Belize

Government
Name	Commonwealth of Belize
Government type	Parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy (a Commonwealth realm)
Capital	Belmopan (20,621 (2016))
Currency	Belize dollar (BZD)
Organization
Member State	Commonwealth of Nations
People
Population (2020)	397,621 (176th)
Density of population	17.2 P/km2 (213rd)
Nationality	Belizean
Official languages
English
Ethnic groups (2010)1
Mestizo	52.9%
Creole	25.9%
Maya	11.3%
Garifuna	6.1%
East Indian	3.9%
Mennonite	3.6%
European	1.2%
Asian	1%
Other	1.2%
Unknown	0.3%
Religions (2010)
Roman Catholic	40.1%
Protestant	31.5%
Pentecostal	8.4%
Seventh Day Adventist	5.4%
Anglican	4.7%
Mennonite	3.7%
Baptist	3.6%
Methodist	2.9%
Nazarene	2.8%
Jehovah’s Witness	1.7%
Other (includes Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army)	10.5%
Unspecified	0.6%
None	15.5%
Life expectancy (2020)
Male	73.7 years
Female	77 years
Total population	75.3 years (117th)
Homicides
Total (2017)	37.8 per 100,000 people (5th)
Geography
Land area	22,806 km2
water area	180 km2
total area	22,966 km2 (152nd)
Mean elevation	173 m
Lowest point
Caribbean Sea	0 m
Highest point
Doyle’s Delight	1,124 m
Land use (2011)
Agricultural land	6.9%
Arable land	3.3%
Permanent crops	1.4%
Permanent pasture	2.2%
Forest	60.6%
Other	32.5%
Urbanization
Urban population (2020)	46%
Rate of urbanization	2.32% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020)
Economy
Labor force (2008) note: Shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel	120,500 million  (180th)
Labor force by occupation (2007)
Agriculture	10.2%
Industry	18.1%
Services	71.7%
Unemployment rate (2017)	9% (130th)
GDP (PPP) (estimate 2019)
Total	$3.484 billion
Per capita	$8,576
GDP (nominal) (estimate 2019)
Total	$1.987 billion
Per capita	$4,890 (17th)
GDP by sector (estimate 2017)
Agriculture	10.3%
Industry	21.6%
Services	68%
Exports (2017)	$457.5 million (177th)
Exports partners (2017)
UK	33.9%
US	22%
Jamaica	6.7%
Italy	6.4%
Barbados	5.9%
Ireland	5.5%
Netherlands	4.3%
Imports (2017)	$845.9 million (188th)
Imports partners (2017)
US	35.6%
China	11.2%
Mexico	11.2%
Guatemala	6.9%

Belize on the world map

Belize top 10 largest cities (2010)

1. Belize city (57,169)
2. San Ignacio (17,878)
3. Belmopan (13,939)
4. Orange Walk Town (13,708)
5. San Pedro Town (11,767)
6. Corozal Town (10,287)
7. Dangriga (9,593)
8. Benque Viejo del Carmen (6,140)
9. Ladyville (5,458)
10. Punta Gorda (5,351)

Demography

Population pyramid

Age structure data

Estimate for 2020:

• 0-14 years: 32.57% (male 66,454/female 63,700)
• 15-24 years: 19% (male 39,238/female 36,683)
• 25-54 years: 37.72% (male 73,440/female 77,300)
• 55-64 years: 6.18% (male 12,235/female 12,444)
• 65 years and over: 4.53% (male 8,781/female 9,323)

Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Population from 1950 to 2020

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Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.

Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018

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Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank

Economy

Agriculture:

bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar, fish, cultured shrimp, lumber

Industries:

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Exports – commodities:

sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood, crude oil

Imports – commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, tobacco

Time zone and current time in Belize

Go to our interactive map to get the current time in Belize