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Compare Belize (2004) - Dominican Republic (2001)

Compare Belize (2004) z Dominican Republic (2001)

 Belize (2004)Dominican Republic (2001)
 BelizeDominican Republic
Administrative divisions 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo 29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Age structure 0-14 years: 40.6% (male 56,530; female 54,322)


15-64 years: 55.8% (male 77,118; female 75,309)


65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,674; female 4,992) (2004 est.)
0-14 years:
34.11% (male 1,495,477; female 1,431,406)

15-64 years:
60.99% (male 2,664,679; female 2,569,398)

65 years and over:
4.9% (male 199,240; female 221,277) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Airports 43 (2003 est.) 29 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
total:
13

over 3,047 m:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 38


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)
total:
16

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
10 (2000 est.)
Area total: 22,966 sq km


land: 22,806 sq km


water: 160 sq km
total:
48,730 sq km

land:
48,380 sq km

water:
350 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Massachusetts slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
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. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of the 20th century was brought to an end in 1996 when free and open elections ushered in a new government.
Birth rate 29.89 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 24.77 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $222 million


expenditures: $300 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2003 est.)
revenues:
$2.3 billion

expenditures:
$2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867 million (1999 est.)
Capital Belmopan Santo Domingo
Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Coastline 386 km 1,288 km
Constitution 21 September 1981 28 November 1966
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Belize


former: British Honduras
conventional long form:
Dominican Republic

conventional short form:
none

local long form:
Republica Dominicana

local short form:
none
Currency Belizean dollar (BZD) Dominican peso (DOP)
Death rate 6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $475 million (2001 est.) $4.7 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN


embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City


mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City


telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163


FAX: [501] 2-30802
chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles T. MANATT

embassy:
corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo

mailing address:
Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500

telephone:
[1] (809) 221-2171

FAX:
[1] (809) 686-7437
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 Roberto Bienvenido SALADIN-SELIN

chancery:
1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 332-6280

FAX:
[1] (202) 265-8057

consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

consulate(s):
Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
Disputes - international Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along the border region; an OAS brokered Differendum in 2002 created a small adjustment to the land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to popular referendum leaving Guatemala to continue to claim the southern half of Belize none
Economic aid - recipient NA $239.6 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 Dominican economy experienced dramatic growth over the last decade, even though the economy was hit hard by Hurricane Georges in 1998. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest ten percent enjoy 40% of national income. In December 2000, the new MEJIA administration passed broad new tax legislation which it hopes will provide enough revenue to offset rising oil prices and to service foreign debt.
Electricity - consumption 185.5 million kWh (2001) 6.78 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 199.5 million kWh (2001) 7.29 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
87.19%

hydro:
12.4%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0.41% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
lowest point:
Lago Enriquillo -46 m

highest point:
Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Exchange rates Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999) Dominican pesos per US dollar - 16.888 (January 2001), 16.415 (2000), 16.033 (1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996)
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:
President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet nominated by the president

elections:
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2004)

election results:
Raphael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez elected president; percent of vote - Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD) 49.87%, Danilo MEDINA (PLD) 24.95%, Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 24.6%
Exports NA (2001) $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats
Exports - partners US 39.1%, UK 25%, France 4% (2003) US 66.1%, Netherlands 7.8%, Canada 7.6%, Russia 7.4%, UK 4.5% (1999 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 a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $48.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 22.7%


industry: 24.5%


services: 52.8% (2003 est.)
agriculture:
11.3%

industry:
32.2%

services:
56.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.7% (2002 est.) 8% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 17 15 N, 88 45 W 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Geography - note only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
Highways total: 2,872 km


paved: 488 km


unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
total:
12,600 km

paved:
6,224 km

unpaved:
6,376 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
1.6%

highest 10%:
39.6% (1989)
Illicit drugs major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada
Imports NA (2001) $9.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners US 41.9%, Mexico 12.4%, UK 5.9%, Cuba 5.5% (2003) US 25.7%, Venezuela 9.2%, Mexico 4%, Japan 3%, Panama 2.6% (1999 est.)
Independence 21 September 1981 (from UK) 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
Industrial production growth rate 4.6% (1999) 8% (2000 est.)
Industries garment production, food processing, tourism, construction tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Infant mortality rate total: 26.37 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 29.75 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 22.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
34.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.6% (2003 est.) 7.9% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 24 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (1998 est.) 2,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister) Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made up of members of the legislative and executive branches with the president presiding)
Labor force 90,000


note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2001 est.)
2.3 million - 2.6 million
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.) services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.)
Land boundaries total: 516 km


border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
total:
275 km

border countries:
Haiti 275 km
Land use arable land: 2.85%


permanent crops: 1.71%


other: 95.44% (2001)
arable land:
21%

permanent crops:
9%

permanent pastures:
43%

forests and woodland:
12%

other:
15% (1993 est.)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole Spanish
Legal system English law based on French civil codes
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
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (149 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
Life expectancy at birth total population: 67.43 years


male: 65.11 years


female: 69.86 years (2004 est.)
total population:
73.44 years

male:
71.34 years

female:
75.64 years (2001 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:
82.1%

male:
82%

female:
82.2% (1995 est.)
Location Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims 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
contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
6 NM
Merchant marine total: 336 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT


by type: bulk 13, cargo 240, chemical tanker 11, combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 10, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 2


foreign-owned: Bahamas 2, Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 11, Cambodia 6, China 67, Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 8, Germany 5, Greece 2, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia 4, Italy 2, Japan 5, Jordan 1, South Korea 13, Latvia 5, Liberia 2, Malaysia 4, Malta 1, Isle of Man 1, Marshall Islands 16, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 2, Panama 15, Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Russia 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 9, Spain 6, Switzerland 2, Taiwan 1, Thailand 3, Tunisia 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 3, United Kingdom 1, United States 3, Yemen 1


registered in other countries: 25 (2004 est.)
total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard) Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure $18 million (2003) $180 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2% (2003) 1.1% (FY98)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 68,518 (2004 est.) males age 15-49:
2,281,035 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 40,619 (2004 est.) males age 15-49:
1,430,776 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 3,122 (2004 est.) males:
87,404 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 21 September (1981) Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Nationality noun: Belizean(s)


adjective: Belizean
noun:
Dominican(s)

adjective:
Dominican
Natural hazards frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Natural resources arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -3.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
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] Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hatuey DE CAMPS]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo]
Political pressure groups and leaders Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM] Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
Population 272,945 (July 2004 est.) 8,581,477 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 33% (1999 est.) 25% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 2.39% (2004 est.) 1.63% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios - 1.44 million (1997)
Railways - total:
757 km

standard gauge:
375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad)

narrow gauge:
142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominican Republic Government Railway)

note:
240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (2000)
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) Roman Catholic 95%
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 (2004 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age

note:
members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Telephone system general assessment: above-average system


domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay


international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network

international:
1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 33,300 (2003) 709,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 60,400 (2003) 130,149 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) 25 (1997)
Terrain flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Total fertility rate 3.77 children born/woman (2004 est.) 2.97 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.1% (2002) 13.8% (1999 est.)
Waterways 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004) none
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