Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Dean Barrow
President: Jalal Talabani
Population
327,719
31,129,225
Life Expectancy
68.280 years
70.850 years
Capital City
Belmopan
Baghdad
Largest city
Belize City (population: 61,461)
Baghdad (population: 5,672,510)
Human Development Index
0.771
0
GDP per capita
$8,400 US
$3,900 US
Literacy Rate
76.9%
74.1%
Corruption Perception Index
2.9
1.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
11.1%
25.5%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
13.100%
15.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
21 September 1981 (from UK)
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi-controlled Government
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
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)
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
Exports
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
External Debt
$1,079,000,000 $
$50,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008 est.), 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004)
New Iraqi dinars (NID) per US dollar - 1,176 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Area
22,966 km sq
438,317 km sq
Coastline
386 km
58 km
Climate
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
