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Background:
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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 1854. Territorial
disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of
Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until
1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns
include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing
involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and
increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS. |
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Location:
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Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea,
between Guatemala and Mexico |
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Geographic
coordinates:
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17 15 N, 88 45 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Massachusetts |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266
km, Mexico 250 km |
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Coastline:
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386 km |
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Maritime claims:
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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 |
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Climate:
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tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May
to November); dry season (February to May) |
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Terrain:
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flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in
south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0
m
highest point: Doyle's Delight
1,160 m |
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Natural resources:
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arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water
resources:
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18.6 cu km (2000) |
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.15 cu km/yr
(7%/73%/20%)
per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000) |
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Natural hazards:
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frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to
November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) |
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Environment - current
issues:
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deforestation; water pollution from sewage,
industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste
disposal |
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Environment -
international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 |
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Geography - note:
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only country in Central America without a
coastline on the North Pacific Ocean |
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Population:
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301,270 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 38.4% (male
58,987/female 56,674)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male
88,521/female 86,450)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male
5,095/female 5,543) (2008 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 20.1 years
male: 20 years
female: 20.3 years (2008 est.) |
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Population growth
rate:
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2.207% (2008 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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27.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
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Death rate:
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5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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NA |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.92
male(s)/female
total population: 1.03
male(s)/female (2008 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 23.65 deaths/1,000
live births
male: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live
births
female: 20.81 deaths/1,000 live
births (2008 est.) |
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Life expectancy at
birth:
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total population: 68.19 years
male: 66.39 years
female: 70.08 years (2008 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.44 children born/woman (2008 est.) |
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Major infectious
diseases:
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degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
and malaria
water contact disease:
leptospirosis (2008) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean |
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%,
Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27%
(Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite
4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4%
(2000) |
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Languages:
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Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%,
English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other
1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over
can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N,
88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour
behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
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Administrative
divisions:
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6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk,
Stann Creek, Toledo |
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Independence:
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21 September 1981 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21 September (1981) |
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Constitution:
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21 September 1981 |
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Legal system:
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English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen
ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General
Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister
Dean BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA
(since 12 February 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is
hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader
of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Assembly consists of the
Senate (12 seats; 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, and the National
Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; to serve
five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of
Representatives - last held 6 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote
by party - NA; seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Judicature (the chief justice
is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister); Court of Appeal |
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Political parties and
leaders:
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National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR;
National Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party
or PNP [Wil MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United
Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People or
VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito
BAUTISTA] |
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Political pressure
groups and leaders:
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Society for the Promotion of Education and
Research or SPEAR [Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans
or ACB [David VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or
NTUC/B [Rene GOMEZ] |
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International
organization participation:
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ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic
representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant)
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles |
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Diplomatic
representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Robert J. DIETER
embassy: Floral Park Road,
Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address: P.O. Box 497,
Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize
telephone: [501] 822-4011
FAX: [501] 822-4012 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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In this small, essentially private-enterprise
economy, tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by
exports of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments.
The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated
in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in
1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered the economic growth in
2006 and 2007. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit
and unsustainable foreign debt. In February 2007, the government
restructured nearly all of its public external commercial debt, which
will reduce interest payments and relieve liquidity concerns. A key
short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of
international donors. |
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GDP (purchasing power
parity):
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$2.444 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP (official
exchange rate):
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$1.274 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP - real growth
rate:
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2.2% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita
(PPP):
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$7,900 (2007 est.) |
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GDP - composition by
sector:
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agriculture: 21.3%
industry: 13.7%
services: 65% (2007 est.) |
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Labor force:
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113,000
note: shortage of skilled labor
and all types of technical personnel (2006 est.) |
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Labor force - by
occupation:
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agriculture: 22.5%
industry: 15.2%
services: 62.3% (2005 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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9.4% (2006) |
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Population below
poverty line:
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33.5% (2002 est.) |
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Household income or
consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate
(consumer prices):
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3% (2007 est.) |
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Investment (gross
fixed):
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22.6% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $307 million
expenditures: $344 million (2007
est.) |
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Agriculture -
products:
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bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured
shrimp; lumber; garments |
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Industries:
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garment production, food processing, tourism,
construction, oil |
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Industrial production
growth rate:
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0.5% (2007 est.) |
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Electricity -
production:
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200 million kWh (2007 est.) |
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Electricity -
production by source:
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fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity -
consumption:
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162.8 million kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production:
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2,413 bbl/day (2006) |
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Oil - consumption:
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3,000 bbl/day (2006 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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1,960 bbl/day (2006) |
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Oil - imports:
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6,754 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.) |
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved
reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
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Current account
balance:
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-$51 million (2007 est.) |
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Exports:
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$415 million f.o.b. (2007 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products,
molasses, wood |
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Exports - partners:
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US 33.9%, UK 33.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 3.7% (2006) |
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Imports:
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$641 million f.o.b. (2007 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured
goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco |
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Imports - partners:
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US 35.7%, Mexico 13%, Cuba 7.7%, Guatemala 7.2%,
China 4.3% (2006) |
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Economic aid -
recipient:
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$12.91 million (2005) |
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Reserves of foreign
exchange and gold:
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$109 million (31 December 2007 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.2 billion (June 2005 est.) |
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Market value of
publicly traded shares:
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$NA |
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Currency (code):
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Belizean dollar (BZD) |
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Currency code:
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BZD |
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Exchange rates:
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Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2007), 2
(2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |
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Telephones - main
lines in use:
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33,900 (2006) |
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Telephones - mobile
cellular:
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118,300 (2006) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of 12 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular telephone density of about 40 per 100 persons
domestic: trunk network depends
primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501;
landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1)
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) (2007) |
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Radio broadcast
stations:
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AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006) |
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Radios:
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133,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast
stations:
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5 (2006) |
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Televisions:
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41,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.bz |
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Internet hosts:
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1,942 (2007) |
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Internet Service
Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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34,000 (2006) |
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Airports:
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44 (2007) |
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Airports - with paved
runways:
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total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007) |
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Airports - with
unpaved runways:
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total: 40
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 27 (2007) |
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Roadways:
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total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2007) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 261 ships (1000 GRT or
over) 940,852 GRT/1,275,111 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk
carrier 36, cargo 190, chemical tanker 5, container 5, petroleum tanker
9, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 217 (China 107,
Croatia 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 1, Hong Kong 5, Iceland 1, Italy 4, Japan
2, South Korea 4, Latvia 14, Norway 3, Peru 1, Philippines 1, Russia
39, Singapore 3, Spain 2, Turkey 11, Ukraine 10, UAE 4, US 3) (2007) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Belize City, Big Creek |
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Military branches:
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Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, BDF Air Wing,
BDF Volunteer Guard (2007) |
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Military service age
and obligation:
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18 years of age for voluntary military service;
laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient;
conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber
available positions by 3:1 (2008) |
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Manpower available
for military service:
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males age 16-49: 74,605
females age 16-49: 72,926 (2008
est.) |
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Manpower fit for
military service:
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males age 16-49: 54,627
females age 16-49: 53,500 (2008
est.) |
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Manpower reaching
militarily significant age annually:
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males age 16-49: 3,580
females age 16-49: 3,449 (2008
est.) |
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Military expenditures
- percent of GDP:
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1.4% (2006) |
| Transnational Issues |
Belize |
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Disputes -
international:
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annual ministerial meetings under the
OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and
Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and
maritime claims in Belize and Caribbean Sea; the Line of Adjacency
created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous
international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited
rain forests of Belize's border region; Honduras claims
Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its constitution but agreed to
a joint ecological park under the Differendum |
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This page was
last updated on 10 June, 2008
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