Compare Sierra Leone (2002) - Belize (2002)

Compare Sierra Leone (2002) z Belize (2002)

	Sierra Leone (2002)	Belize (2002)

Administrative divisions	3 provinces and 1 area; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western	6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Age structure	0-14 years: 44.7% (male 1,230,530; female 1,280,084) 15-64 years: 52.1% (male 1,397,070; female 1,528,986) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,256; female 90,817) (2002 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	rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish	bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp
Airports	10 (2001)	44 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)	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: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2002)	total: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 27 (2002)
Area	total: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km	total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly smaller than South Carolina	slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Background	Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population) many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the eleven-year conflict in Sierra Leone may finally be near at hand. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. Reestablishment of government authority throughout the country is slowly proceeding and national elections took place in May 2002.	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	44.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)	31.08 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget	revenues: $96 million expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.)	revenues: $186 million expenditures: $253 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) (2000 est.)
Capital	Freetown	Belmopan
Climate	tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)	tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Coastline	402 km	386 km
Constitution	1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times	21 September 1981
Country name	conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras
Currency	leone (SLL)	Belizean dollar (BZD)
Death rate	18.83 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)	4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external	$1.3 billion (2000)	$500 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Russell CHAVEAS embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485 FAX: [232] (22) 225471	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	chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263 FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793	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	ongoing conflict in Sierra Leone has engendered refugee movements into neighboring Guinea and Liberia	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	$103 million (2001 est.)	$NA
Economy - overview	Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development, following a 10-year civil war. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. There are plans to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency consists of the mining of diamonds. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad.	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	227.85 million kWh (2000)	178.56 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2000)	0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2000)	0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production	245 million kWh (2000)	192 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source	fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2000)	fossil fuel: 58% hydro: 42% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Environment - current issues	rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing	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, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification	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	20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians	mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Exchange rates	leones per US dollar - 2,212.47 (January 2002), 1,985.89 (2001), 2,092.13 (2000), 1,804.20 (1999), 1,563.62 (1998), 981.48 (1997)	Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Executive branch	chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA 22.4%	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	$65 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)	$239.6 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities	diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish	sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners	NZ 33.7%, Belgium 32.6%, US 7.4%, France 5.1% (2000)	EU 45% (UK 33%), US 42%, Caricom 6%, Canada 1% (1999)
Fiscal year	calendar year	1 April - 31 March
Flag description	three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue	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 - $2.7 billion (2001 est.)	purchasing power parity - $830 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 43% industry: 27% services: 30% (2000)	agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)	purchasing power parity - $3,250 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	3% (2001 est.)	3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates	8 30 N, 11 30 W	17 15 N, 88 45 W
Geography - note	rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa	only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Heliports	2 (2002)	-
Highways	total: 11,700 km paved: 936 km unpaved: 10,764 km (2002)	total: 2,880 km paved: 490 km unpaved: 2,390 km (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 44% (1989) (1989)	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	-	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	$145 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)	$505 million c.i.f. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities	foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals	machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods; food, beverages, tobacco; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners	Czech Republic 26.7%, UK 26.6%, US 5.1%, Netherlands 4.6% (2000)	US 51%, Mexico 12%, Central America 5%, UK 4% (1999)
Independence	27 April 1961 (from UK)	21 September 1981 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	4.6% (1999) (1999)
Industries	mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining	garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Infant mortality rate	144.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)	24.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	15% (2000 est.)	1.7% (2001 est.)
International organization participation	ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO	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)	1 (2001)	2 (2000)
Irrigated land	290 sq km (1998 est.)	30 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court	Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
Labor force	1.369 million note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985) (1981 est.)	90,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%	agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries	total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km	total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Land use	arable land: 6.76% permanent crops: 0.78% other: 92.46% (1998 est.)	arable land: 2.81% permanent crops: 1.1% other: 96.09% (1998 est.)
Languages	English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)	English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Legal system	based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction	English law
Legislative branch	unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2	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: 45.96 years male: 43.01 years female: 49.01 years (2002 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 English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 31.4% male: 45.4% female: 18.2% (1995 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	Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia	Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Map references	Africa	Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 NM contiguous zone: 24 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	-	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 branches	Army (RSLAF)	Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$10.3 million (FY01)	$7.7 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	1.5% (FY01)	1.87% (FY00/01)
Military manpower - availability	males age 15-49: 1,203,682 (2002 est.)	males age 15-49: 64,909 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service	males age 15-49: 583,946 (2002 est.)	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	Independence Day, 27 April (1961)	Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Nationality	noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean	noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean
Natural hazards	dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms	frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Natural resources	diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite	arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Net migration rate	6.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: by the end of 1999 refugees from Sierra Leone are assumed to be returning (2002 est.)	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders	All People's Congress or APC [Alhaji Sat KOROMA, interim chairman]; Citizens United for Peace and Progress or CUPP [Alfred Musa CONTEH, interim chairman]; Coalition for Progress Party or CPP [Jeridine WILLIAM-SARHO, interim leader]; Democratic Center Party or DCP [Adu Aiah KOROMA]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [George E. L. PALMER]; Democratic Party or DP [Henry BALO, acting chairman]; National Alliance Democratic Party or NADP [Mohamed Yahya SILLAH, chairman]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Amadu M. B. JALLOH]; National People's Party or NPP [Andrew TURAY]; National Republican Party or NRP [Stephen Sahr MAMBU]; National Unity Movement or NUM [Sam LEIGH, interim chairman]; National Unity Party or NUP [John BENJAMINE, interim leader]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Alliance or PDA [Cpl. (Ret.) Abdul Rahman KAMARA, interim chairman]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Osman KAMARA]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward John KARGBO]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Abass Chernok BUNDU, chairman]; Revolutionary United Front Party or RUFP [Foday Saybana SANKOH, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Andrew Victor LUNGAY]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, chairman]; United National People's Party or UNPP [John KAREFA-SMART in exile, Raymond KAMARA, acting leader]; Young People's Party or YPP [Cornelius DEVEAUS, interim chairman]	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	Trade Unions and Student Unions	Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]
Population	5,614,743 (July 2002 est.)	262,999 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line	68% (1989 est.)	33% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate	3.21% (2002 est.)	2.65% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors	Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel	Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)	AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios	1.12 million (1997)	133,000 (1997)
Railways	total: 84 km narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge note: Sierra Leone has no common carrier railroads; the existing railroad is private and used on a limited basis while the mine at Marampa is closed (2001)	0 km
Religions	Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%	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: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 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: marginal telephone and telegraph service domestic: The national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema (April 2001) international: 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	25,000 (2001)	31,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular	30,000 (2001)	3,023 (1997)
Television broadcast stations	2 (1999)	2 (1997)
Terrain	coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east	flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Total fertility rate	5.94 children born/woman (2002 est.)	3.96 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate	NA%	11.5% (2000) (2000)
Waterways	800 km (of which 600 km navigable year round)	825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable)

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