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Compare Belize (2008) - Guyana (2001)

Compare Belize (2008) z Guyana (2001)

 Belize (2008)Guyana (2001)
 BelizeGuyana
Administrative divisions 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Age structure 0-14 years: 38.9% (male 58,459/female 56,183)


15-64 years: 57.5% (male 85,686/female 83,717)


65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,979/female 5,361) (2007 est.)
0-14 years:
28.19% (male 100,194; female 96,309)

15-64 years:
66.89% (male 234,976; female 231,360)

65 years and over:
4.92% (male 15,324; female 19,018) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Airports 44 (2007) 51 (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 (2007)
total:
6

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

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: 12


under 914 m: 27 (2007)
total:
45

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
8

under 914 m:
36 (2000 est.)
Area total: 22,966 sq km


land: 22,806 sq km


water: 160 sq km
total:
214,970 sq km

land:
196,850 sq km

water:
18,120 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Massachusetts slightly smaller than Idaho
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 an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966 and became a republic in 1970. In 1989 Guyana launched an Economic Recovery Program, which marked a dramatic reversal from a state-controlled, socialist economy towards a more open, free market system. Results through the first decade have proven encouraging.
Birth rate 28.34 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 17.92 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $328.5 million


expenditures: $365 million (2007 est.)
revenues:
$220.1 million

expenditures:
$286.4 million, including capital expenditures of $86.6 million (1998)
Capital name: Belmopan


geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W


time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Georgetown
Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
Coastline 386 km 459 km
Constitution 21 September 1981 6 October 1980
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Belize


former: British Honduras
conventional long form:
Co-operative Republic of Guyana

conventional short form:
Guyana

former:
British Guiana
Currency - Guyanese dollar (GYD)
Death rate 5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 8.87 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $1.2 billion (June 2005 est.) $1.1 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER


embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District


mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize


telephone: [501] 822-4011


FAX: [501] 822-4012
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ronald D. GODARD

embassy:
100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown

mailing address:
P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown

telephone:
[592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969

FAX:
[592] (2) 58497
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)


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 Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL

chancery:
2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-6900

consulate(s) general:
New York
Disputes - international annual ministerial meetings under the OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and Caribbean Sea; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; Honduras claims Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays in its constitution but agreed to a joint ecological park under the Differendum all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari [Koetari] rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Economic aid - recipient $12.91 million (2005) $84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997)
Economy - overview In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy, tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by exports of 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 4% in 1999-2007. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered the economic growth in 2006 and 2007. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and unsustainable foreign debt. In February 2007, the government restructured nearly all of its public external commercial debt, which will reduce interest payments and create the liquidity relief needed for an increase in public spending in the run-up to the March 2008 elections. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors. Severe drought and political turmoil contributed to Guyana's negative growth of -1.8% for 1998 following six straight years of growth of 5% or better. Growth came back to a positive 1.8% in 1999 and 3% in 2000. Underlying growth factors have included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a moderate inflation rate, and continued support by international organizations. President JAGDEO, the former finance minister, is taking steps to reform the economy, including drafting an investment code and restructuring the inefficient and unresponsive public sector. Problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and attract new investment.
Electricity - consumption 162.8 million kWh (2005) 423.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 200 million kWh (2007 est.) 455 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
98.9%

hydro:
1.1%

nuclear:
0%

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


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

highest point:
Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
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, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

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% East Indian 49%, black 32%, mixed 12%, Amerindian 6%, white and Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003) Guyanese dollars per US dollar - 184.1 (November 2000), 182.2 (2000), 178.0 (1999), 150.5 (1998), 142.4 (1997), 140.4 (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 Dean BARROW (since 8 February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February 2008)


