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Compare French Guiana (2005) - Belize (2002)

Compare French Guiana (2005) z Belize (2002)

 French Guiana (2005)Belize (2002)
 French GuianaBelize
Administrative divisions none (overseas department of France) 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Age structure 0-14 years: 29.3% (male 29,262/female 27,947)


15-64 years: 64.7% (male 67,895/female 58,534)


65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,038/female 5,830) (2005 est.)
0-14 years: 41.6% (male 55,716; female 53,581)


15-64 years: 54.9% (male 73,068; female 71,368)


65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,511; female 4,755) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp
Airports 11 (2004 est.) 44 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
total: 38


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Area total: 91,000 sq km


land: 89,150 sq km


water: 1,850 sq km
total: 22,966 sq km


land: 22,806 sq km


water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Indiana slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Background First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou. 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.
Birth rate 20.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 31.08 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $225 million


expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
revenues: $186 million


expenditures: $253 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.)
Capital Cayenne Belmopan
Climate tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Coastline 378 km 386 km
Constitution 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) 21 September 1981
Country name conventional long form: Department of Guiana


conventional short form: French Guiana


local long form: none


local short form: Guyane
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Belize


former: British Honduras
Currency - Belizean dollar (BZD)
Death rate 4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.2 billion (1988) $500 million (2000 est.)
Dependency status overseas department of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas department of France) 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


FAX: [501] 230-802
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas department of France) 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 Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa) in French Guiana the "Line of Adjacency" established in 2000 as an agreed limit to check squatters settling in Belize, remains in place while the Organization of American States (OAS) assists states to resolve Guatemalan territorial claims in Belize and Guatemalan maritime access to the Caribbean Sea; Honduras claims the Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize
Economic aid - recipient NA $NA
Economy - overview The economy is tied closely to the much larger French economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers. The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.4% in 1999 and 10.5% in 2000. Growth decelerated in 2001 to 3% due to the global slowdown and severe hurricane damage to agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Major concerns continue to be the rapidly expanding trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.
Electricity - consumption 427.9 million kWh (2002) 178.56 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 460.1 million kWh (2002) 192 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 58%


hydro: 42%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Environment - current issues NA deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
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
Ethnic groups black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10% mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Exchange rates Euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000) Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Executive branch chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Ange MANCINI (since 31 July 2002)


head of government: President of the General Council Joseph HO-TEN-YOU (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)


cabinet: NA


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
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 $239.6 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2001) EU 45% (UK 33%), US 42%, Caricom 6%, Canada 1% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description the flag of France 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 - purchasing power parity - $830 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 18%


industry: 24%


services: 58% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,250 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 4 00 N, 53 00 W 17 15 N, 88 45 W
Geography - note mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of the South American continent only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Highways total: 817 km (1998) total: 2,880 km


paved: 490 km


unpaved: 2,390 km (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe 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 $505 million c.i.f. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods; food, beverages, tobacco; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners France 63%, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2002 est.) US 51%, Mexico 12%, Central America 5%, UK 4% (1999)
Independence none (overseas department of France) 21 September 1981 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4.6% (1999) (1999)
Industries construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Infant mortality rate total: 12.07 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
24.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% (2002 est.) 1.7% (2001 est.)
International organization participation UPU, WCL, WFTU ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, 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
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1998 est.) 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana) Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
Labor force 58,800 (1997) 90,000


note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 18.2%, industry 21.2%, services, government, and commerce 60.6% (1980) agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries total: 1,183 km


border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
total: 516 km


border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Land use arable land: 0.14%


permanent crops: 0.05%


other: 99.81% (90% forest, 10% other) (2001)
arable land: 2.81%


permanent crops: 1.1%


other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
Languages French English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Legal system French legal system English law
Legislative branch unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)


elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7, other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2


note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, Walwari Committee 1
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
Life expectancy at birth total population: 77.09 years


male: 73.77 years


female: 80.58 years (2005 est.)
total population: 71.46 years


male: 69.17 years


female: 73.87 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 83%


male: 84%


female: 82% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 70.3%


male: 70.3%


female: 70.3% (1991 est.)


note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%
Location Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Map references South America Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
Merchant marine registered in other countries: 3 total: 315 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,240,551 GRT/1,761,168 DWT


ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 204, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, container 12, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 39, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, 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.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches no regular military forces; Gendarmerie Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $7.7 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 1.87% (FY00/01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 64,909 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 38,472 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 2,847 (2002 est.)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Nationality noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)


adjective: French Guianese
noun: Belizean(s)


adjective: Belizean
Natural hazards high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Natural resources bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), petroleum, kaolin, fish, niobium, tantalum, clay arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Net migration rate 5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders Guyanese Democratic Action or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; Guyanese Socialist Party or PSG [Marie-Claude VERDAN]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Popular National Guyanese Party or PNPG [Jose DORCY]; Socialist Party or PS [Paul DEBRIETTE]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (includes RPR) [Muriel ICARE]; Walwari Committee (aligned with the PRG in France) [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON] 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 NA Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]
Population 195,506 (July 2005 est.) 262,999 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 33% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 2.1% (2005 est.) 2.65% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Degrad des Cannes Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998) AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 133,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 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)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female


total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2005 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: 0.95 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: fair open-wire and microwave radio relay system


international: country code - 594; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: above-average system


domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 51,000 (2001) 31,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 138,200 (2002) 3,023 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997) 2 (1997)
Terrain low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Total fertility rate 3.01 children born/woman (2005 est.) 3.96 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 22% (2001) 11.5% (2000) (2000)
Waterways 3,760 km


note: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft (2004)
825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable)
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