area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi
money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
NA (31 December 2008)
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$767.1 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 14
$552 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 25
$386.4 billion (31 December 2007)
$396.2 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal,
pork, milk
Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly,
transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and
beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - production:
82.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Electricity - consumption:
84.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - exports:
6.561 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
17.16 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
11,220 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Oil - consumption:
716,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - exports:
507,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil - imports:
1.076 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - consumption:
17.33 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - imports:
17.42 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Current account balance:
-$12.88 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$7.751 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$371.5 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$323.4 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and
metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.8%, France 17.4%, Netherlands 12.2%, UK 7.2%, US 4.8%,
Italy 4.7% (2008)
Imports:
$387.7 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$320.9 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds,
pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Imports - partners:
Netherlands 19.4%, Germany 17.2%, France 11%, UK 5.7%, US 5.6%,
China 4.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$15.65 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$16.51 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.354 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 11
$1.539 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$821 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$747.5 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$661.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$593 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964
(2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Belgium
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.457 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
Telephones - mobile cellular:
11.822 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 51
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and
completely automated domestic and international telephone and
telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable
network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 32; landing point for a number of
submarine cables that provide links to Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 79, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.be
Internet hosts:
4.367 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 17
Internet users:
7.292 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
Transportation ::Belgium
Airports:
43 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 15 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,330 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,233 km
country comparison to the world: 54
standard gauge: 3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 152,256 km
country comparison to the world: 34
paved: 119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,177 km (2006)
Waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
Merchant marine:
total: 79
country comparison to the world: 56
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, container 6,
liquefied gas 20, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off
10
foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 4, France 2)
registered in other countries: 111 (Bahamas 15, Cyprus 2, France 6,
Gibraltar 2, Greece 16, Hong Kong 3, Liberia 4, Luxembourg 7, Malta
15, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 1, Panama 2,
Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 8, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 8, Vanuatu 4) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Antwerp, Gent, Liege, Zeebrugge
Military ::Belgium
Military branches:
Belgian Armed Forces: Land Operations Command, Naval Operations
Command, Air Operations Command (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
suspended (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,407,128
females age 16-49: 2,340,039 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,962,409
females age 16-49: 1,905,178 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 62,722
female: 59,969 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Transnational Issues ::Belgium
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for
US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American
cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin,
hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a
strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to
money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and
tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Belize (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Belize
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 1854. 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.
Guatemala and Belize are gearing up for a simultaneous referendum to
determine if this dispute will go before the International Court of
Justice at The Hague. Tourism has become the mainstay of the
economy. Current concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt,
high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug
trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.
Geography ::Belize
Location:
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and
Mexico
Geographic coordinates:
17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 22,966 sq km
country comparison to the world: 151
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline:
386 km
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)
Terrain:
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m
Natural resources:
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
18.6 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%)
per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal
flooding (especially in south)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents,
agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
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
People ::Belize
Population:
307,899 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 59,462/female 57,117)
15-64 years: 58.6% (male 91,298/female 89,170)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,185/female 5,667) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.4 years
male: 20.3 years
female: 20.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.154% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Birth rate:
27.33 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Death rate:
5.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.07 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 94
male: 26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.2 years
country comparison to the world: 151
male: 66.44 years
female: 70.05 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.36 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
(2000 census)
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%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
Languages:
Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9%
(official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown
0.2% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 55
Government ::Belize
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:
21 September 1981 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:
21 September 1981
Legal system:
English law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17
November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Dean Oliver BARROW (since 8
February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar VEGA (since 12 February
2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister
recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats;
members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the
prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and
1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and
Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce
and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National
Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; to
serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2008
(next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 56.3%, PUP 40.9%;
seats by party - UDP 25, PUP 6
Judicial branch:
Summary Jurisdiction Courts (criminal) and District Courts (civil
jurisdiction); Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of
Appeal; Privy Council in the UK; member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party
or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil
MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [John BRICENO]; United
Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the People
or VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito
BAUTISTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR
[Gustavo PERERA]; Association of Concerned Belizeans or ACB [David
VASQUEZ]; National Trade Union Congress of Belize or NTUC/B [Rene
GOMEZ]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC,
LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor MENDEZ
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J.A. DIFFILY
embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address: P.O. Box 497, Belmopan City, Cayo District, Belize
telephone: [501] 822-4011
FAX: [501] 822-4012
Flag description:
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;
centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of
arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany
tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the
Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
Economy ::Belize
Economy - overview:
In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy, tourism is
the number one foreign exchange earner followed by exports of marine
products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The
government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in
September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in
1999-2007, though growth slipped to 3.8% in 2008 as a result of the
global slowdown, natural disasters, and the drop in the price of
oil. Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered the economic growth.
Exploration efforts continue and a small increase in production is
expected in 2009. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade
deficit and unsustainable foreign debt equivalent to nearly 70% of
GDP. In February 2007, the government restructured nearly all of its
public external commercial debt, which helped reduce interest
payments and relieve some of the country's liquidity concerns. A key
short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help
of international donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.542 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$2.468 billion (2007 est.)
$2.43 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.359 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
1.6% (2007 est.)
5.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$8,400 (2007 est.)
$8,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 16.9%
services: 54.1% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
122,300
country comparison to the world: 173
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 18.1%
services: 71.7% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 113
9.4% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
33.5% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
27.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Budget:
revenues: $347 million
expenditures: $386.5 million (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
2.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
12% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 26
12% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.14% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 49
14.33% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$345.7 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 99
$323.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$653.8 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
$549 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$955 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 108
$877.6 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
bananas, cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber;
garments
Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Electricity - production:
213.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Electricity - consumption:
198.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
248.4 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
3,511 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - consumption:
7,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Oil - exports:
2,260 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - imports:
7,204 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - proved reserves:
6.7 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Current account balance:
-$153.7 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
-$51.1 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$464.7 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
$425.6 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood,
crude oil
Exports - partners:
US 35.6%, UK 21.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3%, Italy 4.5%, Nigeria 4% (2008)
Imports:
$788.1 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$642 million (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:
US 37.4%, Mexico 12.9%, Cuba 7.7%, Guatemala 6.1%, Russia 5%, China
4.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$166.2 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$108.5 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$954.1 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$1.2 billion (June 2005 est.)
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008), 2 (2007), 2 (2006),
2 (2005), 2 (2004)
Communications ::Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 177
Telephones - mobile cellular:
160,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 175
Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system; fixed-line teledensity of
10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density roughly 55 per
100 persons
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; landing point for the Americas
Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic
telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and
Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth
station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (2008)
Internet country code:
.bz
Internet hosts:
3,017 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 142
Internet users:
34,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 178