Geography:

• Location:
  • Independent state, north-eastern Central America, bounded on the north and north-west by Mexico, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by Guatemala.
• Area:
  • Total: 22,966 sq km
  • Water: 160 sq km
  • Land: 22,806 sq km
• Coastline:
  • 386 km
• Maritime claims:
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
  • 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 the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
• Natural resources:
  • Arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

People:

• Population: 327,719 (July 2012 est.)
• Nationality: Belizean
• Ethnic groups: mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
• Religions: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist 3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)
• Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Government:

• Country name: Belize (conventional short form); British Honduras (former)
• Government type: parliamentary democracy
• Capital: Belmopan
• Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
• International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Economy:

• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (2011 est.); 0.9% (2010 est.)
• Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
• Agriculture - products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp
• Exports: $511.7 million (2011 est.)
• Exports - commodities: sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood, crude oil
• Imports: $706.1 million (2011 est.)
• Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
• Currency: Belizean dollar (BZD)

National Policy:

• Marine Affairs Policy
• Marine Science & Research Policy
• Coastal Area Policy
• Environment Policy

Institutional structure:

Belize Fisheries Department

Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize.

Telephone: (501) 2-44552/32623

Fax: (501) 2-32983

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

West Block Building, Belmopan, Cayo District.

Telephone: (501) 8-22241/2

Fax: (501) 8-22409

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

National Focal Point for IOCARIBE

Mr. James Oscar Azueta

Fisheries Department

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, P.O. Box 148,

Belize City, Belize, Central America

Tel: (501) 223-2623/224-4552/223-2187

Fax: (501) 223-2983

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.