Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/25.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 11KB | 310 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Belize.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Belize"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Belize, click {z,"-95.478863,10.178092,-80.640081,21.732744",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 22,960 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 22,800 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly larger than Massachusetts

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 516 km
{3}border countries:{4} Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 386 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 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

{2}International disputes:{4} border with Guatemala in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are stalled

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)

{2}Terrain:{4} flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
{3}lowest point:{4} Caribbean Sea 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Victoria Peak 1,160 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} arable land potential, timber, fish

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 2%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 2%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 44%
{3}other:{4} 52%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 20 sq km (1989 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff

{2}natural hazards:{4} frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding
(especially in south)

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Whaling

{2}Geographic note:{4} national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of
hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 219,296 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 43% (male 48,291; female 46,451)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 53% (male 59,132; female 57,498)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 4% (male 3,881; female 4,043) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 2.42% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 32.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.96 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 68.53 years
{3}male:{4} 66.58 years
{3}female:{4} 70.58 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 4.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Belizean(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Belizean

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%

{2}Religions:{4} Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%,
other 6% (1980)

{2}Languages:{4} English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)

{2}Literacy:{4} age 14 and over has ever attended school (1991 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 70.3%
{3}male:{4} 70.3%
{3}female:{4} 70.3%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} none
{3}conventional short form:{4} Belize
{3}former:{4} British Honduras

{2}Type of government:{4} parliamentary democracy

{2}Capital:{4} Belmopan

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

{2}Independence:{4} 21 September 1981 (from UK)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

{2}Constitution:{4} 21 September 1981

{2}Legal system:{4} English law

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is
represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993), who, according
to the constitution, must be a Belizean; was appointed by the queen
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993) was appointed by the
governor general; Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993)
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral National Assembly
Senate: consists of an eight-member appointed body; five members are appointed on the advice
of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one after consultation
with the Belize Advisory Council (this council serves as an independent body to advise the
governor general with respect to difficult decisions such as granting pardons, commutations, stays
of execution, the removal of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.)
National Assembly: elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 13 UDP 15

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on advice
of the prime minister

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said
MUSA; United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW;
National Alliance for Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} Society for the Promotion of Education and Research
(SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN; United Workers Front, leader NA

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Dean R. LINDO
{3}chancery:{4} 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador George Charles BRUNO
{3}embassy:{4} Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
{3}mailing address:{4} P. O. Box 286, Belize City; APO: Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
{3}telephone:{4} [501] (2) 77161 through 77163
{3}FAX:{4} [501] (2) 30802

{2}Flag:{4} 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


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on
agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming
increasing importance. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export
earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US,
Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an
agricultural diversification program.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $575 million (1994 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2% (1994 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $2,750 (1994 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 30%
{3}industry:{4} NA
{3}services:{4} NA (1995 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 2.3% (1994 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 51,500
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%,
manufacturing 10.3%
{3}note:{4} shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 10% (1993 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $126.8 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY90/91 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 3.7% (1990)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 34,532 kW
{3}production:{4} 110 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 490 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} transshipment point for cocaine; an illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; minor money-laundering center

{2}Exports:{4} $115 million (f.o.b., 1993)
{3}commodities:{4} sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
{3}partners:{4} US 38%, UK, other EC (1994)

{2}Imports:{4} $281 million (c.i.f., 1993)
{3}commodities:{4} machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals
{3}partners:{4} US 53%, UK, other EC, Mexico (1994)

{2}External debt:{4} $167.5 million (1992)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4} Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 April - 31 March


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,560 km
{3}paved:{4} 336 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 2,224 km (1987 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable

{2}Ports:{4} Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 311,731 GRT/470,272 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 9, cargo 60, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo
4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 35
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 25
{3}with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 8 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 15,917 (1990 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} above-average system
{3}domestic:{4} trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1

{2}Radios:{4} NA

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 1

{2}Televisions:{4} 27,048 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize
National Police

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 52,290
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 31,086
{3}males reach military age (18) annually:{4} 2,390 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $8.1 million, NA% of GDP (FY95/96)