Belize is a Northeastern country in Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north and northwest, Guatemala to the south and west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. It is an essentially mountainous country, covered by a tropical forest. It has a surface of 22,966 km2. The main cities are Belize City, 53 000 residents (1996), Orange Walk (15 000 residents), San Inacio / Santa Elena (11 000 residents), Corozal (8000 residents) and Belmopan, the capital (6500 residents ).
The climate is tropical, generally hot and humid, with a dry season, from February to May, and with a rainy season, from June to November. The country often suffers from hurricanes.
Economy
Belize has an economy that is based on agriculture, trade and industry. The main products grown are sugar cane, orange, banana, corn, rice, beans, coconut and cocoa. The industry produces molasses, fertilizers, flour, orange concentrate, beer, cigarettes and clothing. Charcoal is also produced, using the felling of forests. Belize’s main trading partners are the USA, the UK, Canada and Mexico.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide emissions, per capita (metric tons, 1999), is 2.7.
Population
The population is 287,730 residents (est. 2006), which corresponds to a density of 12.17 residents/km2. The birth and death rates are, respectively, 28.84% and 5.72%. Average life expectancy reaches 68.3 years. The value of the Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.776 and the value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG) is 0.756 (2001). It is estimated that in 2025 the population will be 432,000 residents. Mestizos represent 48.7% of the population, followed by Creoles (24.9%), Indians (10.6%), blacks from the Caribbean (6.1%) and others (9.7% ). The majority religions are Catholic, with 58%, and Protestant, with 34%. The official language is English, although Spanish is also spoken.
History
From 1964, Belize had an autonomous government. In 1981 Britain granted independence to the territory. In the same year, English troops stationed in the country in order to protect it from Guatemala’s territorial claims, which date back to 1821. Military forces also limited the traffic in marijuana, which at the time was one of the country’s largest sources of income. But they were also a kind of barrier to arms smuggling that was made from Cuba to El Salvador through Belize. As part of the British Commonwealth, the head of state is the British monarch, represented by a governor-general, with the government of the country headed by a prime minister, with the support of the Senate and the House of Representatives. For Belize democracy and rights, please check localbusinessexplorer.
Countryaah.com: Offers a full list of airports in the country of Belize, sorted by city location and acronyms.
Abbreviationfinder.org: Provides most commonly used abbreviations and initials containing the country name of Belize. Listed by popularity.
1UpTravel.com – Maps of Belize
Discover the country, and political maps of Belize in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala, and Mexico. Includes a small map of Belize.
