Belize
Belize (/bəˈliːz/ ( listen)), formerly British Honduras,
is an independent
Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth realm on the eastern coast of Central
America.
Belize
Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south and
west by Guatemala, and on the east by the
Caribbean
.svg/400px-Antillas_(orthographic_projection).svg.png)
Caribbean Sea. Its mainland
is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi)
wide.
Belize
Belize has an area of 22,800 square kilometres (8,800 sq mi)
and a population of 387,879 (2017).[3] It has the lowest population
density in Central America.[7] The country's population growth rate of
1.87% per year (2015) is the second highest in the region and one of
the highest in the Western Hemisphere.[1]
Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species and its diversity
of ecosystems give it a key place in the globally significant
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.[8]
Belize
Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and languages
that reflect its rich history. English is the official language of
Belize, while
Belizean Creole is an unofficial native language. Over
half the population is multilingual, with Spanish being the second
most common spoken language.
Belize
Belize is considered a
Central American
.svg/440px-Central_America_(orthographic_projection).svg.png)
Central American and
Caribbean
Caribbean nation with
strong ties to both the Latin American and
Caribbean
Caribbean regions.[9] It is
a member of the
Caribbean
Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin
American and
Caribbean
Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Central American
Integration System (SICA), the only country to hold full membership in
all three regional organisations.
Belize
Belize is a Commonwealth realm, with
Queen
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state.
Belize
Belize is known for its September Celebrations, its extensive barrier
reef coral reefs and punta music.[10][11]
Contents
1 Etymology
2 History
2.1 Early history
2.2 Maya civilization
2.3 Spanish conquest and early colonial period (1506–1862)
2.4 As part of the
British Empire
British Empire (1862–1981)
2.5 Independent
Belize
Belize (since 1981)
3 Government and politics
3.1 Political culture
3.2 Foreign relations
3.3 Armed forces
3.4 Administrative divisions
4 Geography
4.1 Environment preservation and biodiversity
4.2 Vegetation and flora
4.3 Geology, mineral potential, and energy
4.4
Belize
Belize Barrier Reef
4.4.1 Species
4.4.2 Conservation
4.5 Climate
5 Economy
5.1 Industrial infrastructure
5.2 Tourism
5.3 Transport
6 Society
6.1 Demographics
6.2 Ethnic groups
6.2.1 The Maya
6.2.2 Creoles
6.2.3 Garinagu
6.2.4 Mestizos
6.2.5 German-speaking Mennonites
6.2.6 Other groups
6.2.7 Emigration, immigration, and demographic shifts
6.3 Languages
6.4 Largest cities
6.5 Religion
6.6 Health
6.7 Education
6.8 Crime
6.9 Social structure
6.10 Women
7 Culture
7.1 Cuisine
7.2 Music
7.3 Sports
7.4 National symbols
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
11 External links
Etymology[edit]
The original name of
Belize
Belize was British Honduras. The earliest known
record of the name "Belize" appears in the journal of the Dominican
priest Fray José Delgado, dating to 1677.[12] Delgado recorded the
names of three major rivers that he crossed while travelling north
along the
Caribbean
Caribbean coast: Rio Soyte, Rio Xibum and Rio Balis. The
names of these waterways, which correspond to the Sittee River, Sibun
River and
Belize
Belize River, were provided to Delgado by his
translator.[12] It is likely that Delgado's "Balis" was actually the
Mayan word belix (or beliz), meaning "muddy-watered".[12]
Some have suggested that the name derives from a Spanish pronunciation
of the name of the Scottish buccaneer Peter Wallace, who established a
settlement at the mouth of the
Belize River
Belize River in 1638.[13] There is no
proof that Wallace settled in this area and some scholars have
characterized this claim as a myth.[12] Writers and historians have
suggested several other possible etymologies, including postulated
French and African origins.[12]
History[edit]
Main article: History of Belize
Early history[edit]
Extent of the Maya civilization
The
Maya civilization
Maya civilization emerged at least three millennia ago in the
lowland area of the
Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula and the highlands to the south,
in what is now southeastern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and western
Honduras. Many aspects of this culture persist in the area despite
nearly 500 years of European domination. Prior to about 2500 BC, some
hunting and foraging bands settled in small farming villages; they
later domesticated crops such as corn, beans, squash, and chili
peppers.
A profusion of languages and subcultures developed within the Maya
core culture. Between about 2500 BC and 250 AD, the basic institutions
of Maya civilisation emerged. The peak of this civilization occurred
during the classic period, which began about 250 AD.[14]
"Caana" at Caracol
"El Castillo" at Xunantunich
Maya civilization[edit]
Main article: Pre-Columbian Belize
The
Maya civilization
Maya civilization spread across what is now
Belize
Belize around 1500 BC,
and flourished there until about 900 AD. The recorded history of the
middle and southern regions is dominated by Caracol, an urban
political centre that may have supported over 140,000 people.[15][16]
North of the Maya Mountains, the most important political centre was
Lamanai.[17] In the late Classic Era of Maya civilisation (600–1000
AD), as many as 1 million people may have lived in the area that is
now Belize.[18]
When Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century, the area that is
now
Belize
Belize included three distinct Maya territories: Chetumal
province, which encompassed the area around Corozal Bay; Dzuluinicob
province, which encompassed the area between the New River and the
Sibun River, west to Tipu; and a southern territory controlled by the
Manche Ch'ol
Manche Ch'ol Maya, encompassing the area between the
Monkey River
Monkey River and
the Sarstoon River.[19]
Spanish conquest and early colonial period (1506–1862)[edit]
Further information:
History of Belize
History of Belize (1506–1862)
Spanish conquistadors explored the land and declared it a Spanish
colony but chose not to settle and develop because of its lack of
resources and the hostile Indian tribes of the Yucatán.
