|
Country
|
Belize |
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Leader
|
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Dean Barrow
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Head of state: Pope Benedict XVI
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Population
|
327,719
|
|
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Life Expectancy
|
68.280 years
|
|
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Capital City
|
Belmopan
|
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Largest city
|
| Belize City (population: 61,461) | Vatican City (population: 921) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.771
| NA
|
| GDP per capita |
$8,400 US
|
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
76.9%
|
|
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Corruption Perception Index
|
2.9
| NA
|
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Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
11.1%
| NA
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| Wealthiest Citizens |
|
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| Unemployment Rate |
13.100%
|
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Death Penalty
|
Legal
| NA
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| |
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Political System
|
parliamentary democracy
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|
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Independence date
|
21 September 1981 (from UK)
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| 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)
|
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| 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)
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| Exports |
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
|
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| 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)
|
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| Military Budget as percentage of GDP |
1.400%
|
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| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
|
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| Location |
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
|
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| Area |
22,966 km sq
|
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| Coastline |
386 km
|
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| Climate |
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
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