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| Country Name |
- conventional long form: none
- conventional short form: Belize
- former: British Honduras
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| Location |
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico |
| Capital |
Belmopan |
| Administrative Division |
6 districts: Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo |
| Language |
English is the official language and the language of instruction in schools but almost everyone speaks an
English dialect, or Creole patios, the vernacular of the country. Spanish is also widely spoken. It is taught
in primary and secondary schools in order to further develop bi-lingualism. In certain areas of the country,
such as Orange Walk and Corozal District in the north and the Cayo district in the west, Spanish is spoken as
a mother tongue by the majority of the people. In the southern districts of Stann Creek and Toledo, there are
people whose first language is Garifuna or Maya.
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| Population |
The population is approximately 250,000. The average annual growth rate is 2.6%. The main ethnic groups are
Creole (African Descent), Mestizo (Spanish-Maya), and Garifuna (African Descent). There is also a number of
people of Spanish and East Indian descent. The ethnic groups, however are heavily intermixed. There is also
a small Mennonite community of European origin. The multi-racial make-up of the Belizean society includes
Chinese, Arabs and other ethnic groups.
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| Currency |
Local currency is the Belize Dollar. One U.S. dollar is worth BZ$2. U.S. dollars should be exchanged directly
in purchasing goods and services, as banks will charge a fee (currently is at .0125) to exchange U.S. to Belize
dollars. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere in Belize.
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| 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)
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| Economy |
In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange
earner followed by cane sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary
monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000,
4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A
key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.
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HIGHLIGHTS