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 Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President JAGAN

head of government:
Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since NA December 1997)

cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature

elections:
president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly following legislative elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports 1,960 bbl/day (2006) $570 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber
Exports - partners US 33.9%, UK 33.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 3.7% (2006) US 22%, Canada 22%, UK 18%, Netherlands Antilles 11%, Jamaica (1999)
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 green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green
GDP - purchasing power parity - $3.4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 21.3%


industry: 13.7%


services: 65% (2007 est.)
agriculture:
34.7%

industry:
32.5%

services:
32.8% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3% (2007 est.) 3% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 17 15 N, 88 45 W 5 00 N, 59 00 W
Geography - note only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean -
Highways - total:
7,970 km

paved:
590 km

unpaved:
7,380 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis
Imports 6,754 bbl/day (2004) $660 million (c.i.f., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Imports - partners US 35.7%, Mexico 13%, Cuba 7.7%, Guatemala 7.2%, China 4.3% (2006) US 29%, Trinidad and Tobago 18%, Netherlands Antilles 16%, UK 7%, Japan (1999)
Independence 21 September 1981 (from UK) 26 May 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 0.5% (2007 est.) 7.1% (1997 est.)
Industries garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining
Infant mortality rate total: 24.38 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 27.43 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 21.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
38.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.8% (2007 est.) 5.9% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 3 (2000)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (2003) 1,300 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 of Judicature; Judicial Court of Appeal; High Court
Labor force 113,000


note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2006 est.)
245,492 (1992)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 22.5%


industry: 15.2%


services: 62.3% (2005 est.)
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries total: 516 km


border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
total:
2,462 km

border countries:
Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Land use arable land: 3.05%


permanent crops: 1.39%


other: 95.56% (2005)
arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
6%

forests and woodland:
84%

other:
8% (1993 est.)
Languages Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census) English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu
Legal system English law based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats; 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; to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6
unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53 elected by popular vote, 10 elected by the ten Regional Democratic Councils, and 2 elected by the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPP/C 34, PNC 27, GAP and WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 68.25 years


male: 66.44 years


female: 70.16 years (2007 est.)
total population:
63.31 years

male:
60.52 years

female:
66.24 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 76.9%


male: 76.7%


female: 77.1% (2000 census)
definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:
98.1%

male:
98.6%

female:
97.5% (1995 est.)
Location Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Map references Central America and the Caribbean South America
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
continental shelf:
200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 261 ships (1000 GRT or over) 940,852 GRT/1,275,111 DWT


by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 36, cargo 190, chemical tanker 5, container 5, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1


foreign-owned: 217 (China 107, Croatia 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 1, Hong Kong 5, Iceland 1, Italy 4, Japan 2, South Korea 4, Latvia 14, Norway 3, Peru 1, Philippines 1, Russia 39, Singapore 3, Spain 2, Turkey 11, Ukraine 10, UAE 4, US 3) (2007)
total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,929 GRT/4,507 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 2 (2000 est.)
Military branches Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service (GNS), Guyana Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $7 million (FY94)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.4% (2006) 1.7% (FY94)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
204,938 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
154,259 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 21 September (1981) Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Nationality noun: Belizean(s)


adjective: Belizean
noun:
Guyanese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Guyanese
Natural hazards frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
Natural resources arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) -8.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito BAUTISTA] Alliance for Guyana or AFG (includes Guyana Labor Party or GLP and Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARINE]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [leader NA]; Guyana Labor Party or GLP [leader NA]; People's National Congress or PNC [Hugh Desmond HOYTE]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Janet JAGEN]; Rise, Organize and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPARNINE]
Political pressure groups and leaders Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene GOMEZ] Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Rise, Organize and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; Trades Union Congress or TUC

note:
the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well organized
Population 294,385 (July 2007 est.) 697,181

note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 33.5% (2002 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.258% (2007 est.) 0.07% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006) AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios - 420,000 (1997)
Railways - total:
187 km (all dedicated to ore transport)

standard gauge:
139 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:
48 km 0.914-m gauge
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) Christian 50%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 8%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.041 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.024 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.929 male(s)/female


total population: 1.027 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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:
0.81 male(s)/female

total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of 12 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 40 per 100 persons


domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay


international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2007)
general assessment:
fair system for long-distance calling

domestic:
microwave radio relay network for trunk lines

international:
tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 33,900 (2006) 70,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 118,300 (2006) 6,100 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 5 (2006) 3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997)
Terrain flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Total fertility rate 3.52 children born/woman (2007 est.) 2.1 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.4% (2006) 12% (1992 est.)
Waterways 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2007) 5,900 km (total length of navigable waterways)

note:
Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
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