Compare Akrotiri (2006) - Belize (2001)

Akrotiri (2006)

Belize (2001)

Administrative divisions

-

6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Age structure

-

0-14 years:
42.04% (male 54,876; female 52,780)

15-64 years:
54.43% (male 70,534; female 68,837)

65 years and over:
3.53% (male 4,403; female 4,632) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp

Airports

-

44 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

-

total:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

-

total:
40

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
10

under 914 m:
29 (2000 est.)

Area

total: 123 sq km

note: includes a salt lake and wetlands

total:
22,966 sq km

land:
22,806 sq km

water:
160 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Background

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.

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

-

31.69 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

-

revenues:
$157 million

expenditures:
$279 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Capital

name: Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia

geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Belmopan

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

Coastline

56.3 km

386 km

Constitution

Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960

21 September 1981

Country name

conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area

conventional short form: Akrotiri

conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Belize

former:
British Honduras

Currency

-

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Death rate

-

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

-

$338 million (1998)

Dependency status

overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

-

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

chief of mission:
Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL

embassy:
29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City

mailing address:
P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025

telephone:
[501] (2) 77161

FAX:
[501] (2) 30802

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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 periodically asserts claims to territory in southern Belize; to deter cross-border squatting, both states in 2000 agreed to a "line of adjacency" based on the de facto boundary, which is not recognized by Guatemala

Economic aid - recipient

-

$NA

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas. The tourist and construction sectors strengthened in early 1999, supporting growth of 6% in 1999 and 4% in 2000. Aided by international donors, the government's key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty.

Electricity - consumption

-

172.1 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

-

185 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel:
56.76%

hydro:
43.24%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)

Elevation extremes

-

lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Environment - current issues

shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid 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 43.7%, Creole 29.8%, Maya 10%, Garifuna 6.2%, other 10.3%

Exchange rates

-

Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch

chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993)

head of government:
Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 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; governor general appoints the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime minister

Exports

-

$235.7 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

-

sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports - partners

-

US 42%, UK 33%, EU 12%, Caricom 4.8%, Canada 2%, Mexico 1% (1999)

Fiscal year

-

1 April - 31 March

Flag description

the flag of the UK is used

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 - $790 million (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture:
18%

industry:
24%

services:
58% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

4% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

34 37 N, 32 58 E

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Geography - note

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

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 (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%

Illicit drugs

-

minor transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering center

Imports

-

$413 million (c.i.f., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

-

machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods; food, beverages, tobacco; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

-

US 58%, Mexico 12%, UK 5% EU 5%, Central America 5%, Caricom 4% (1998)

Independence

-

21 September 1981 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

-

4.6% (1999)

Industries

-

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Infant mortality rate

-

25.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

2% (2000 est.)

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, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

2 (2000)

Irrigated land

-

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

-

Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)

Labor force

-

71,000

note:
shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

-

agriculture 38%, industry 32%, services 30% (1994)

Land boundaries

total: 47.4 km

border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km

total:
516 km

border countries:
Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Land use

-

arable land:
10%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
2%

forests and woodland:
84%

other:
3% (2000 est.)

Languages

English, Greek

English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Legal system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

English law

Legislative branch

-

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governor general; 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 27 August 1998 (next to be held by NA August 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - PUP 59.2%, UDP 40.8%; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population:
71.19 years

male:
68.91 years

female:
73.57 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

-

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
70.3%

male:
70.3%

female:
70.3% (1991 est.)

note:
other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Location

peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Map references

Middle East

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:
402 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,575,851 GRT/2,241,731 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 27, cargo 265, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, container 14, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 56, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 3

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Cuba 1, Singapore 1, US 1 (2000 est.)

Military - note

Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

-

Military branches

-

Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$17 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

2.4% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability

-

males age 15-49:
62,698 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

-

males age 15-49:
37,174 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

-

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

-

males:
2,847 (2001 est.)

National holiday

-

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Nationality

-

noun:
Belizean(s)

adjective:
Belizean

Natural hazards

-

frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Natural resources

-

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Net migration rate

-

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

-

People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW, Doug SINGH]

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Diane HAYLOCK]; United Worker's Front

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there

256,062 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

33% (1999 est.)

Population growth rate

-

2.7% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Radio broadcast stations

FM 1

note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

-

133,000 (1997)

Railways

-

0 km

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)

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:
0.95 male(s)/female

total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2001 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

British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

2 (1997)

Terrain

-

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south