Belize (2003)

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Belize 2003 year


Administrative divisions	6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Age structure	0-14 years: 41.1% (male 55,880; female 53,706) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 74,612; female 72,813) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,571; female 4,858) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products	bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Airports	42 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Area	total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Background	Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime.
Birth rate	30.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget	revenues: $224 million expenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2002 est.)
Capital	Belmopan
Climate	tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Coastline	386 km
Constitution	21 September 1981
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras
Currency	Belizean dollar (BZD)
Death rate	6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external	$475 million (2001 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025 telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163 FAX: [501] 30802
Diplomatic representation in the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Disputes - international	Guatemala has claimed half of southern Belize; Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along the border despite a 2000 agreement; OAS brokered a Differendum in 2002 that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in the Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to a popular referendum
Economic aid - recipient	$NA
Economy - overview	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.
Electricity - consumption	185.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	199.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source	fossil fuel: 59.9% hydro: 40.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Environment - current issues	deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
Environment - international agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups	mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Exchange rates	Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999), 2 (1998)
Executive branch	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Exports	0 kWh (2001)
Exports	$290 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners	US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002)
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March
Flag description	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
GDP	purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	3.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	17 15 N, 88 45 W
Geography - note	only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Highways	total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; some money-laundering activity related to offshore sector
Imports	0 kWh (2001)
Imports	$430 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners	US 35.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 6.1%, Japan 5.9%, Cuba 5.7%, UK 5.4% (2002)
Independence	21 September 1981 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate	4.6% (1999)
Industries	garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Infant mortality rate	total: 27.07 deaths/1,000 live births male: 30.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	1.9% (2002 est.)
International organization participation	ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	2 (2000)
Irrigated land	30 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
Labor force	90,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries	total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Land use	arable land: 2.81% permanent crops: 1.1% other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
Languages	English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Legal system	English law
Legislative branch	bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 67.36 years male: 65.19 years female: 69.63 years (2003 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.1% male: 94.1% female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Location	Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean
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
Merchant marine	total: 292 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,030,141 GRT/1,499,777 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 200, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 1, container 12, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 2, Belgium 3, British Virgin Islands 6, Cambodia 1, China 38, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Eritrea 1, Estonia 7, Germany 3, Greece 4, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 6, Italy 2, Japan 4, Jordan 1, Lebanon 1, Liberia 5, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall Islands 13, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 12, Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Romania 1, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, South Korea 10, Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 3, United Arab Emirates 9, United Kingdom 2, United States 4, Virgin Islands (UK) 6, Yemen 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches	Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$7.7 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	1.87% (FY00/01)
Military manpower - availability	males age 15-49: 66,332 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service	males age 15-49: 39,337 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age	18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually	males: 3,046 (2003 est.)
National holiday	Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Nationality	noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean
Natural hazards	frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Natural resources	arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders	People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders	Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]
Population	266,440 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line	33% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate	2.44% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors	Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways	0 km
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)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Telephone system	general assessment: above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	31,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular	3,023 (1997)
Television broadcast stations	2 (1997)
Terrain	flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Total fertility rate	3.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate	9.1% (2002)
Waterways	825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable)

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