Belize
parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchyIndependence 21 September 1981 (from the UK)
Belize as the 2022 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 156 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 involved in an ongoing border dispute.
Both nations have voted to send the dispute for final resolution to the International Court of Justice. 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.
Geography
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
17 fieldsLand useshare of 22,966 sq km
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
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
Natural hazards
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
People and Society
37 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2020 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2022 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2010 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% (2010 est.) 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 0.5%;
- note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (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)
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.
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
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.12 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 0.93 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.96 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.78 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
- 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.)
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 6.3%
- women married by age 18:
- 33.5%
- men married by age 18:
- 22.2% (2016 est.)
Environment
11 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Environment - current issues
- deforestation;
- water pollution, including pollution of Belize's Barrier Reef System, from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff;
- inability to properly dispose of solid waste
Environment - international agreements
- 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
Air pollutants
- particulate matter emissions:
- 21.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
- carbon dioxide emissions:
- 0.57 megatons (2016 est.)
- methane emissions:
- 0.55 megatons (2020 est.)
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 46.6% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 11.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- industrial:
- 21.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- agricultural:
- 68.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); Prime Minister Juan Antonio BRICENO (since 12 November 2020)
22 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
House of Representatives, 31 seatsone dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Belize
- former:
- British Honduras
- etymology:
- may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered"
Government type
parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
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 decision to move the capital of the country inland to higher and more stable land was made in the 1960s;
- the name chosen for the new city was formed from the union of two words: "Belize," the name of the longest river in the country, and "Mopan," one of the rivers in the area of the new capital that empties into the Belize River
National holiday
Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1954, 1963 (preindependence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981
- amendments:
- 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;
- amended several times, last in 2017
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- yes
- citizenship by descent only:
- yes
- dual citizenship recognized:
- yes
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 5 years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Juan Antonio BRICENO (since 12 November 2020); Deputy Prime Minister Cordel HYDE (since 16 November 2020)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Assembly
- elections/appointments:
- 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:; ; House of Representatives (31 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
- Senate (14 seats, including the president);
- members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, non-governmental organizations in good standing, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee;
- Senate president elected from among the Senate members or from outside the Senate;
- members serve 5-year terms
- elections:
- Senate - last appointed 11 November 2020 (next appointments in November 2025); House of Representatives - last held on 11 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2025)
- election results:
- Senate - all members appointed; composition as of March 2022 - composition - men 9, women 5, percent of women 35.7%;
- House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PUP 59.6%, UDP 38.8%, other 1.6%;
- seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 5;
- composition as of March 2022 - men 27, women 4, percent of women 12.9%;
- note - total percent of women in the National Assembly 20%
Judicial branch
- 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);
- note - in 2010, Belize acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London
- 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:
- Magistrates' Courts; Family Court
Political parties and leaders
- Belize Progressive Party or BPP [Wil MAHEIA] (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 [Juan Antonio "Johnny" BRICENO]
- United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean Oliver Barrow and Patrick FABER]
- Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Hubert ENRIQUEZ]
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 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:
- Los Angeles, New York (consular services temporarily suspended beginning 18 December 2020)
- consulate(s):
- Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Leyla MOSES-ONES (since August 2021)
- embassy:
- 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/
Flag description
- royal 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 symbol(s)
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/music:
- Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG
note: adopted 1981; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the King" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 1 (natural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
Economy
33 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2017 est.)
Economic overview
Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner in this small economy, followed by exports of sugar, bananas, citrus, marine products, and crude oil.
The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007, but GPD growth has averaged only 2.1% from 2007-2016, with 2.5% growth estimated for 2017. Belize’s dependence on energy imports makes it susceptible to energy price shocks.
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. Belize faces continued pressure from rising sovereign debt, and a growing trade imbalance.
Credit ratings
Moody's rating: Caa3 (2020); Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agricultural products
sugar care, oranges, bananas, maize, poultry, rice, sorghum, papayas, grapefruit, soybeans
Exports
$710 million (2020 est.) · $1.1 billion (2019 est.) · $1.07 billion (2018 est.) note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
Imports
$900 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $1.2 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $1.16 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$312.1 million (31 December 2017 est.) · $376.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2017 est.) · 2 (2016 est.) · 2 (2015 est.) · 2 (2014 est.) · 2 (2013 est.)
Energy
11 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2018)
Installed generating capacity, 204,000 kW(2020 est.)
Coal
- production:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- consumption:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- exports:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- imports:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
- total petroleum production:
- 1,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
- refined petroleum consumption:
- 3,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)
- crude oil and lease condensate exports:
- 1,200 bbl/day (2018 est.)
- crude oil and lease condensate imports:
- 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
- crude oil estimated reserves:
- 6.7 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
- production:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- consumption:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- exports:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- imports:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
541,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 541,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from consumed natural gas:
- 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- Belize’s fixed-line teledensity and mobile penetration remain lower than average for the region, a legacy of insufficient market competition and under investment in telecoms services;
- a significant investment in infrastructure, launching an LTE-A service at the end of 2016 and in mid-2017 completing a submarine cable to Ambergris Caye, enabling it to launch an FttP service in San Pedro;
- the nfrastructure has been updated from the legacy copper to fiber;
- investments have been made to provide high speed broadband to 80% of residences across Belize. (2021)
- domestic:
- roughly 5 per 100 fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of 66 per 100 persons; mobile sector accounting for over 90% of all phone subscriptions (2020)
- international:
- country code - 501;
- landing points for the ARCOS and SEUL 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) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production;
progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
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 (2019)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 2 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 28
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 1,297,533 (2018)
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 3.78 million (2018) mt-km
Merchant marine
- total:
- 813
- by type:
- bulk carrier 54, container ship 1, general cargo 428, oil tanker 70, other 260 (2021)
Military and Security
6 fieldsPersonnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2022)
Military and security forces
- Belize Defense Force (BDF):
- Army, Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard (2022)
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 police and prisons
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the BDF's inventory is limited and consists mostly of UK- and US-origin equipment (2022)
Military service age and obligation
- 18 years of age for voluntary military service;
- laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient, but conscription has never been implemented;
- volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1;
- initial service obligation 12 years (2022)
Military - note
the BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817; the BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala
the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; as of 2022, the presence consisted of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partners
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- Belize-Guatemala:
- Demarcated but insecure boundary due to Guatemala’s claims to more than half of Belizean territory. Line of Adjacency operates in lieu of an international boundary to control influx of Guatemalan squatters onto Belizean territory. Smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking for sexual exploitation and debt bondage are all problems. Belize lacks resources to detect and extradite impoverished Guatemalan peasants squatting in Belizean rain forests in the remote border areas. At present, Belize and Honduras 12-nm territorial sea claims close off Guatemalan access to Caribbean in the Bahia de Amatique. Maritime boundary remains unresolved pending further negotiation.
- Belize-Honduras:
- Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum.
- Belize-Mexico:
- Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty. Transshipment of illegal narcotics, smuggling, human trafficking, illegal immigration, and the growing of marijuana in very low population areas are all issues in the region today.
Illicit drugs
- a transit country for illegal drugs, mainly cocaine, originating from countries in South America;
- low domestic drug consumption problem outside of recreational cannabis
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Belize.” The World Factbook 2022. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/belize/2022.