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Compare Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2007) - Belize (2005)

Compare Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2007) z Belize (2005)

 Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2007)Belize (2005)
 Cocos (Keeling) IslandsBelize
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: 40.1% (male 57,114/female 54,877)


15-64 years: 56.4% (male 79,694/female 77,881)


65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,768/female 5,123) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Airports 1 (2007) 43 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2004 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.)
Area total: 14 sq km


land: 14 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
total: 22,966 sq km


land: 22,806 sq km


water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Background There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. From the 1820s to 1978, members of the CLUNIE-ROSS family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857, the Cocos Islands were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island. 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 increasing urban crime.
Birth rate NA 29.34 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
revenues: $244.5 million


expenditures: $300 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2004 est.)
Capital name: West Island


geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E


time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Belmopan
Climate tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Coastline 26 km 386 km
Constitution Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992 21 September 1981
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands


conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Belize


former: British Honduras
Death rate NA 6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external - $1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)
Dependency status non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) 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
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) 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 none Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS is attempting to revive the 2002 failed 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
Economic aid - recipient $NA NA
Economy - overview Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry. 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 6% in 1999-2004. 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.
Electricity - consumption - 108.8 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production - 117 million kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location 5 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Environment - current issues fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs 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 Europeans, Cocos Malays mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002) Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
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
Exports $NA NA
Exports - commodities copra sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners Australia (2006) US 37.2%, UK 26.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2004)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 April - 31 March
Flag description the flag of Australia is used 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
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 17.7%


industry: 15%


services: 67.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 3.5% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 30 S, 96 50 E 17 15 N, 88 45 W
Geography - note islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation 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 (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
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
Imports $NA NA
Imports - commodities foodstuffs machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners Australia (2006) US 30.1%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 7.4%, Cuba 7.2%, China 4.2%, Japan 4.1% (2004)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 21 September 1981 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate - 4.6% (1999)
Industries copra products and tourism garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 25.69 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 22.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 2.9% (2004 est.)
International organization participation none 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
Irrigated land NA 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
Labor force NA 90,000


note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 516 km


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


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 2.85%


permanent crops: 1.71%


other: 95.44% (2001)
Languages Malay (Cocos dialect), English English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Legal system based upon the laws of Australia and local laws English law
Legislative branch unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)
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 March 2008)


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


male: NA


female: NA
total population: 68.44 years


male: 66.54 years


female: 70.44 years (2005 est.)
Literacy NA definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 94.1%


male: 94.1%


female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Map references Southeast Asia Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing 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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine - total: 295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 207, chemical tanker 9, container 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 5


foreign-owned: 142 (Australia 2, Belgium 1, China 50, Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 9, Germany 4, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 3, Italy 2, Japan 5, Latvia 4, Malaysia 1, Nigeria 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 2, Russia 23, Singapore 5, South Korea 6, Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 3, United States 2) (2005)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force -
Military branches - Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $18 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2% (2003)
National holiday Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Nationality noun: Cocos Islander(s)


adjective: Cocos Islander
noun: Belizean(s)


adjective: Belizean
Natural hazards cyclone season is October to April frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Natural resources fish arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Net migration rate NA 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders none 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 none Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]
Population 596 (July 2007 est.) 279,457 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line - 33% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 0% (2007 est.) 2.33% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors - Belize City
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Religions Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.) 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 (2005 est.)
Suffrage NA 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 INTELSAT satellite earth station (2001)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use 287 (1992) 33,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 60,400 (2003)
Television broadcast stations NA 2 (1997)
Terrain flat, low-lying coral atolls flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Total fertility rate NA 3.68 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 60% (2000 est.) 12.9% (2003)
Waterways - 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004)
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