Belize

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Belize

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

Area 22,963 sq km/8,866 sq mi Capital Belmopan Language English (official), Spanish (widely spoken), Creole dialects Religion Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% Time difference GMT -6 Major holidays 1 January, 9 March, 1, 24 May, 10, 24 September, 12 October, 19 November, 25–26 December; variable: Good Friday, Easter Monday, Holy Saturday


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Belize City, Dangriga, Orange Walk, Corozal, San Ignacio de Agana Major ports Belize City, Dangriga, Punta Gorda Physical features tropical swampy coastal plain, Maya Mountains in south; over 90% forested Airports one international airport and several airstrips providing internal air services; total passengers carried: 174,337 (2001 est) Railways none Roads total road network: 2,872 km/1,785 mi, of which 17% paved (1999 est); passenger cars: 42 per 1,000 people (1998)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Queen Elizabeth II from 1981, represented by Governor General Dr Colville Young from 1993 Head of government Said Musa from 1998 Political system liberal democracy Political executive parliamentary Administrative divisions six districts Political parties People's United Party (PUP), left of centre; United Democratic Party (UDP), moderate conservative; National Alliance for Belizean Rights (NABR), dissolved Death penalty retained and used for ordinary crimes Armed forces 1,100; plus 700 militia reserves (2006 est) Conscription military service is voluntary Defence spend (% GDP) 1.5 (2004 est) Education spend (% GDP) 5.2 (2003 est) Health spend (% GDP) 2.2 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency Belize dollar GDP (US$) 1.1 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 5.3 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 1.02 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 6,740 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 4.3% (2006 est) Unemployment 11.5% (2005 est) Labour force 22.6% agriculture, 8.2% industry, 69.2% services (2003) Foreign debt (US$) 959 million (2004 est) Major trading partners USA, UK, Mexico, CARICOM Industries clothing, agricultural products (particularly sugar cane for sugar and rum), timber, tobacco Exports marine products, sugar, clothes, citrus products, forestry products, bananas. Principal market: USA 52.4% (2005) Imports machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, basic manufactures, foodstuffs. Principal source: USA 40.2% (2005) Arable land 3.1% (2006 est) Agricultural products sugar cane, citrus fruits, bananas, maize, red kidney beans, rice; livestock rearing (cattle, pigs, and poultry); fishing; timber reserves


POPULATION

Population 275,100 (2006 est) Population growth rate 2.3% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 12 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 49 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 37%, 15–59 57%, 60+ 6% (2005 est) Ethnic groups 44% mestizos, 30% Creoles, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, East Indians, Mennonites, Canadians and Europeans, including Spanish and British Life expectancy 70 (men); 74 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 39 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 10 Literacy rate 77% (men); 77% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 10.5 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 1.3 (2003 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 2.5 (2005 est) AIDS deaths <500 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 100 (urban); 82 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 12.3 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 34.5 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 578 (1997) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 200 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 13.5 (2004 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 13.4 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

325–925 AD Part of American Indian Maya civilization. 1600s Colonized by British buccaneers and log-cutters 1862 Formally declared British colony, known as British Honduras. 1893 Mexico renounced its longstanding claim to the territory. 1954 Constitution adopted, providing for limited internal self-government. 1964 Self-government achieved; universal adult suffrage and two-chamber legislature introduced. 1970 Capital moved from Belize City to new town of Belmopan. 1973 Name changed to Belize. 1975 British troops sent to defend long-disputed frontier with Guatemala. 1980 United Nations (UN) called for full independence. 1981 Full independence achieved. 1991 Diplomatic relations re-established with Guatemala, which finally recognized Belize's sovereignty. 1993 UK announced its intention to withdraw troops following resolution of border dispute with Guatemala. 1998 People's United Party (PUP) won sweeping victory in assembly elections, with Said Musa as prime minister. 2001–02 Hurricanes Keith and Iris caused widespread devastation. 2003 PUP retained power in elections, with reduced majority. 2005 Public and private sector workers went on strike for salary increases and over budget measures; riots broke out in capital during wave of antigovernment protests. 2006 Commercial exploitation of oil reserves began.


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