Country
Belize Fiji
Leader
Population
327,719 890,057
Life Expectancy
68.280 years 71.590 years
Capital City
Belmopan Suva (on Viti Levu)
Largest city
Belize City (population: 61,461) Suva (population: 77,366)
Human Development Index
0.771 0.743 GDP per capita $8,400 US $4,700 US
Literacy Rate
76.9% 93.7%
Corruption Perception Index
2.9 NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
11.1% 0% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 13.100% 7.600%
Death Penalty
Legal Abolished except for special circumstances
Political System
parliamentary democracy republic
Independence date
21 September 1981 (from UK) 10 October 1970 (from UK) 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) Christian 53% (Methodist 34.5%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Assembly of God 3.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.6%, other 4.9%), Hindu 34% (Sanatan 25%, Arya Samaj 1.2%, other 7.8%), Muslim 7% (Sunni 4.2%. other 2.8%), other or unspecified 5.6%, none 0.3% (1996 census) 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) English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani Exports sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil External Debt $1,079,000,000 $ $258,700,000 US Exchange Rate Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008 est.), 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004) Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 1.400% 1.900% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Area 22,966 km sq 18,274 km sq Coastline 386 km 1,129 km Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
