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Compare Belize (2003) - Samoa (2003)

Compare Belize (2003) z Samoa (2003)

 Belize (2003)Samoa (2003)
 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: 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.)
0-14 years: 29.4% (male 26,613; female 25,715)


15-64 years: 64.6% (male 72,135; female 42,903)


65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,980; female 5,827) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Airports 42 (2002) 4 (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)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 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)
total: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 22,966 sq km


land: 22,806 sq km


water: 160 sq km
total: 2,944 sq km


land: 2,934 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 30.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 15.41 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $224 million


expenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $105 million


expenditures: $119 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001/2002)
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 (SAT)
Death rate 6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $475 million (2001 est.) $197 million (2000)
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
chief of mission: the Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa


embassy: Vailima


mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia


telephone: [685] 21631/22696


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 Feturi ELISAIA


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


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


FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
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 none; note - some EEZ demarcations, including the one with American Samoa, are undefined
Economic aid - recipient $NA $42.9 million (1995)
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. The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, and agriculture and fishing. 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. The decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; about 88,000 tourists visited the islands in 2001. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, meantime protecting the environment. 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 185.5 million kWh (2001) 97.74 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 199.5 million kWh (2001) 105.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 59.9%


hydro: 40.1%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 58%


hydro: 42%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
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 and sewage waste disposal soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
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 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Exchange rates Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999), 2 (1998) tala per US dollar - 3.37 (2002), 3.48 (2001), 3.29 (2000), 3.01 (1999), 2.95 (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
chief of state: Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)


head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA (since 1996); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister from 1992 until he assumed the prime ministership in 1996, when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health; TUILA'EPA was confirmed as prime minister after TOFILAU died; 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 Tanumafili II MALIETOA, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer
Exports - partners US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002) Australia 66.1%, US 10%, Japan 3.7% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March June 1 - May 31
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 - $1.28 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 18%


industry: 24%


services: 58% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 14%


industry: 23%


services: 63% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.7% (2002 est.) 5% (2002 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 occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
Highways total: 2,872 km


paved: 488 km


unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
total: 790 km


paved: 332 km


unpaved: 458 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
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 NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners US 35.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 6.1%, Japan 5.9%, Cuba 5.7%, UK 5.4% (2002) New Zealand 23.3%, Fiji 20.2%, Australia 15.7%, Japan 13.1%, Taiwan 6.4%, US 4.2% (2002)
Independence 21 September 1981 (from UK) 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
Industrial production growth rate 4.6% (1999) 2.8% (2000)
Industries garment production, food processing, tourism, construction food processing, building materials, auto parts
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.)
total: 29.73 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 34.98 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 24.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.9% (2002 est.) 4% (2001 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 ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (1998 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; Land and Titles Court
Labor force 90,000


note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
90,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.) NA
Land boundaries total: 516 km


border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 2.81%


permanent crops: 1.1%


other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
arable land: 19.43%


permanent crops: 23.67%


other: 56.9% (1998 est.)
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 (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
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly Eurasian, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms)


elections: election last held 3 March 2001 (next election to be held not later than March 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HRPP 30, SNDP 13, independents 6
Life expectancy at birth total population: 67.36 years


male: 65.19 years


female: 69.63 years (2003 est.)
total population: 70.11 years


male: 67.35 years


female: 73 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.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.7%


male: 99.6%


female: 99.7% (2003 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: 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.)
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 7,091 GRT/8,127 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 1 (2002 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 $7.7 million (FY00/01) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.87% (FY00/01) NA%
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) 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 (June to November) 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 (2003 est.) -11.67 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] Christian Democratic Party [leader NA]; Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA, chairman]; Samoa All People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua MAIMOANA]; Samoan National Development Party or SNDP [LE MAMEA Ropati, chairman] (opposition); Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary]; Samoan Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]; Samoan United Independents Party or SUIP [Dr. Saleimoa VAAI]
Political pressure groups and leaders Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM] NA
Population 266,440 (July 2003 est.) 178,173 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 33% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.44% (2003 est.) -0.27% (2003 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)
Railways 0 km 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) 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: 0.94 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.68 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female


total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2003 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) 8,183 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 3,023 (1997) 1,545 (February 1998)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) 2 (2002)
Terrain flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Total fertility rate 3.86 children born/woman (2003 est.) 3.21 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.1% (2002) NA%; note - substantial underemployment
Waterways 825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable) none
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