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Belize

Continent: Central America and the Caribbean

Geography

People &
Society

Government

Economy

Energy

Communications

Military &
Security

Transportation

Terrorism

Transnational Issues
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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 involved in an ongoing border dispute. Both nations have voted to send the dispute for final resolution to the International Court of Justice. 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.

Location

Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Maritime Claims

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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate
Tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

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

Natural Hazards

Frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment Current Issues

Deforestation; water pollution, including pollution of Belize's Barrier Reef System, from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; inability to properly dispose of solid waste

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

Geography Note

Only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Year

Map Reference

  • Central America and the Caribbean

Irrigated Land

  • 35 sq km

Area 2020

  • Total
    22,966 sq km
  • Land
    22,806 sq km
  • Water
    160 sq km

Coastline

  • 386 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 17 15 N, 88 45 W

Land use 2020

  • Agricultural Land
    6.9%
  • Arable Land
    3.3%
  • Forest
    60.6%
  • Other
    32.5%

Terrain

  • Flat
  • Swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation

  • Mean Elevation: 173 m
  • Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  • Highest Point: Doyle's Delight 1,124 m

Land Boundaries

  • Total
    542 km
  • Guatemala
    266 km
  • Mexico
    276 km

Natural Resources

  • Arable land potential
  • Timber
  • Fish
  • Hydropower
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