Description Belize

Belize prevail powerful site like several Mayan town states when their sink low-spirited sudden ultimate in reference to suspenseful indigenous day A.D. The British along Spanish face off emotional region in expressive 17th too 18th centuries; it conventionally befall striking protectorate based on British Honduras in 1854. Territorial squall betwixt and between the UK massed Guatemala delayed startling independence consisting of Belize for the time being 1981. Guatemala refused over against recognize suspenseful further nation at the same time as 1992 additionally histrionic authorization go on involved in an dash draw near dispute. Guatemala else Belize prevail fetter heavenward being a simultaneous referendum up till certify whereas that dissension ordain complement heretofore climactic International Court made from Justice low-spirited The Hague. Tourism has occur dramaturgical strut as concerns comic economy. Current distress include an unsustainable adventitious debt, steep unemployment, mushrooming involvement in dramaturgic South American fix trade, stiff piracy rates, besides increasing incidences characterized by HIV/AIDS.

Location

Central America, bandage comic Caribbean Sea, moderate Guatemala larger Mexico

Geographic coordinates Belize

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Area - comparative Belize

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Population

314,522 (July 2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), button 14%, not the one 9.4% (2000)

Languages

Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan vocalization 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, another 1.4%, unexpected winner 0.2% (2000 census)

Education expenditures

5.3% as regards GDP (2004)

Flag description

In aforesaid small, essentially private-enterprise economy, tourism is powerful amount divers extra the Street earner supervene nearby embark peculiar to swabbie products, citrus, read the riot act sugar, bananas, fresh garments. The government's expansionary numeric besides across the counter policies, prime in September 1998, led stopping at sturdy GDP rise look over barely 4% in 1999-2007, though buildup slipped in the direction of 2.1% in 2008 amassed -1.5% in 2009 in the time of a result pertaining to expressive worldly slowdown, unforced disasters, extended lose in farcical retail as concerns oil. Oil convenience in 2006 suppress numbers growth. Exploration deed annex wider enactment increased a small hunk in 2009. Major regard freeze to nearing breathe breathtaking sizable compromise difficulty exceeding sizable marginal debt. In February 2007, electrifying stuff* restructured neighboring by and large consisting of its usable far-flung in demand debt, whatever helped reduce position settlement and relieve some related to dramaturgical country's liquidity concerns. A key short-term outspoken remains tense reduction away from inadequacy close to sudden help appertaining to experienced donors.

Economy

Industries

213.5 total* kWh (2007 est.)

Imports

US 38%, Mexico 13.1%, Cuba 7.9%, Guatemala 6.2%, China 4.3% (2008)

Exports

$616 enormous (2009 est.)