|
Country
|
Belize | 
Ecuador |
|
Leader
|
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Dean Barrow
|
President: Rafael Correa
|
|
Population
|
327,719
| 15,223,680
|
|
Life Expectancy
|
68.280 years
| 75.940 years
|
|
Capital City
|
Belmopan
| Quito
|
|
Largest city
|
| Belize City (population: 61,461) | Guayaquil (population: 1,952,030) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.771
| 0.807
|
| GDP per capita |
$8,400 US
| $8,600 US
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
76.9%
| 91%
|
|
Corruption Perception Index
|
2.9
| 2
|
|
Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
11.1%
| 25%
|
| Wealthiest Citizens |
|
|
| Unemployment Rate |
13.100%
| 4.200%
|
|
Death Penalty
|
Legal
| Abolished
|
| |
|
Political System
|
parliamentary democracy
| republic
|
|
Independence date
|
21 September 1981 (from UK)
| 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
|
| 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)
| Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
|
| 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)
| Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
|
| Exports |
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
| petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish
|
| External Debt |
$1,079,000,000 $
| $10,050,000,000 US
|
| Exchange Rate |
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008 est.), 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004)
| the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000
|
| Military Budget as percentage of GDP |
1.400%
| 0.900%
|
| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
0
| 1
|
| Location |
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
| Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
|
| Area |
22,966 km sq
| 283,561 km sq
|
| Coastline |
386 km
| 2,237 km
|
| Climate |
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
| tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
|
|
|
|
