The 1999 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge

      Merchant marine:

       total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,668 GRT/56,412 DWT

       ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 8, oil tanker 6

       (1998 est.)

      Airports: 42 (1998 est.)

      Airports—with paved runways: total: 24 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: 6 (1998 est.)

      Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

      Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

      Military

      Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

      Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age

      Military manpower—availability:

       males age 15–49: 2,537,544 (1999 est.)

      Military manpower—fit for military service:

       males age 15–49: 2,098,883 (1999 est.)

      Military manpower—reaching military age annually:

       males: 64,180 (1999 est.)

      Military expenditures—dollar figure: $4.6 billion (1995)

      Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.7% (1995)

      Transnational Issues

      Disputes—international: none

      Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe

      ======================================================================

      @Belize———

      Geography

      Location: Middle 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: 22,960 sq km

       land: 22,800 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:

       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

      Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to

       February)

      Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

      Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish

      Land use:

       arable land: 2%

       permanent crops: 1%

       permanent pastures: 2%

       forests and woodland: 92%

       other: 3% (1993 est.)

      Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)

      Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to

       December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

      Environment—current issues: deforestation; water pollution from

       sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; Hurricane Mitch

       damage

      Environment—international agreements:

       party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered

       Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,

       Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling

       signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      Geography—note: 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

      People

      Population: 235,789 (July 1999 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 42% (male 49,991; female 48,074)

       15–64 years: 55% (male 65,507; female 63,796)

       65 years and over: 3% (male 4,129; female 4,292) (1999 est.)

      Population growth rate: 2.42% (1999 est.)

      Birth rate: 30.22 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Death rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Net migration rate: −0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 31.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.2 years male: 67.23 years female: 71.26 years (1999 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 3.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

      Ethnic groups: mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%

      Religions: 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)

      Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)

      Literacy:

       definition: age 14 and over has ever attended school

       total population: 70.3%

       male: 70.3%

       female: 70.3% (1991 est.)

       note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

      Government

      Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras

      Data code: BH

      Government type: parliamentary democracy

      Capital: Belmopan

      Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal,

       Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

      Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)

      National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

      Constitution: 21 September 1981