English and Scottish settlers and pirates known as the
Baymen entered
the area from the 17th century, with
Baymen first settling on the
coast of what is now
Belize
Belize in 1638, seeking a sheltered region from
which they could attack Spanish ships (see English settlement in
Belize). The settlers established a trade colony and port in what
became the
Belize
Belize District,[20] and during the 18th century,
established a system using black slaves to cut logwood (Haematoxylum
campechianum) trees. This yielded a valuable fixing agent for clothing
dyes,[21] and was one of the first ways to achieve a fast black before
the advent of artificial dyes. The Spanish granted the British
settlers the right to occupy the area and cut logwood in exchange for
their help suppressing piracy.[14]
An excerpt from the 1898 Gazette that declared 10 September an
official holiday, part of the efforts of the Centennial Committee
The British first appointed a superintendent over the
Belize
Belize area in
1786. Before then the British government had not recognized the
settlement as a colony for fear of provoking a Spanish attack. The
delay in government oversight allowed the settlers to establish their
own laws and forms of government. During this period, a few successful
settlers gained control of the local legislature, known as the Public
Meeting, as well as of most of the settlement's land and timber.
The
Battle of St. George's Caye
Battle of St. George's Caye was a 1798 military engagement off the
coast of
Belize
Belize between an invading Spanish fleet and a small force of
Baymen and their slaves. From 3 to 5 September, the Spaniards tried to
force their way through Montego Caye shoal, but were blocked by
defenders. Spain's last attempt occurred on 10 September, when the
Baymen repelled the Spanish fleet in a short engagement with no known
casualties on either side. The anniversary of the battle is a national
holiday in
Belize
Belize and is celebrated to commemorate the "first
Belizeans" and the defence of their territory.[22]
As part of the
British Empire
British Empire (1862–1981)[edit]
Main article: British Honduras
In the early 19th century, the British sought to reform the settlers,
threatening to suspend the Public Meeting unless it observed the
government's instructions to eliminate slavery outright. After a
generation of wrangling, slavery was abolished in the British Empire
in 1833,[23] As a result of their slaves' abilities in the work of
mahogany extraction, owners in
British Honduras
.svg/250px-Flag_of_British_Honduras_(1919-1981).svg.png)
British Honduras were compensated at
£53.69 per slave on average, the highest amount paid in any British
territory.[20]
However, the end of slavery did little to change the former slaves'
working conditions if they stayed at their trade. A series of
institutions restricted the ability of individuals to buy land, in a
debt-peonage system. Former "extra special" mahogany or logwood
cutters undergirded the early ascriptions of the capacities (and
consequently the limitations) of people of African descent in the
colony. Because a small elite controlled the settlement's land and
commerce, former slaves had little choice but to continue to work in
timber cutting.[20]
In 1836, after the emancipation of
Central America
Central America from Spanish rule,
the British claimed the right to administer the region. In 1862, Great
Britain formally declared it a British Crown Colony, subordinate to
Jamaica, and named it British Honduras.[24]
As a colony,
Belize
Belize began to attract British investors. Among the
British firms that dominated the colony in the late 19th century was
the
Belize
Belize Estate and Produce Company, which eventually acquired half
of all privately held land and eventually eliminated peonage. Belize
Estate's influence accounts in part for the colony's reliance on the
mahogany trade throughout the rest of the 19th century and the first
half of the 20th century.
Panoramic view of
Belize
Belize City, c. 1914
The
Great Depression
Great Depression of the 1930s caused a near-collapse of the
colony's economy as British demand for timber plummeted. The effects
of widespread unemployment were worsened by a devastating hurricane
that struck the colony in 1931. Perceptions of the government's relief
effort as inadequate were aggravated by its refusal to legalize labour
unions or introduce a minimum wage. Economic conditions improved
during
World War II
World War II as many Belizean men entered the armed forces or
otherwise contributed to the war effort.
Following the war, the colony's economy stagnated. Britain's decision
to devalue the
British Honduras
British Honduras dollar in 1949 worsened economic
conditions and led to the creation of the People's Committee, which
demanded independence. The People's Committee's successor, the
People's United Party
.jpg)
People's United Party (PUP), sought constitutional reforms that
expanded voting rights to all adults. The first election under
universal suffrage was held in 1954 and was decisively won by the PUP,
beginning a three-decade period in which the PUP dominated the
country's politics. Pro-independence activist George Cadle Price
became PUP leader in 1956 and the effective head of government in
1961, a post he would hold under various titles until 1984.
Under a new constitution Britain granted British Honduras
self-government in 1964. On 1 June 1973,
British Honduras
British Honduras was
officially renamed Belize.[25] Progress toward independence, however,
was hampered by a Guatemalan claim to sovereignty over Belizean
territory.
Independent
Belize
Belize (since 1981)[edit]
Belize
Belize was granted independence on 21 September 1981. Guatemala
refused to recognize the new nation because of its longstanding
territorial dispute with the British colony, claiming that Belize
belonged to Guatemala. About 1,500 British troops remained in Belize
to deter any possible incursions.[26]
With Price at the helm, the PUP won all national elections until 1984.
In that election, the first national election after independence, the
PUP was defeated by the United Democratic Party (UDP). UDP leader
Manuel Esquivel
Manuel Esquivel replaced Price as prime minister, with Price himself
unexpectedly losing his own House seat to a UDP challenger. The PUP
under Price returned to power after elections in 1989. The following
year the
United Kingdom
United Kingdom announced that it would end its military
involvement in Belize, and the RAF Harrier detachment was withdrawn
the same year, having remained stationed in the country continuously
since its deployment had become permanent there in 1980. British
soldiers were withdrawn in 1994, but the
United Kingdom
United Kingdom left behind a
military training unit to assist with the newly created
Belize
Belize Defence
Force.
