Access to THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1994 provided courtesy of
the libraries of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
======================================================
National Trade Data Bank
ITEM ID     : CI WOFACT WO0027
DATE        : Oct 28, 1994
 
AGENCY      : CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
PROGRAM     : WORLD FACTBOOK
TITLE       : World Factbook: Belize
 
Source key      : CI 
Program key     : CI WOFACT 
Update sched.   : Annually         
Data type       : TEXT 
End year        : 1994
Date of record  : 19941020
Keywords 3      :  
Keywords 3      : | Belize 
 
 
                                  Belize
 
 
                                 Geography
 
Location:
     Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and
     Mexico
Map references:
     Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones
     of the World
Area:
total area:
     22,960 sq km
land area:
     22,800 sq km
comparative area:
     slightly larger than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
     total 516 km, Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline:
     386 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 miles; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,
     1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for
     the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences
     with Guatemala
International disputes:
     maritime border with Guatemala in dispute; desultory negotiations to
     resolve the dispute have begun
Climate:
     tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
Terrain:
     flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Natural resources:
     arable land potential, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land:
     2%
permanent crops:
     0%
meadows and pastures:
     2%
forest and woodland:
     44%
other:
     52%
Irrigated land:
     20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
     deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents,
     agricultural runoff
 
 
natural hazards:
     frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal
     flooding (especially in south)
international agreements:
     party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Whaling;
     signed, but not ratified - Climate Change
Note:
     national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan
     because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a
     coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
 
                                  People
 
Population:
     208,949 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
     2.42% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
     34.74 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
     6 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
     -4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
     35.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
     68.08 years
male:
     66.14 years
female:
     70.12 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
     4.39 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
     Belizean(s)
adjective:
     Belizean
Ethnic divisions:
     mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%
Religions:
     Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%,
     Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's
     Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)
Languages:
     English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)
Literacy:
     age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
total population:
     91%
male:
     91%
female:
     91%
 
 
Labor force:
     51,500
by occupation:
     agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%,
     manufacturing 10.3%
note:
     shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)
 
                                Government
 
Names:
conventional long form:
     none
conventional short form:
former:
     British Honduras
Digraph:
     BH
Type:
     parliamentary democracy
Capital:
     Belmopan
Administrative divisions:
     6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:
     21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday:
     Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:
     21 September 1981
Legal system:
     English law
Suffrage:
     18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
     Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
     General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993)
head of government:
     Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993); Deputy Prime
     Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993)
cabinet:
     Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice from the prime
     minister
Legislative branch:
     bicameral National Assembly
Senate:
     consists of an 8-member body, 5 are appointed on the advice of the
     prime minister, 2 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1
     after consultation with the Belize Advisory Council
National Assembly:
     elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held June 1998); results
     - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 13 UDP 15
 
 
Judicial branch:
     Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
     People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA;
     United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean
     BARROW; National Alliance for Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON
Other political or pressure groups:
     Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad
     SHOMAN; United Workers Front, leader NA
Member of:
     ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
     IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
     IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
     UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
     Ambassador Dean LINDO
chancery:
     2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
     (202) 332-9636
FAX:
     (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general:
     Miami
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
     Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA
embassy:
     Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address:
     P. O. Box 286, Belize City
telephone:
     [501] (2) 77161 through 77163
FAX:
     [501] (2) 30802
Flag:
     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
 
                                  Economy
 
Overview:
     The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry,
     and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing
     importance. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75%
     of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost
     40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner,
     is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an
     agricultural diversification program.
National product:
     GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $550 million (1993 est.)
 
 
National product real growth rate:
     5.3% (1992)
National product per capita:
     $2,700 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
     5.5% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
     15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
     $126.8 million
expenditures:
     $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91
     est.)
Exports:
     $116 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
     sugar, citrus, clothing, fish products, bananas, molasses, wood
partners:
     US 51%, UK, other EC (1992)
Imports:
     $273 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
     machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods,
     fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
partners:
     US 57%, UK 8%, other EC 7%, Mexico (1992)
External debt:
     $143.7 million (1991)
Industrial production:
     growth rate 3.7% (1990); accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
     34,532 kW
production:
     90 million kWh
consumption per capita:
     393 kWh (1992)
Industries:
     garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum,
     beverages, tourism
Agriculture:
     accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial
     crops include sugar cane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding
     output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods
Illicit drugs:
     transshipment point for cocaine; an illicit producer of cannabis for
     the international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana
     production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to about 50 metric tons in
     1991
Economic aid:
recipient:
     US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western
     (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215
     million
 
 
Currency:
     1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
     Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
     1 April - 31 March
 
                              Communications
 
Highways:
total:
     2,710 km
paved:
     500 km
unpaved:
     gravel 1,600 km; improved earth 300 km; unimproved earth 310 km
Inland waterways:
     825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable
Ports:
     Belize City; additional ports for shallow draught craft include
     Corozol, Punta Gorda, Big Creek
Merchant marine:
     25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,509 GRT/80,345 DWT, bulk 6,
     cargo 11, container 2, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2,
     roll-on/roll-off cargo 3
Airports:
total:
     47
usable:
     38
with permanent-surface runways:
     3
with runways over 3,659 m:
     0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
     1
with runways 1,229-2,439 m:
     3
Telecommunications:
     8,650 telephones; above-average system based on microwave radio relay;
     broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean
     INTELSAT earth station
 
                              Defense Forces
 
Branches:
     British Forces Belize withdrawn by the end of 1993 except for a small
     training detachment, Belize Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air
     Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Manpower availability:
     males age 15-49 48,789; fit for military service 29,040; reach
     military age (18) annually 2,175 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
     exchange rate conversion - $4.8 million, 1.8% of GDP (1992)
 
 
 
===========================================================================
This section of THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1994 produced by the United States
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was derived from the US Dept. of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Division's NATIONAL TRADE DATA BANK (NTDB) CD-ROM,
November, 1994, SuDoc No. C 1.88:994/11/v.1-2 / Presented by Raleigh Muns,
(srcmuns@umslvma.umsl.edu) University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries.