Belize
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
For updated information about Belize visit their Central Intelligence Agency Factsheet.