Key Demographic Features of Belize *
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea,
between Guatemala and Mexico
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
People
Population: 219,296 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 48,291; female 46,451)
15-64 years: 53% (male 59,132; female 57,498)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,881; female 4,043) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 2.42% (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996
est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.53 years
male: 66.58 years
female: 70.58 years (1996 est.)
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, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)
Literacy: age 14 and over has ever attended school (1991
est.)
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3%
Government
Country Abbreviation: BH
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
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
Other political or pressure groups: Society for the
Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN; United
Workers Front, leader NA
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dean R. LINDO
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador George Charles BRUNO
embassy:
mailing address:
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
Economic overview:
GDP: purchasing power parity - $575 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,750 (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1993 est.)
Communications
Telephones: 15,917 (1990 est.)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 27,048 (1993 est.)
*Source: World Factbook 1996, U.S.
Central Intelligence Agency
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