Country
Belize Albania
Leader
Population
327,719 3,002,859
Life Expectancy
68.280 years 77.590 years
Capital City
Belmopan Tirana (Tirane)
Largest city
Belize City (population: 61,461) Tirana (population: 374,801)
Human Development Index
0.771 0.807 GDP per capita $8,400 US $7,800 US
Literacy Rate
76.9% 98.7%
Corruption Perception Index
2.9 3.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
11.1% 7.1% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 13.100% 13.300%
Death Penalty
Legal Abolished
Political System
parliamentary democracy emerging democracy
Independence date
21 September 1981 (from UK) 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire) Religions Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000) Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice Languages Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official), Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2% (2000 census) Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects Exports sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco External Debt $1,079,000,000 $ $5,700,000,000 US Exchange Rate Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008 est.), 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004) leke (ALL) per US dollar - 79.546 (2008 est.), 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 1.400% 1.490% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north Area 22,966 km sq 28,748 km sq Coastline 386 km 362 km Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
