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BELIZE
Map of BELIZE
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Location:
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Central 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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Area:
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total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 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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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 |
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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: Doyle's Delight 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: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water resources:
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18.6 cu km (2000) |
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%)
per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000) |
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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, 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 |
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Population:
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301,270 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 38.4% (male 58,987/female 56,674)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 88,521/female 86,450)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,095/female 5,543) (2008 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% (2000 census) |
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Religions:
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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) |
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Languages:
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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) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census) |
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004) |
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Education expenditures - percent of GDP:
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5.3% (2004) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
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Administrative divisions:
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6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo |
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Independence:
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21 September 1981 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Source: http://cia.gov
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