Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
10 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
39,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
8 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV provides access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations broadcasting on roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio was privatized in 1998 (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.bz
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
80.01% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
4 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
17,800 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
67 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
271,000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, maize, bananas, sorghum, soybeans, chicken, rice, oranges, fruits, plantains (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$506.316 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$554.405 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$72.6 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$135.9 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$174.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$163.5 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$158.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$150.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$184.6 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$127.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$157.9 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$235.566 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$19.761 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$51.762 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$1.471 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$1.235 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
2.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
2.0000 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
2.0000 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
2.0000 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
2.0000 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
2.0000 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
2.0000 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
2.0000 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
2.0000 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
2.0000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
2.0000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
2.0000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
2.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
raw sugar, bananas, fish, shellfish, refined petroleum (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$1.039 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$1.187 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$1.131 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$1.059 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$1.129 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$1.183 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$1.239 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$770.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$1.156 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.369 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$1.536 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$1.64 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
55.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
15.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
62.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-51.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
20.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-2.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
8.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
14.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
62.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$14,347 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.516 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$5.984 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
39.9 (2018 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
30% (2018 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.2% (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, orthopedic appliances, ships, garments, tobacco (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$773.6 million (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$1.151 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$1.102 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$1.085 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$1.126 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$1.201 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$900.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.248 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$1.574 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$1.573 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$1.724 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-0.86% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.66% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.15% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.27% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.19% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.12% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.24% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.28% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.39% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.29% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
190,000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
52.00% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
61.13% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
61.03% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
99% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$3.311 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$3.399 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$3.428 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$3.404 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$4.051 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$3.767 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$4.632 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$5.062 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$5.12 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$5.538 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.76% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-0.02% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-1.83% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
0.82% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.26% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-13.52% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
17.99% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
9.25% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
8.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$9,490 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$9,538 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$9,399 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$9,121 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$10,500 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$9,639 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$11,716 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$13,461 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$13,730 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$74.4 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$80.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$84.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$120.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$135.4 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
4.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
4.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$437.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$376.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$312.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$294.5 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$277.6 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$348.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$420.1 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$482.146 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$473.729 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$498.087 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
21.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
9.05% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
10.76% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
10.30% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
8.68% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
8.28% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
8.70% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
25.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
10.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
16.3% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
32 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
97.1%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
98.6% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
98.4%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
32.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
52.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
595.389 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
283.8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
220,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
140.519 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
30.752 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
6.7 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
800 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
3 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
662,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
662,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; inability to properly dispose of solid waste
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
58.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
33.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
21.734 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
68.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
11.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
41.75% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
101,400 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10.4% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Geography: Area: land
22,806 sq km
Geography: Area: water
160 sq km
Geography: Coastline
386 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Doyle's Delight 1,124 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
173 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
17 15 N, 88 45 W
Geography: Geography - note
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Geography: Irrigated land
35 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Guatemala 266 km; Mexico 276 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
542 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
58.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
33.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south
Geography: Natural hazards
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Geography: Population distribution
approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east
Geography: Terrain
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Government: Administrative divisions
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Government: Capital: etymology
the name is formed from two words: "Belize," the name of the longest river in the country, and "Mopan," one of the rivers in the area that empties into the Belize River
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
17 15 N, 88 46 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed and adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly House of Representatives except for amendments relating to rights and freedoms, changes to the Assembly, and to elections and judiciary matters, which require at least three-quarters majority vote of the House; both types of amendments require assent of the governor general
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1954, 1963 (pre-independence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Belize
Government: Country name: etymology
traditionally believed to be derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the last name of Scottish explorer Peter Wallace, who settled in the area in 1638; alternatively, may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered"
Government: Country name: former
British Honduras
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Katharine BEAMER (since 23 August 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSBelize@state.gov https://bz.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
4 Floral Park Road, Belmopan, Cayo
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
(501) 822-4012
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3050 Belmopan Place, Washington DC 20521-3050
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
(501) 822-4011
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-2826
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Lynn Raymond YOUNG (since 7 July 2021)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
reception.usa@mfa.gov.bz https://www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 332-6888
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 332-9636
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
governor general appoints Cabinet from among members of the National Assembly, on the advice of the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister John BRICEÑO (since 12 November 2020)
Government: Flag
description: royal blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; the coat of arms is on a large white disk at the center and shows a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree, with the motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom; a green garland of 50 mahogany leaves rings the coat of arms meaning: the figures, the mahogany tree, and the garland refer to the logging industry that led the British to settle Belize; blue and red are the colors of the two main political parties
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 10 justices); the Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor-general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Magistrates' Courts; Family Court
Government: Legal system
English common law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
March 2030
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
3/12/2025
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
32 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
People's United Party (PUP) (26); United Democratic Party (UDP) (5)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
12.5%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
May 2030
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
5/9/2025
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
13 (all appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
35.7%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly
Government: National anthem(s): history
royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
unknown
Government: National color(s)
red, blue
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (natural)
Government: National holiday
Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Government: National symbol(s)
Baird's tapir (a large forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, black orchid
Government: Political parties
Belize People’s Front or BPF Belize Progressive Party or BPP (formed in 2015 from a merger of the People's National Party, elements of the Vision Inspired by the People, and other smaller political groups) People's United Party or PUP United Democratic Party or UDP Vision Inspired by the People or VIP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992, and the two countries are still involved in an ongoing border dispute. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Belize Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for external security but also provides some support to civilian authorities; it has limited powers of arrest within land and shoreline areas, while the Coast Guard has arrest powers and jurisdiction within coastal and maritime areas; the BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817; the BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; the presence consists of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partners (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard (BCG) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 1,500 BDF personnel (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military has a small inventory consisting mostly of UK- and US-origin equipment (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.89% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.96% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.01% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.01% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.02% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.27% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.10% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.98% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.99% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.90% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-23 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient, but conscription has never been implemented; initial service obligation is 12 years (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
27.7% (male 58,529/female 56,811)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
66.7% (male 135,903/female 141,503)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
5.5% (2024 est.) (male 11,463/female 11,580)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
3.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
5.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
17.44 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
22.2% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
6.3% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
33.5% (2016)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
4.6% (2015/16)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.15% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
8.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
11.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
49.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
40.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
18.9% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.62% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, White 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3% (2010 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.99 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
11.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.0 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
10.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
12.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.5% (2010 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
76.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
71.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
87.9% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
87.9% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
87.88% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
23,000 BELMOPAN (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
27.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
26.4 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Belizean
People and Society: Net migration rate
2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
24.1% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.09 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
People and Society: Population
417,072 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.44% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
213,116
People and Society: Population: male
208,844
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
14.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
8.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.02 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
41.75% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
8 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
2,287 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
27 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
V3
Transportation: Heliports
5 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 49, general cargo 410, oil tanker 64, other 251
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
774 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Belize City, Big Creek
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
1
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
2 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.