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)
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
Exports
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
External Debt
$1,079,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008 est.), 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Area
22,966 km sq
245,857 km sq
Coastline
386 km
320 km
Climate
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