The UDP regained power in the 1993 national election, and Esquivel
became prime minister for a second time. Soon afterwards Esquivel
announced the suspension of a pact reached with
Guatemala
Guatemala during
Price's tenure, claiming Price had made too many concessions to gain
Guatemalan recognition. The pact may have curtailed the 130-year-old
border dispute between the two countries. Border tensions continued
into the early 2000s, although the two countries cooperated in other
areas.
The PUP won a landslide victory in the 1998 national elections, and
PUP leader
Said Musa was sworn in as prime minister. In the 2003
elections the PUP maintained its majority, and Musa continued as prime
minister. He pledged to improve conditions in the underdeveloped and
largely inaccessible southern part of Belize.
In 2005,
Belize
Belize was the site of unrest caused by discontent with the
PUP government, including tax increases in the national budget. On 8
February 2008,
Dean Barrow
.jpg/440px-Belizean_Prime_Minister,_Dean_Barrow_in_London,_27_June_2013_(cropped).jpg)
Dean Barrow was sworn in as prime minister after his
UDP won a landslide victory in general elections. Barrow and the UDP
were re-elected in 2012 with a considerably smaller majority.
Throughout Belize's history,
Guatemala
Guatemala has claimed ownership of all or
part of Belizean territory. This claim is occasionally reflected in
maps drawn by Guatemala's government, showing
Belize
Belize as Guatemala's
twenty-third department. As of 2016[update], the border dispute with
Guatemala
Guatemala remains unresolved and quite contentious.[1][27][28]
Guatemala's claim to Belizean territory rests, in part, on Clause VII
of the Anglo-Guatemalan Treaty of 1859, which obligated the British to
build a road between
Belize City
Belize City and Guatemala. At various times the
issue has required mediation by the United Kingdom, Caribbean
Community heads of government, the Organization of American States
(OAS), Mexico, and the United States. Notably, both
Guatemala
Guatemala and
Belize
Belize participate in confidence-building measures approved by the OAS
such as the Guatemala-
Belize
Belize Language Exchange Project.[29]
Government and politics[edit]
Main article: Politics of Belize
See also: Government of Belize
Belize
Belize is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The structure of
government is based on the British parliamentary system, and the legal
system is modelled on the common law of England. The symbolic head of
state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title Queen of Belize. The
Queen resides in the United Kingdom, and is represented in
Belize
Belize by
the Governor-General. Executive authority is exercised by the cabinet,
which advises the Governor-General and is led by the Prime Minister of
Belize, who is head of government. Cabinet ministers are members of
the majority political party in parliament and usually hold elected
seats within it concurrent with their cabinet positions.
The bicameral
National Assembly of Belize
National Assembly of Belize is composed of a House of
Representatives and a Senate. The 31 members of the House are
popularly elected to a maximum five-year term and introduce
legislation affecting the development of Belize. The Governor-General
appoints the 12 members of the Senate, with a Senate president
selected by the members. The Senate is responsible for debating and
approving bills passed by the House.
Legislative power
Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament
of Belize. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press,
worship, movement, and association. The judiciary is independent of
the executive and the legislature.[30]
Members of the independent judiciary are appointed. The judicial
system includes local magistrates grouped under the Magistrates'
Court, which hears less serious cases. The Supreme Court (Chief
Justice) hears murder and similarly serious cases, and the Court of
Appeal, hears appeals from convicted individuals seeking to have their
sentences overturned. Defendants may, under certain circumstances,
appeal their cases to the
Caribbean
Caribbean Court of Justice.
Political culture[edit]
Since 1974, the party system in
Belize
Belize has been dominated by the
centre-left
People's United Party
People's United Party and the centre-right United
Democratic Party, although there have been other small parties that
have participated at all levels of elections in the past. Though none
of these small political parties have ever won any significant number
of seats and/or offices, their challenge has been growing over the
years.
Foreign relations[edit]
Main article: Foreign relations of Belize
Belize
Belize is a full participating member of the United Nations,
Commonwealth of Nations,
Organization of American States
Organization of American States (OAS),
Central American Integration System
Central American Integration System (SICA),
Caribbean
Caribbean Community
(CARICOM),
CARICOM Single Market and Economy
CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), Association of
Caribbean
Caribbean States (ACS),[31] and the
Caribbean
Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ),
which currently serves as a final court of appeal for only Barbados,
Belize
Belize and Guyana. In 2001 the
Caribbean
Caribbean Community heads of government
voted on a measure declaring that the region should work towards
replacing the UK's
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
.svg/300px-Royal_Arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_(Privy_Council).svg.png)
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with the
Caribbean
Caribbean Court of Justice. It is still in the process of acceding to
CARICOM and SICA treaties, including trade and single market treaties.
Belize
Belize is an original member (1995) of the World Trade Organization
(WTO), and participates actively in its work. The pact involves the
Caribbean
Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) subgroup of the Group of African,
Caribbean, and Pacific states (ACP).
CARIFORUM
CARIFORUM presently the only part
of the wider ACP-bloc that has concluded the full regional trade-pact
with the European Union.
