Belize

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

• tropical;
• very hot and humid;
• rainy season (May to February)

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

• 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

0-14 years:

42% (male 49,486; female 47,596)

15-64 years:

54% (male 63,259; female 61,567)

65 years and over:

4% (male 4,048; female 4,204) (July 1998 est.)

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 (1998 est.)

noun:

Belizean(s)

adjective:

Belizean

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Belize

former:

British Honduras

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (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 July 1993)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections:

• none;
• the queen is a hereditary monarch;
• governor general appointed by the queen;
• prime minister appointed by the governor general

• People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA];
• United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW];
• National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR [Philip GOLDSON]

chief of mission:

Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY

chancery:

2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 332-9636

chief of mission:

Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL

embassy:

Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City

mailing address:

P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025

telephone:

[501] (2) 77161 through 77163

• 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

total:

71,000

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 (1997 est.)

• bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane;
• lumber;
• fish, cultured shrimp

total value:

$166 million (f.o.b., 1996)

commodities:

sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

partners:

US 44%, UK 42%, other EU 5%, Canada 3% (1996)

total value:

$262 million (c.i.f., 1996)

commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

partners:

US 55%, Mexico 12%, UK 5% (1997)

total:

2,248 km

paved:

427 km

unpaved:

1,821 km (1996 est.)

• transshipment point for cocaine;
• small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
• minor money-laundering center BENIN