Belize
Official name: BELIZE
Date of membership: 6 March1992
Capital: Belmopan
Geography
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico.
Area: 22,966 sq km
Land boundaries: 516 km
Border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline: 386 km
Natural resources: Arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection.
Economic indicators
| Total at current prices | 1586 | Millions USD | 2020 |
| Per capita at current prices | 398 | USD | 2020 |
| Growth rate per capita at constant prices | 18.3 | % | 2020 |
| Imports of goods and services (% of GDP at current prices) | 55.5 | % | 2020 |
| Exports of goods and services (% of GDP at current prices) | 43.6 | % | 2020 |
Source: Belize: National Economic Profile. CEPALSTAT. Databases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC. Inquiry: February 11, 2022
Socio-demographic indicators
| Total population (thousands) | 397.6 | (000) | 2020 |
| Life expectancy | 75 | Years | 2020-2025 |
| Women | 78 | Years | 2020-2025 |
| Men | 72 | Years | 2020-2025 |
| Public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP | 5.7 | % | 2018 |
| Literacy rate for persons between the ages of 15 to 24 | 84.2 | % | 2000 |
| Net rate of enrolment in primary education | 99.8 | % | 2020 |
| Net rate of enrolment in secondary education | 68.7 | % | 2020 |
| Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP | 7.9 | % | 2020 |
| Gini Coefficient | ND | % | ND |
| Unemployment | 13.7 | % | 2020 |
| Migration | 2.6 | % | 2020-2025 |
Source: Belize: National Socio-Demographic Profile. CEPALSTAT. Data Bases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC. On line.
Inquiry: February 11, 2022. ND= No data avalilable
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Government
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo.
Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)
Constitution: 21 September 1981
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: Chief of state: King Charles III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Froyla Tzalam Sr. (since 77 May 2021). Head of government: Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow (since 8 February 2008).
Legislative branch: 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).
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Internet code: .bz
Official Web Portal: http://www.belize.gov.bz/