Armed forces[edit]
Main article: Military of Belize
Belizean Coast Guard working with the United States Navy
The
Belize Defence Force
Belize Defence Force (BDF) serves as the country's military and is
responsible for protecting the sovereignty of Belize. The BDF, with
the
Belize
Belize National Coast Guard and the Immigration Department, is a
department of the Ministry of Defence and Immigration. In 1997 the
regular army numbered over 900, the reserve army 381, the air wing 45
and the maritime wing 36, amounting to an overall strength of
approximately 1400.[32] In 2005, the maritime wing became part of the
Belizean Coast Guard.[33] In 2012, the Belizean government spent about
$17 million on the military, constituting 1.08% of the country's gross
domestic product (GDP).[34]
After
Belize
Belize achieved independence in 1981 the United Kingdom
maintained a deterrent force (British Forces Belize) in the country to
protect it from invasion by
Guatemala
Guatemala (see Guatemalan claim to
Belizean territory). During the 1980s this included a battalion and
No. 1417 Flight RAF
No. 1417 Flight RAF of Harriers. The main British force left in 1994,
three years after
Guatemala
Guatemala recognized Belizean independence, but the
United Kingdom
United Kingdom maintained a training presence via the British Army
Training and Support Unit
Belize
Belize (BATSUB) and
25 Flight AAC until 2011
when the last British Forces left
Ladyville
Ladyville Barracks, with the
exception of seconded advisers.[32]
Administrative divisions[edit]
Districts of Belize
Belize
Belize is divided into six districts.
District
Capital
Area[2]
Population
(2015)[35]
Population
(2010)[2]
Change
Population density
(2015)
Belize
Belize
Belize City
1,663 sq mi (4,310 km2)
110,644
95,292
7001161104814674890♠+16.1%
66.5/sq mi (25.7/km2)
Cayo
San Ignacio
2,006 sq mi (5,200 km2)
87,876
75,046
7001170961810089810♠+17.1%
43.8/sq mi (16.9/km2)
Corozal
Corozal Town
718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
45,530
41,061
7001108838070188260♠+10.9%
63.4/sq mi (24.5/km2)
Orange Walk
Orange Walk Town
1,790 sq mi (4,600 km2)
49,466
45,946
7000766116745745000♠+7.7%
27.6/sq mi (10.7/km2)
Stann Creek
Dangriga
986 sq mi (2,550 km2)
39,865
34,324
7001161432234005360♠+16.1%
40.4/sq mi (15.6/km2)
Toledo
Punta
Punta Gorda
1,704 sq mi (4,410 km2)
34,928
30,785
7001134578528504140♠+13.5%
20.5/sq mi (7.9/km2)
These districts are further divided into 31 constituencies. Local
government in
Belize
Belize comprises four types of local authorities: city
councils, town councils, village councils and community councils. The
two city councils (
Belize City
Belize City and Belmopan) and seven town councils
cover the urban population of the country, while village and community
councils cover the rural population.[36]
Geography[edit]
Main article: Geography of Belize
Belize
Belize Topography
Belizean jungles are home to the jaguar and many other mammals.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1990 as the first
wilderness sanctuary for the jaguar and is regarded by one author as
the premier site for jaguar preservation in the world.[37]
Belize
Belize is on the
Caribbean
Caribbean coast of northern Central America. It
shares a border on the north with the Mexican state of Quintana Roo,
on the west with the Guatemalan department of Petén, and on the south
with the Guatemalan department of Izabal. To the east in the Caribbean
Sea, the second-longest barrier reef in the world flanks much of the
386 kilometres (240 mi) of predominantly marshy coastline.[38]
The area of the country totals 22,960 square kilometres
(8,865 sq mi), an area slightly larger than El Salvador,
Israel,
New Jersey
New Jersey or Wales. The many lagoons along the coasts and in
the northern interior reduces the actual land area to 21,400 square
kilometres (8,263 sq mi).
Belize
Belize is shaped like a rectangle that extends about 280 kilometres
(174 mi) north-south and about 100 kilometres (62 mi)
east-west, with a total land boundary length of 516 kilometres
(321 mi). The undulating courses of two rivers, the Hondo and the
Sarstoon River, define much of the course of the country's northern
and southern boundaries. The western border follows no natural
features and runs north-south through lowland forest and highland
plateau.
The north of
Belize
Belize consists mostly of flat, swampy coastal plains, in
places heavily forested. The flora is highly diverse considering the
small geographical area. The south contains the low mountain range of
the Maya Mountains. The highest point in
Belize
Belize is
Doyle's Delight
Doyle's Delight at
1,124 m (3,688 ft).[39]
Belize's rugged geography has also made the country's coastline and
jungle attractive to drug smugglers, who use the country as a gateway
into Mexico.[40] In 2011, the United States added
Belize
Belize to the list
of nations considered major drug producers or transit countries for
narcotics.[41]
Environment preservation and biodiversity[edit]
Main article: List of protected areas of Belize
Scarlet macaws are native to Central and northern South America.
Various bird sanctuaries exist in Belize, such as the Crooked Tree
Wildlife Sanctuary.
Belize
Belize is a country with a rich variety of wildlife, because of its
unique position between both North and South America, and a wide range
of climates and habitats for plant and animal life.[42] Belize's low
human population and approximately 22,970 square kilometres
(8,867 sq mi) of undistributed land makes for an ideal home
for the more than 5,000 species of plants, and hundreds of species of
animals, including armadillos, snakes, and monkeys.[43][44]
The
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature reserve in
south-central
Belize
Belize established to protect the forests, fauna and
watersheds of an approximately 400 km2 (150 sq mi) area
of the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. The reserve was founded
in 1990 as the first wilderness sanctuary for the jaguar and is
regarded by one author as the premier site for jaguar preservation in
the world.[37]
Vegetation and flora[edit]
While over 60% of Belize's land surface is covered by forest,[45] some
20% of the country's land is covered by cultivated land (agriculture)
and human settlements.[46] Savanna, scrubland and wetland constitute
the remainder of Belize's land cover. Important mangrove ecosystems
are also represented across Belize's landscape.[47][48] As a part of
the globally significant
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor that
stretches from southern
Mexico
Mexico to Panama, Belize's biodiversity –
both marine and terrestrial – is rich, with abundant flora and
fauna.
