beverages, tobacco;
- fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
8 fieldsNetworkskm
Merchant marine
total: 402 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,575,851 GRT/2,241,731 DWT ships by type: bulk 27, cargo 265, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, container 14, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 56, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Cuba 1, Singapore 1, US 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 29 (2000 est.)
Military
Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- Guatemala periodically asserts claims to territory in southern Belize;
- to deter cross-border squatting, both states in 2000 agreed to a "line of adjacency" based on the de facto boundary, which is not recognized by Guatemala
Illicit drugs
- minor transshipment point for cocaine;
- small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
- minor money-laundering center
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Belize.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/belize/2001.