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 Belize| Facts & Figures |
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| Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II
(1952) Governor-General: Sir Colville Young
(1993) Prime Minister: Said Musa
(1998)
Land area: 8,803 sq mi (22,800 sq km);
total area: 8,867 sq mi (22,966 sq km) Population (2009 est.): 307,899 (growth
rate: 2.1%); birth rate: 27.3/1000; infant mortality rate:
23.0/1000; life expectancy: 68.2; density per sq km: 13
Capital (2003 est.):
Belmopan, 8,700 Largest city: Belize City,
52,600 Monetary unit: Belize dollar More Facts & Figures |
GeographyBelize is situated on the Caribbean Sea, south
of Mexico and east and north of Guatemala in Central America. In area, it
is about the size of New Hampshire. Most of the country is heavily
forested with various hardwoods. Mangrove swamps and cays along the coast
give way to hills and mountains in the interior. The highest point is
Victoria Peak, 3,681 ft (1,122 m).
GovernmentParliamentary democracy within the British
Commonwealth.
HistoryThe Mayan civilization spread into the area of
Belize between 1500
B.C.
and
A.D.
300 and flourished until about 1200. Several
major archaeological sites—notably Caracol, Lamanai, Lubaantun,
Altun Ha, and Xunantunich—reflect the advanced civilization and much
denser population of that period. European contact began in 1502 when
Columbus sailed along the coast. The first recorded European settlement
was begun by shipwrecked English seamen in 1638. Over the next 150 years,
more English settlements were established. This period was also marked by
piracy, indiscriminate logging, and sporadic attacks by Indians and
neighboring Spanish settlements. Both Spain and Britain lay claim to the
land until Britain defeated the Spanish in the battle of St. George's Cay
(1798). It became a colony of Great Britain in 1840, known as British
Honduras, and a Crown colony in 1862. Full internal self-government was
granted in Jan. 1964. In 1973, the country changed its name to Belize.
Belize became independent on Sept. 21, 1981. But
Guatemala, which had made claims on the territory since the 1800s, refused
to recognize it. British troops remained in the country to defend it.
Although the dispute between Guatemala and Great Britain remained
unresolved, Guatemala recognized Belize's sovereignty in Sept. 1991.
Guatemala, however, still claims more than half of Belize’s
territory.
Prime Minister Said Musa was reelected to a
second term in 2003.
In the 2008 parliamentary elections, the United
Democratic Party won 57% of the vote (25 of 31 seats) and the People's
United Party 41% (6 seats). Turnout was 74.5%. Dean Barrow was sworn in as
prime minister on February 8. On February 11 he announced his cabinet,
which included himself as finance minister, Wilfred Elrington as foreign
minister, and Carlos Perdomo as minister of national security.
See also
Encyclopedia:
Belize
.
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes:
Belize
Central Statistical Office
www.cso.gov.bz/welcome.html
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