Belize
Belize is also a leader in protecting biodiversity and natural
resources. According to the World Database on Protected Areas, 37% of
Belize's land territory falls under some form of official protection,
giving
Belize
Belize one of the most extensive systems of terrestrial
protected areas in the Americas.[49] By contrast,
Costa Rica
.svg/250px-Flag_of_Costa_Rica_(state).svg.png)
Costa Rica only has
27% of its land territory protected.[50]
Around 13.6% of Belize's territorial waters, which contain the Belize
Barrier Reef, are also protected.[51] The
Belize Barrier Reef
Belize Barrier Reef is a
UNESCO-recognized
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site and is the second-largest
barrier reef in the world, behind Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
A remote sensing study conducted by the Water Center for the Humid
Tropics of
Latin America
.svg/500px-Latin_America_(orthographic_projection).svg.png)
Latin America and the
Caribbean
Caribbean (CATHALAC) and NASA, in
collaboration with the Forest Department and the Land Information
Centre (LIC) of the government of Belize's Ministry of Natural
Resources and the Environment (MNRE), and published in August 2010
revealed that Belize's forest cover in early 2010 was approximately
62.7%, down from 75.9% in late 1980.[45] A similar study by Belize
Tropical Forest Studies and Conservation International revealed
similar trends in terms of Belize's forest cover.[52] Both studies
indicate that each year, 0.6% of Belize's forest cover is lost,
translating to the clearing of an average of 24,835 acres
(10,050 ha) each year. The USAID-supported ERVIR study by
CATHALAC, NASA, and the MNRE also showed that Belize's protected areas
have been extremely effective in protecting the country's forests.
While only some 6.4% of forests inside of legally declared protected
areas were cleared between 1980 and 2010, over a quarter of forests
outside of protected areas were lost between 1980 and 2010.
As a country with a relatively high forest cover and a low
deforestation rate,
Belize
Belize has significant potential for participation
in initiatives such as REDD. Significantly, the SERVIR study on
Belize's deforestation[45] was also recognized by the Group on Earth
Observations (GEO), of which
Belize
Belize is a member nation.[53]
Geology, mineral potential, and energy[edit]
Belize
Belize is known to have a number of economically important minerals,
but none in quantities large enough to warrant mining. These minerals
include dolomite, barite (source of barium), bauxite (source of
aluminium), cassiterite (source of tin), and gold. In 1990 limestone,
used in road-building, was the only mineral resource being exploited
for either domestic or export use.
In 2006, the cultivation of newly discovered crude oil in the town of
Spanish Lookout
Spanish Lookout has presented new prospects and problems for this
developing nation.[54]
Belize
Belize Barrier Reef[edit]
Main article:
Belize
Belize Barrier Reef
Belize
Belize Barrier Reef, aerial view looking north.
The Great Blue Hole, a phenomenon of karst topography.
The
Belize Barrier Reef
Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the
coast of Belize, roughly 300 metres (980 ft) offshore in the
north and 40 kilometres (25 mi) in the south within the country
limits. The
Belize Barrier Reef
Belize Barrier Reef is a 300 kilometres (190 mi) long
section of the 900 kilometres (560 mi) long Mesoamerican Barrier
Reef System, which is continuous from
Cancún
Cancún on the northeast tip of
the
Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula through the
Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya up to
Honduras
Honduras making
it one of the largest coral reef systems in the world.
It is Belize's top tourist destination, popular for scuba diving and
snorkelling, and attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors. It is
also vital to its fishing industry.[55] In 1842 Charles Darwin
described it as "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies".
The
Belize Barrier Reef
Belize Barrier Reef was declared a
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site by UNESCO
in 1996 due to its vulnerability and the fact that it contains
important natural habitats for in-situ conservation of
biodiversity.[56]
Species[edit]
The
Belize Barrier Reef
Belize Barrier Reef is home to a large diversity of plants and
animals, and is one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world:
70 hard coral species
36 soft coral species
500 species of fish
hundreds of invertebrate species
With 90% of the reef still to be researched, some estimate that only
10% of all species have been discovered.[57]
Conservation[edit]
Belize
Belize became the first country in the world to completely ban bottom
trawling in December 2010.[58][59] In December 2015,
Belize
Belize banned
offshore oil drilling within 1 km (0.6 mi) of the Barrier
Reef and all of its 7 World Heritage Sites.[60]
Despite these protective measures, the reef remains under threat from
oceanic pollution as well as uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and
fishing. Other threats include hurricanes, along with global warming
and the resulting increase in ocean temperatures,[61] which causes
coral bleaching. It is claimed by scientists that over 40% of Belize's
coral reef has been damaged since 1998.[55]
Climate[edit]
Belize
Belize has a tropical climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons,
although there are significant variations in weather patterns by
region. Temperatures vary according to elevation, proximity to the
coast, and the moderating effects of the northeast trade winds off the
Caribbean. Average temperatures in the coastal regions range from
24 °C (75.2 °F) in January to 27 °C (80.6 °F)
in July. Temperatures are slightly higher inland, except for the
southern highland plateaus, such as the Mountain Pine Ridge, where it
is noticeably cooler year round. Overall, the seasons are marked more
by differences in humidity and rainfall than in temperature.
Average rainfall varies considerably, from 1,350 mm
(53.1 in) in the north and west to over 4,500 mm
(177.2 in) in the extreme south. Seasonal differences in rainfall
are greatest in the northern and central regions of the country where,
between January and April or May, less than 100 mm (3.9 in)
of rainfall per month. The dry season is shorter in the south,
normally only lasting from February to April. A shorter, less rainy
period, known locally as the "little dry", usually occurs in late July
or August, after the initial onset of the rainy season.
