Language
English (official) and Creole. Spanish is also spoken, as well as indigenous languages like Quiche and Garifuna.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	0.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	0.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	0.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	0.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	0.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	0.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	0.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	0.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
0.5 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Spanish-Indian descendants 44 percent, Creole (mainly black) 30 percent, indigenous Mayan 11 percent, Garifuna (Black indigenous) 7 percent, white 4 percent
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Catholic (60 percent) and Protestant, including Anglican, Pentecostal and Methodist
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	48.7 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	48.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	48.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	48.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	48.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	47.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	47.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	47.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1954
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
98 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	37.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	37.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	37.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	27.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	38.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	38.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT -6

Climate description
The climate is sub tropical, tempered by trade winds. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,290 mm (51in) in the north, to 4,450mm (175in) in the south.

Currency
Belize dollar

Telephone dialling code
(+) 501

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	75.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	71.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	71.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	71.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	71.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	74.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	73.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	69.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	69.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	70.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	72.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	79.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	74.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	74.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	73.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	75.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	22 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	14 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	15 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	32 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	33 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	34 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	34 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	34 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	25 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	16 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	17 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	39 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	39 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	40 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	83 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	83 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	83 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	83 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	No data available percent
1995-2000	No data available percent

Maternal mortality

2005	52 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	140 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	80	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	95	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	91	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	67	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	58	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	6 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	7 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	No data available percent
1996-2004	No data available percent
1995-2003	No data available percent
1995-2002	No data available percent
1995-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	4 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	No data available percent
2004	91 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	91 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	92 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	No data available percent
2004	47 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	47 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	50 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	76.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	76.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	93.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	93.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	76.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	76.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	93.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	93.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	77.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	93.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	93.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	104 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	115 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	119 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	120 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	122 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	123 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	119 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	137 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	142 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	532 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	402 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	420 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	424 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	332 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	224 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	196 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	152 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	67 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	111 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	111 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	109 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	96 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	61 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	109 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	99 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	66 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	62 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	60 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	46 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	3760 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	3720 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	3570 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	3520 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3410 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3160 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3070 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3090 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	1.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	5.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	3.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	4.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	9.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	5.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	4.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	12.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-3.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

Physicians

2000-2004	105 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	105 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	102 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	55 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	2.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	2.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	2.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	2.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	2.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.vivax exists within all districts but is highest in the southern region. No resistant P.falciparum strains reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	20	UNHCR
2007	17	UNHCR
2006	18	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	8	UNHCR
2004	9	UNHCR
2003	10	UNHCR
2002	No data available
2001	No data available
2000	12	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	277	UNHCR
2007	358	UNHCR
2006	488	UNHCR
2005	624	UNHCR
2004	732	UNHCR
2003	861	UNHCR
2002	1049	UNHCR
2001	1129	UNHCR
2000	1250	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1998)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	5.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	5.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	5.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	6.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	6.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003