Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
Jah-Jah.pl / Index countries / Belize (2006) - Iles Eparses (2006) / Compare countries
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Belize (2006) - Iles Eparses (2006)

Compare Belize (2006) z Iles Eparses (2006)

 Belize (2006)Iles Eparses (2006)
 BelizeIles Eparses
Administrative divisions 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo -
Age structure 0-14 years: 39.5% (male 57,923/female 55,678)


15-64 years: 57% (male 82,960/female 81,046)


65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,888/female 5,235) (2006 est.)
-
Agriculture - products bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments -
Airports 43 (2006) 4 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2006)
-
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 38


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 26 (2006)
-
Area total: 22,966 sq km


land: 22,806 sq km


water: 160 sq km
Bassas da India: total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km; water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon)


Europa Island: total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km; water - 0 sq km


Glorioso Islands: total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km; water - 0 sq km


Juan de Nova Island: total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq km; water - 0 sq km


Tromelin Island: total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Massachusetts Bassas da India: land area about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC


Europa Island: about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC


Glorioso Islands: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC


Juan de Nova Island: about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC


Tromelin Island: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Background Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increasing urban crime. The Iles Eparses, or scattered islands, are a group of five French entities - Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island - which on 1 April 1960 came under the authority of the Minister in charge of overseas possessions. On 19 September 1960 by decree, the islands were transferred to the charge of the Prefet of Reunion where they remained until 3 January 2005 when they were transferred by another decree to the Senior Administrator of the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).


Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a volcanic seamount surrounded by reefs and awash at high tide.


Europa Island: A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.


Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.


Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.


Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.
Birth rate 28.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) -
Budget revenues: $262 million


expenditures: $329 million; including capital expenditures of $70 million (2005 est.)
-
Capital name: Belmopan


geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W


time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
-
Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) tropical
Coastline 386 km Bassas da India: 35.2 km


Europa Island: 22.2 km


Glorioso Islands: 35.2 km


Juan de Nova Island: 24.1 km


Tromelin Island: 3.7 km
Constitution 21 September 1981 -
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Belize


former: British Honduras
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island


local long form: none


local short form: Bassas da India, Ile Europa, Iles Glorieuses, Ile Juan de Nova, Ile Tromelin
Death rate 5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) -
Debt - external $1.362 billion (June 2004 est.) -
Dependency status - possessions of France; administered by the Senior Administrator of the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), resident in Reunion
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER


embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City


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


telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163


FAX: [501] 223-0802
-
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 Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS seeks to revive the 2002 failed Belize-Guatemala Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK financial package Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: claimed by Madagascar


Tromelin Island: claimed by Mauritius
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 marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 5% in 1999-2005. 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. no economic activity
Electricity - consumption 111.6 million kWh (2003) -
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2003) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2003) -
Electricity - production 120 million kWh (2003) -
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


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


highest point: Bassas da India 2.4 m; Europa Island 24 m; Glorioso Islands 12 m; Juan de Nova Island 10 m; Tromelin Island 7 m (all unnamed locations)
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, 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
-
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 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001) -
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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Senior Administrator Michel CHAMPON
Exports NA bbl/day -
Exports - commodities sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood -
Exports - partners US 30.6%, UK 25%, France 4.8% (2005) -
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 the flag of France is used
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 14.2%


industry: 15.2%


services: 61.2% (2004 est.)
-
GDP - real growth rate 3.8% (2005 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 17 15 N, 88 45 W Bassas da India: 21 30 S, 39 50 E


Europa Island: 22 20 S, 40 22 E


Glorioso Islands: 11 30 S, 47 20 E


Juan de Nova Island: 17 03 S, 42 45 E


Tromelin Island: 15 52 S, 54 25 E
Geography - note only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean Bassas da India: the atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano


Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island: wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles


Glorioso Islands: the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system


Tromelin Island: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
-
Illicit drugs 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 -
Imports NA bbl/day -
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco -
Imports - partners US 31%, Mexico 11.6%, Russia 8.8%, Cuba 6%, Guatemala 5.6%, China 4.6%, Spain 4.4% (2005) -
Independence 21 September 1981 (from UK) -
Industrial production growth rate 4.6% (1999) -
Industries garment production, food processing, tourism, construction -
Infant mortality rate total: 24.89 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 28.07 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 21.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
-
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2005 est.) -
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, 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 -
Irrigated land 30 sq km (2003) -
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 (2001 est.)
-
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
none
Land use arable land: 3.05%


permanent crops: 1.39%


other: 95.56% (2005)
Bassas da India - 100% rock, coral reef, and sand; Europa Island - 100% mangrove swamp and dry woodlands; Glorioso Islands - 100% lush vegetation and coconut palms; Juan de Nova Island - 90% forest, 10% other; Tromelin Island - 100% grasses and scattered brush
Languages English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole -
Legal system English law the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 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 March 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: 68.3 years


male: 66.43 years


female: 70.26 years (2006 est.)
-
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 94.1%


male: 94.1%


female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
-
Location Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Southern Africa, in the Indian Ocean


Bassas da India: atoll in the southern Mozambique Channel, about half way from Madagascar to Mozambique


Europa Island: island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique


Glorioso Islands: group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar


Juan de Nova Island: island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique


Tromelin Island: island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; note - Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine total: 285 ships (1000 GRT or over) 985,464 GRT/1,322,629 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 36, cargo 203, chemical tanker 7, container 4, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1


foreign-owned: 225 (China 103, Croatia 1, Cyprus 2, Estonia 3, Germany 3, Greece 2, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 2, Indonesia 2, Italy 4, Japan 2, North Korea 2, South Korea 4, Latvia 6, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 1, Mexico 1, Norway 2, Poland 2, Russia 36, Singapore 6, Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 11, UAE 5, Ukraine 7, US 5) (2006)
-
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $19 million (2005 est.) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.7% (2005 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) all islands subject to periodic cyclones


Bassas da India: maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefs
Natural resources arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower Bassas da India and Europa Island: none


Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island: guano, phosphates; coconuts


Tromelin Island: fish
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 287,730 (July 2006 est.) Bassas da India: uninhabitable


Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession; visited by scientists


Tromelin Island: uninhabited, except for visits by scientists
Population below poverty line 33% (1999 est.) -
Population growth rate 2.31% (2006 est.) -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998) -
Religions Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (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: 0.93 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
-
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment: above-average system


domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay


international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005)
-
Telephones - main lines in use 33,300 (2005) -
Telephones - mobile cellular 93,100 (2005) -
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) -
Terrain flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Bassas da India: atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon


Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy


Tromelin Island: low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount
Total fertility rate 3.6 children born/woman (2006 est.) -
Transportation - note - aids to navigation - lighthouses: Europa Island 18m; Juan de Nova Island (W side) 37m; Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m
Unemployment rate 12.9% (2003) -
Waterways 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2005) -
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.