|
Country
|
Belize | 
Panama |
|
Leader
|
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Dean Barrow
|
President: Ricardo Martinelli
|
|
Population
|
327,719
| 3,510,045
|
|
Life Expectancy
|
68.280 years
| 77.960 years
|
|
Capital City
|
Belmopan
| Panama
|
|
Largest city
|
| Belize City (population: 61,461) | Panama (population: 408,168) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.771
| 0.832
|
| GDP per capita |
$8,400 US
| $14,300 US
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
76.9%
| 91.9%
|
|
Corruption Perception Index
|
2.9
| 3.4
|
|
Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
11.1%
| 16.7%
|
| Wealthiest Citizens |
|
|
| Unemployment Rate |
13.100%
| 4.500%
|
|
Death Penalty
|
Legal
| Abolished
|
| |
|
Political System
|
parliamentary democracy
| constitutional democracy
|
|
Independence date
|
21 September 1981 (from UK)
| 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
|
| 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)
| Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
|
| 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)
| Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
|
| Exports |
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
| bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
|
| External Debt |
$1,079,000,000 $
| $13,340,000,000 US
|
| Exchange Rate |
Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2008 est.), 2 (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004)
| balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
note: the US dollar is the legal currency
|
| Military Budget as percentage of GDP |
1.400%
| 1.000%
|
| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
0
| 1
|
| Location |
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
| Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
|
| Area |
22,966 km sq
| 75,420 km sq
|
| Coastline |
386 km
| 2,490 km
|
| Climate |
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
| tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
|
|
|
|