Hurricanes have played key—and devastating—roles in Belizean
history. In 1931, an unnamed hurricane destroyed over two-thirds of
the buildings in
Belize City
Belize City and killed more than 1,000 people. In
1955,
Hurricane
Hurricane Janet levelled the northern town of Corozal. Only six
years later,
Hurricane
Hurricane Hattie struck the central coastal area of the
country, with winds in excess of 300 km/h (186 mph) and
4 m (13.1 ft) storm tides. The devastation of
Belize
Belize City
for the second time in thirty years prompted the relocation of the
capital some 80 kilometres (50 mi) inland to the planned city of
Belmopan.
In 1978,
Hurricane
Hurricane Greta caused more than US$25 million in
damages along the southern coast. On 9 October 2001,
Hurricane
Hurricane Iris
made landfall at
Monkey River
Monkey River Town as a 233 km/h (145 mph)
Category Four storm. The storm demolished most of the homes in the
village, and destroyed the banana crop. In 2007,
Hurricane
Hurricane Dean made
landfall as a
Category 5 storm only 40 km (25 mi) north of
the Belize–
Mexico
Mexico border. Dean caused extensive damage in northern
Belize.
In 2010,
Belize
Belize was directly affected by the
Category 2 Hurricane
Richard, which made landfall approximately 32 km (20 mi)
south-southeast of
Belize City
Belize City at around 00:45 UTC on 25 October
2010.[62] The storm moved inland towards Belmopan, causing estimated
damage of BZ$33.8 million ($17.4 million 2010 USD),
primarily from damage to crops and housing.[63]
The most recent hurricane to affect the nation was
Hurricane
Hurricane Earl of
2016.
Economy[edit]
Main article: Economy of Belize
A proportional representation of Belize's exports, 2012.
An oil well in Belize.
Petroleum
Petroleum is one of Belize's chief exports.
A sugar cane processing plant, Orange Walk Town, Belize.
Sugar
Sugar is one
of Belize's top exports.
Belize
Belize has a small, mostly private enterprise economy that is based
primarily on export of petroleum and crude oil, agriculture,
agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction
recently assuming greater importance.[54] As of 2007[update], oil
production was 3,000 bbl/d (480 m3/d) and as of 2006[update]
oil exports were 1,960 bbl/d (312 m3/d). The country is also
a producer of industrial minerals.[64] In agriculture, sugar, like in
colonial times, remains the chief crop, accounting for nearly half of
exports, while the banana industry is the largest employer.[54]
The new government of
Belize
Belize faces important challenges to economic
stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been promised,
but a lack of progress in reining in spending could bring the exchange
rate under pressure. The tourist and construction sectors strengthened
in early 1999, leading to a preliminary estimate of revived growth at
4%. Infrastructure remains a major economic development challenge;[65]
Belize
Belize has the region's most expensive electricity. Trade is important
and the major trading partners are the United States, Mexico, the
European Union, and Central America.[65]
Belize
Belize has five commercial banks, of which the largest and oldest is
Belize
Belize Bank. The other four banks are Heritage Bank, Atlantic Bank,
First
Caribbean
Caribbean International Bank, and
Scotiabank
Scotiabank (Belize). A robust
complex of credit unions began in the 1940s under the leadership of
Marion M. Ganey, S.J., and is a continuing resource for the betterment
of the peoples across economic and cultural lines.[66]
Belize
Belize is located on the coast of Central America. Based on its
location, it is seen as a beautiful destination for vacations.
However, also due to its location, it is currently becoming known in
the global arena for attracting many drug trafficking entities in
North America. The
Belize
Belize currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar. This
entices drug traffickers and money launderers who want to utilize
their current economic system. In addition,
Belize
Belize also offers
nonresidents the ability to establish offshore accounts. Because of
this loophole, it is desirable for many drug traffickers and money
launderers to utilize
Belize
Belize as a money laundering banking entity. As
a result, the
United States Department of State
United States Department of State has recently named
Belize
Belize one of the world’s "major money laundering countries." 2016
World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency
Industrial infrastructure[edit]
This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to
reflect recent events or newly available information. (January 2014)
The largest integrated electric utility and the principal distributor
in
Belize
Belize is
Belize
Belize Electricity Limited. BEL was approximately 70%
owned by Fortis Inc., a Canadian investor-owned distribution utility,
which represented less than 2% of Fortis assets. Fortis took over the
management of BEL in 1999, at the invitation of the government of
Belize
Belize in an attempt to mitigate prior financial problems within the
locally managed utility. In addition to its regulated investment in
BEL, Fortis owns
Belize
Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL), a
non-regulated hydroelectric generation business that operates three
hydroelectric generating facilities on the Macal River.
On 14 June 2011, the government of
Belize
Belize nationalized the majority
ownership interest of
Fortis Inc.
Fortis Inc. in
Belize
Belize Electricity Ltd. The
Belize
Belize utility encountered serious financial problems after the
country's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in 2008 disallowed "the
recovery of previously incurred fuel and purchased power costs in
customer rates and set customer rates at a level that does not allow
BEL to earn a fair and reasonable return", Fortis said in a June 2011
statement.[67] BEL appealed this judgment to the Court of Appeal;
however, a hearing is not expected until 2012. In May 2011, the
Supreme Court of Belize granted BEL's application to prevent the PUC
from taking any enforcement actions pending the appeal. The Belize
Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement saying the
government had acted in haste and expressed concern over the message
it sent to investors.
In August 2009, the government of
Belize
Belize nationalized
Belize
Belize Telemedia
Limited (BTL), which now competes directly with Speednet. As a result
of the nationalisation process, the interconnection agreements are
again subject to negotiations. Both BTL and
Speednet boast a full
range of products and services including basic telephone services,
national and international calls, prepaid services, cellular services
via GSM 1900 megahertz (MHz) and 3G
CDMA
CDMA 2000 respectively,
international cellular roaming, fixed wireless, dial-up and internet,
high-speed DSL, internet service, and national and international data
networks.[68]
Tourism[edit]
Main article: Tourism in Belize
Panoramic view of Amigos del Mar diving dock and shop in Ambergris
Caye
A combination of natural factors—climate, the
Belize
Belize Barrier Reef,
over 450 offshore Cays (islands), excellent fishing, safe waters for
boating, scuba diving, and snorkelling, numerous rivers for rafting,
and kayaking, various jungle and wildlife reserves of fauna and flora,
for hiking, bird watching, and helicopter touring, as well as many
Maya ruins—support the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry. It
also has the largest cave system in Central America.
