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NAVIGATION
Belize
former: British Honduras
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico |
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Geographic coordinates:
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17 15 N, 88 45 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 22,966 sq km
water: 160 sq km land: 22,806 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Massachusetts |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km |
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Coastline:
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386 km |
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Maritime claims:
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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 |
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Climate:
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tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) |
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Terrain:
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flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m |
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Natural resources:
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arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.81%
permanent crops: 1.1% other: 96.09% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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262,999 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.65% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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31.08 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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24.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 71.46 years
female: 73.87 years (2002 est.) male: 69.17 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.96 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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2.01% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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2,400 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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170 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean |
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7% |
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Religions:
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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) |
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Languages:
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English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole |
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Literacy:
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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% |