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Compare Belize (2001) - Samoa (2001)

Compare Belize (2001) z Samoa (2001)

 Belize (2001)Samoa (2001)
 BelizeSamoa
Administrative divisions 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
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.)
0-14 years:
31.88% (male 29,009; female 28,069)

15-64 years:
62.44% (male 70,491; female 41,304)

65 years and over:
5.68% (male 4,739; female 5,446) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp coconuts, bananas, taro, yams
Airports 44 (2000 est.) 3 (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.)
total:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 (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.)
total:
2

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Area total:
22,966 sq km

land:
22,806 sq km

water:
160 sq km
total:
2,860 sq km

land:
2,850 sq km

water:
10 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Massachusetts slightly smaller than Rhode Island
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. New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.
Birth rate 31.69 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 15.59 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$157 million

expenditures:
$279 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
revenues:
$74.8 million

expenditures:
$81.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Capital Belmopan Apia
Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Coastline 386 km 403 km
Constitution 21 September 1981 1 January 1962
Country name conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Belize

former:
British Honduras
conventional long form:
Independent State of Samoa

conventional short form:
Samoa

former:
Western Samoa
Currency Belizean dollar (BZD) tala (WST)
Death rate 4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $338 million (1998) $180 million (1998 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US 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
chief of mission:
Ambassador Carol MOSELEY BRAUN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)

embassy:
5th floor, Beach Road, Apia

mailing address:
P. O. Box 3430, Apia

telephone:
[685] 21631

FAX:
[685] 22030
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
chief of mission:
Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE

chancery:
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017

telephone:
[1] (212) 599-6196, 6197

FAX:
[1] (212) 599-0797
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 none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $42.9 million (1995)
Economy - overview 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. The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for 15% of GDP; about 85,000 tourists visited the islands in 2000. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low.
Electricity - consumption 172.1 million kWh (1999) 93 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 185 million kWh (1999) 100 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
56.76%

hydro:
43.24%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
60%

hydro:
40%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Victoria Peak 1,160 m
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid waste disposal soil erosion
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
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

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% Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Exchange rates Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar) tala per US dollar - 3.3400 (January 2001), 3.2712 (2000), 3.0120 (1999), 2.9429 (1998), 2.5562 (1997), 2.4618 (1996)
Executive branch 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
chief of state:
Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)

head of government:
Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi (since 24 November 1998); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November 1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant

cabinet:
Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice

elections:
upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Exports $235.7 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $17 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood coconut oil and cream, copra, fish, beer
Exports - partners US 42%, UK 33%, EU 12%, Caricom 4.8%, Canada 2%, Mexico 1% (1999) American Samoa 59%, US 18%, Germany 9%, New Zealand 8% (2000 est.)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
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 red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
GDP purchasing power parity - $790 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $571 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
18%

industry:
24%

services:
58% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
15%

industry:
24%

services:
61% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 6.8% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 17 15 N, 88 45 W 13 35 S, 172 20 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 (1998 est.)
total:
835 km

paved:
267 km

unpaved:
569 km (1983)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
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.) $90 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods; food, beverages, tobacco; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners US 58%, Mexico 12%, UK 5% EU 5%, Central America 5%, Caricom 4% (1998) New Zealand 37%, Australia 24%, Fiji 14%, US 14% (2000 est.)
Independence 21 September 1981 (from UK) 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
Industrial production growth rate 4.6% (1999) 10% (2000 est.)
Industries garment production, food processing, tourism, construction food processing, building materials, auto parts
Infant mortality rate 25.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 31.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2000 est.) 0.8% (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 ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister) Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Labor force 71,000

note:
shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.)
90,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 38%, industry 32%, services 30% (1994) agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)
Land boundaries total:
516 km

border countries:
Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
10%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
2%

forests and woodland:
84%

other:
3% (2000 est.)
arable land:
19%

permanent crops:
24%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
47%

other:
10%
Languages English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole Samoan (Polynesian), English
Legal system English law based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HRPP 23, SNDP 13, independents 13
Life expectancy at birth total population:
71.19 years

male:
68.91 years

female:
73.57 years (2001 est.)
total population:
69.5 years

male:
66.77 years

female:
72.37 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%
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
97%

male:
97%

female:
97% (1971 est.)
Location Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Oceania
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
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
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 - Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Military branches Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard) no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $17 million (FY98/99) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.4% (FY98/99) NA%
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) Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated
Nationality noun:
Belizean(s)

adjective:
Belizean
noun:
Samoan(s)

adjective:
Samoan
Natural hazards frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south) occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Natural resources arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -11.62 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] Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi, chairman]; Samoa All People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua NAIMOAGA]; Samoan National Development Party or SNDP [TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman] (opposition); Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary]; Samoan Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]
Political pressure groups and leaders Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Diane HAYLOCK]; United Worker's Front NA
Population 256,062 (July 2001 est.) 179,058 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 33% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.7% (2001 est.) -0.23% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 133,000 (1997) 178,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 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) Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
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.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.71 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.87 male(s)/female

total population:
1.39 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 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)
general assessment:
adequate

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 31,000 (1997) 8,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 3,023 (1997) 1,545 (February 1998)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) 6 (1997)
Terrain flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Total fertility rate 4.05 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.4 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 12.8% (1999) NA%; note - substantial underemployment
Waterways 825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable) none
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