Development costs are high, but the government of
Belize
Belize has made
tourism its second development priority after agriculture. In 2012,
tourist arrivals totalled 917,869 (with about 584,683 from the United
States) and tourist receipts amounted to over $1.3 billion.[69]
Transport[edit]
Further information: Transport in Belize
Society[edit]
Demographics[edit]
Main articles:
Demographics of Belize
Demographics of Belize and Belizean people
Belize
Belize has a wide diversity of cultures and races.
Belize's population is estimated to be 360,346 in 2017.[70] Belize's
total fertility rate in 2009 was 3.6 children per woman. Its birth
rate was 27.33 births/1,000 population, and the death rate was 5.8
deaths/1,000 population.[1] Substantial ethnic-demographic shift has
been occurring since 1980 when Creoles/
Mestizo
Mestizo ratio has shifted from
58/48 to now at 26/53, with Creoles moving to the US and
Mestizo
Mestizo birth
rate and entry from El Salvador. Woods, Composition and Distribution
of Ethnic Groups in
Belize
Belize 1997
Ethnic groups[edit]
The Maya[edit]
Mayan children
The Maya are thought to have been in
Belize
Belize and the Yucatán region
since the second millennium BC; however, much of Belize's original
Maya population was wiped out by conflicts between constantly warring
tribes. There were some who died of disease after contact and invasion
by Europeans. Three Maya groups now inhabit the country: The Yucatec
(who came from Yucatán, Mexico, to escape the savage Caste War of the
1840s), the Mopan (indigenous to
Belize
Belize but were forced out to
Guatemala
Guatemala by the British for raiding settlements; they returned to
Belize
Belize to evade enslavement by the Guatemalans in the 19th century),
and Q'eqchi' (also fled from slavery in
Guatemala
Guatemala in the 19th
century).[71] The latter groups are chiefly found in the Toledo
District.
Creoles[edit]
Main articles:
Belizean Creole people and Baymen
Creoles, also known as Kriols, make up roughly 21% of the Belizean
population and about 75% of the diaspora. They are descendants of the
Baymen slave owners, and slaves brought to
Belize
Belize for the purpose of
the logging industry.[72] These slaves were ultimately of West and
Central African descent (many also of Miskito ancestry from Nicaragua)
and born Africans who had spent very brief periods in
Jamaica
Jamaica and
Bermuda.[73] Bay Islanders and ethnic Jamaicans came in the late 19th
century, further adding to these already varied peoples, creating this
ethnic group.
For all intents and purposes, Creole is an ethnic and linguistic
denomination. Some natives, even with blonde hair and blue eyes, may
call themselves Creoles.[73]
Belize Creole English or Kriol developed during the time of slavery,
and historically was only spoken by former slaves. However, this
ethnicity has become an integral part of the Belizean identity, and as
a result it is now spoken by about 45% of Belizeans.[4][73] Belizean
Creole is derived mainly from English. Its substrate languages are the
Native American language Miskito, and the various
West African
West African and
Bantu languages
Bantu languages brought into the country by slaves. Creoles are found
all over Belize, but predominantly in urban areas such as
Belize
Belize City,
coastal towns and villages, and in the
Belize River
Belize River Valley.[74]
Garinagu[edit]
Main article: Garifuna people
Traditional Garifuna dancers in Dangriga, Belize
The
Garinagu
Garinagu (singular Garifuna), at around 4.5% of the population,
are a mix of West/Central African, Arawak, and
Island Carib
Island Carib ancestry.
Though they were captives removed from their homelands, these people
were never documented as slaves. The two prevailing theories are that,
in 1635, they were either the survivors of two recorded shipwrecks or
somehow took over the ship they came on.[75]
Throughout history they have been incorrectly labelled as Black
Caribs. When the British took over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
after the Treaty of Paris in 1763, they were opposed by French
settlers and their
Garinagu
Garinagu allies. The
Garinagu
Garinagu eventually
surrendered to the British in 1796. The British separated the more
African-looking Garifunas from the more indigenous-looking ones. 5,000
Garinagu
Garinagu were exiled from the Grenadine island of Baliceaux. However,
only about 2,500 of them survived the voyage to Roatán, an island off
the coast of Honduras. The
Garifuna language belongs to the Arawakan
language family, but has a large number of loanwords from Carib
languages and from English.
