Country
Belize
Leader
Prime minister: Dean Barrow
Population
24,720,407 334,297
Life Expectancy
69.510 years 68.400 years
Capital City
Belmopan
Largest city
Pyongyang (population: 3,222,000) Belize City (population: 61,461)
Human Development Index
0 0.771
GDP per capita
$8,400 US
Literacy Rate
99% 76.9%
Corruption Perception Index
NA 2.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
20.1% 11.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
11.300%
Death Penalty
NA Legal
Political System
Communist state one-man dictatorship parliamentary democracy
Independence date
21 September 1981 (from UK)
Religions
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom 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)
Languages
Korean 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)
Exports
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
External Debt
$1,457,000,000 US
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
1.200%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
6 0
Location
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Area
120,538 km sq 22,966 km sq
Coastline
2,495 km 386 km
Climate
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)