Belize

 

Official name: BELIZE 

Date of membership: 6 March1992 

Capital: Belmopan 

Geography

Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico. 

Area: 22,966 sq km 

Land boundaries: 516 km 

Border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km 

Coastline: 386 km 

Natural resources: Arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower 

Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection.

Economic indicators

Total at current prices   1586 Millions USD 2020
Per capita at current prices 398 USD 2020
Growth rate per capita at constant prices 18.3 % 2020
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP at current prices) 55.5 % 2020
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP at current prices) 43.6 % 2020

 

Source:  Belize: National Economic Profile. CEPALSTAT. Databases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC. Inquiry: February 11, 2022

Socio-demographic indicators

Total population (thousands) 397.6 (000) 2020
Life expectancy 75 Years 2020-2025
Women 78 Years 2020-2025
Men 72 Years 2020-2025
Public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP 5.7 % 2018
Literacy rate for persons between the ages of 15 to 24 84.2 % 2000
Net rate of enrolment in primary education 99.8 % 2020
Net rate of enrolment in secondary education 68.7 % 2020
Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP 7.9 % 2020
Gini Coefficient ND % ND
Unemployment 13.7 % 2020
Migration 2.6 % 2020-2025

Source: Belize:  National Socio-Demographic ProfileCEPALSTAT. Data Bases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC. On line.
Inquiry: February 11, 2022. ND= No data avalilable

Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole 

Government 

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo. 

Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK) 

Constitution: 21 September 1981 

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 

Executive branch: Chief of state: King Charles III  (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Froyla Tzalam Sr. (since 77 May 2021). Head of government: Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow (since 8 February 2008). 

Legislative branch: Bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one 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, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; 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). 

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister) 

Internet code: .bz 

Official Web Portal: http://www.belize.gov.bz/