The 1994 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

signed, but not ratified - Climate Change

       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

      @Belize, People

      Population:

       208,949 (July 1994 est.)

       Population growth rate:

       2.42% (1994 est.)

       Birth rate:

       34.74 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

       Death rate:

       6 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

       Net migration rate:

       −4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

       Infant mortality rate:

       35.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

       Life expectancy at birth:

       total population:

       68.08 years

       male:

       66.14 years

       female:

       70.12 years (1994 est.)

       Total fertility rate:

       4.39 children born/woman (1994 est.)

       Nationality:

       noun:

       Belizean(s)

       adjective:

       Belizean

       Ethnic divisions:

       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, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)

       Literacy:

       age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

       total population:

       91%

       male:

       91%

       female:

       91%

       Labor force:

       51,500

       by occupation:

       agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%,

       manufacturing 10.3%

       note:

       shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)

      @Belize, Government

      Names:

       conventional long form:

       none

       conventional short form:

       Belize

       former:

       British Honduras

       Digraph:

       BH

       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

       Legal system:

       English law

       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 (since 17 November 1993)

       head of government:

       Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993); Deputy Prime

       Minister Dean BARROW (since NA 1993)

       cabinet:

       Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice from the prime

       minister

       Legislative branch:

       bicameral National Assembly

       Senate:

       consists of an 8-member body, 5 are appointed on the advice of the

       prime minister, 2 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1

       after consultation with the Belize Advisory Council

       National Assembly:

       elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held June 1998); results

       - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 13 UDP 15

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court

       Political parties and leaders:

       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

       Other political or pressure groups:

       Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad

       SHOMAN; United Workers Front, leader NA

       Member of:

       ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,

       IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,

       IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,

       UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

       Diplomatic representation in US:

       chief of mission:

       Ambassador Dean LINDO

       chancery:

       2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

       telephone:

       (202) 332–9636

       FAX:

       (202) 332–6888

       consulate(s) general:

       Miami

       US diplomatic representation:

       chief of mission:

       Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA

       embassy:

       Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City

       mailing address:

       P. O. Box 286, Belize City

       telephone:

       [501] (2) 77161 through 77163

       FAX:

       [501] (2) 30802

       Flag:

       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