Official Name: Belize
Currency: Belize Dollar
Current Exchange Rate: |
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Hemisphere: Northern
Continent: North America
Location: Central America, bordering Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and Guatemala.
Area: 8,867 sq mi, 22,966 sq km
Form of Government: Constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses (Senate [12]; House of Representatives [32]
Population: (2007) 306,000
Population Density: (2007) persons per sq mi 34.5, persons per sq km 13.3
Principal Language(s): Spanish, Creole, Mayan dialects, English (official).
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant (incl. Pentecostal, Anglican, Seventh - day Adventist, Mennonite, Methodist) 27%, other 14%, none 9%.
Capital: Belmopan
Capital Population: 16,000
Capital Average Temperature: 26.2 degrees Celsius, 79.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
Major Cities: Belize City 60,800; San Ignacio/Santa Elena 16,800; Belmopan 16,000; Orange Walk 15,300; Dangriga 10,800
Topography: Belize has swampy lowland in N, Maya Mts. in S, coral reefs and caves near coast. Climate is tropical.
Economy: $2.4 billion
G.D.P. per Capita: $7,900
Vital Statistics: Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman; 2005) 3.68. Life expectancy at birth (2005): male 66.5 years; female 70.4 years
Government Website:
Reference Sources: The World Almanac 2009, The New York Times Almanac 2009, Time Almanac 2009, World Climate website.
