Country
Belize Guyana
Leader
Population
327,719 741,908
Life Expectancy
68.280 years 67.390 years
Capital City
Belmopan Georgetown
Largest city
Belize City (population: 61,461) Georgetown (population: 235,017)
Human Development Index
0.771 0.725 GDP per capita $8,400 US $7,600 US
Literacy Rate
76.9% 98.8%
Corruption Perception Index
2.9 2.6
Percentage of Women in Parliament
11.1% 29% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 13.100% 11.000%
Death Penalty
Legal Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy republic
Independence date
21 September 1981 (from UK) 26 May 1966 (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) Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 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, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu Exports sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber External Debt $1,079,000,000 $ $1,234,000,000 US Exchange Rate Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008 est.), 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004) Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 203.86 (2008 est.), 201.89 (2007), 200.28 (2006), 200.79 (2005), 198.31 (2004) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 1.400% 1.800% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela Area 22,966 km sq 214,969 km sq Coastline 386 km 459 km Climate tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