Because
Roatán
Roatán was too small and infertile to support their
population, the
Garinagu
Garinagu petitioned the Spanish authorities of
Honduras
Honduras to be allowed to settle on the mainland coast. The Spanish
employed them as soldiers, and they spread along the
Caribbean
Caribbean coast
of Central America. The
Garinagu
Garinagu settled in Seine Bight,
Punta
Punta Gorda
and
Punta
Punta Negra, Belize, by way of
Honduras
Honduras as early as 1802. However,
in Belize, 19 November 1832 is the date officially recognized as
"Garifuna Settlement Day" in Dangriga.[76]
According to one genetic study, their ancestry is on average 76% Sub
Saharan African, 20% Arawak/
Island Carib
Island Carib and 4% European.[75]
Mestizos[edit]
Main articles:
Hispanic Belizean
Hispanic Belizean and Mestizo
The
Mestizo
Mestizo culture are people of mixed Spanish and Maya descent. They
originally came to
Belize
Belize in 1847, to escape the Caste War, which
occurred when thousands of Mayas rose against the state in Yucatán
and massacred over one-third of the population. The surviving others
fled across the borders into British territory. The Mestizos are found
everywhere in
Belize
Belize but most make their homes in the northern
districts of Corozal and Orange Walk. The Mestizos are the largest
ethnic group in
Belize
Belize and make up approximately half of the
population. The
Mestizo
Mestizo towns centre on a main square, and social life
focuses on the Catholic Church built on one side of it. Spanish is the
main language of most Mestizos and Spanish descendants, but many speak
English and
Belize
Belize Kriol fluently.[77] Due to the influences of Kriol
and English, many Mestizos speak what is known as "Kitchen
Spanish".[78] The mixture of Latin and Maya foods like tamales,
escabeche, chirmole, relleno, and empanadas came from their Mexican
side and corn tortillas were handed down by their Mayan side. Music
comes mainly from the marimba, but they also play and sing with the
guitar. Dances performed at village fiestas include the Hog-Head,
Zapateados, the Mestizada, Paso Doble and many more.
German-speaking Mennonites[edit]
Mennonite
Mennonite children selling peanuts near
Lamanai
Lamanai in Belize. Roughly
10,000 Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites live in Belize, farming the
land and living according to their religious beliefs.
Main article: Mennonites in Belize
Some 4% of the population are German-speaking
Mennonite
Mennonite farmers and
craftsmen. The vast majority are so-called
Russian Mennonites
Russian Mennonites of
German descent who settled in the
Russian Empire
Russian Empire during the 18th and
19th centuries. Most
Russian Mennonites
Russian Mennonites live in
Mennonite
Mennonite settlements
like Spanish Lookout, Shipyard, Little Belize, and Blue Creek. These
Mennonites speak
Plautdietsch
.svg/440px-Plautdietsch_vowel_chart_(Canadian_Old_Colony_dialect).svg.png)
Plautdietsch (a German dialect) in everyday life, but
use mostly
Standard German
Standard German for reading (the Bible) and writing. The
Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites came mostly from
Mexico
Mexico in the years
after 1958. There are also some mainly Pennsylvania German-speaking
Old Order Mennonites
Old Order Mennonites who came from the United States and
Canada
Canada in the
late 1960s. They live primarily in
Upper Barton Creek
Upper Barton Creek and associated
settlements. These Mennonites attracted people from different
Anabaptist
Anabaptist backgrounds who formed a new community. They look quite
similar to Old Order Amish, but are different from them.[79]
Other groups[edit]
The remaining 5% or so of the population consist of a mix of Indians,
Chinese, Whites from the United States and Canada, and many other
foreign groups brought to assist the country's development. During the
1860s, a large influx of East Indians who spent brief periods in
Jamaica
Jamaica and
American Civil War
American Civil War veterans from
Louisiana
Louisiana and other
Southern states established Confederate settlements in British
Honduras
Honduras and introduced commercial sugar cane production to the
colony, establishing 11 settlements in the interior. The 20th century
saw the arrival of more Asian settlers from mainland China, South
Korea, India, Syria, and Lebanon. Said Musa, the son of an immigrant
from Palestine, was the
Prime Minister of Belize
Prime Minister of Belize from 1998 to 2008.
Central American
Central American immigrants and expatriate Americans and Africans also
began to settle in the country.[76]
Emigration, immigration, and demographic shifts[edit]
Creoles and other ethnic groups are emigrating mostly to the United
States, but also to the
United Kingdom
United Kingdom and other developed nations for
better opportunities. Based on the latest US Census, the number of
Belizeans
Belizeans in the United States is approximately 160,000 (including
70,000 legal residents and naturalized citizens), consisting mainly of
Creoles and Garinagu.[80]
Because of conflicts in neighbouring
Central American
Central American nations, Mestizo
refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala, and
Honduras
Honduras have fled to Belize
in significant numbers during the 1980s, and have been significantly
adding to this group. These two events have been changing the
demographics of the nation for the last 30 years.[81]
Languages[edit]
Main article: Languages of Belize
English is the official language of Belize, a former British colony.
Belize
Belize holds the distinction of being the only country in Central
America whose official language is English. Also, English is the
primary language of public education, government and most media
outlets. About half of
Belizeans
Belizeans regardless of ethnicity speak an
English-based creole called
Belizean Creole (also referred to as
Kriol) for most informal, social and interethnic dialogue.
When a Creole language exists alongside its lexifier language, as is
the case in Belize, a continuum forms between the Creole and the
lexifier language. It is therefore difficult to substantiate or
differentiate the number of Creole speakers compared to English
speakers.
Belizean Creole might best be described as the lingua franca
of the nation.[82]
Approximately 50% of
Belizeans
Belizeans self-identify as Mestizo, Latino, or
Hispanic and 30% speak Spanish as a native language.[83] When Belize
was a British colony, Spanish was banned in schools but today it is
widely taught as a second language. "Kitchen Spanish" is an
intermediate form of Spanish mixed with Belizean Creole, spoken in the
northern towns such as Corozal and San Pedro.[78]
Over half the population is multilingual.[84] Being a small,
multiethnic state, surrounded by Spanish-speaking nations,
multilingualism is strongly encouraged.[85]
Belize
Belize is also home to three Mayan languages: Q’eqchi’, Mopan (an
endangered language), and
Yucatec
Yucatec Maya.[86][87][88] Approximately
16,100 people speak the Arawakan-based Garifuna language,[89] and
6,900
Mennonites in Belize
Mennonites in Belize speak mainly
Plautdietsch
Plautdietsch while a minority
of Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German.[90]
Largest cities[edit]
See also: List of municipalities in Belize
v
t
e
Largest cities or towns in Belize
Belize
Belize Population and Housing Census 2010
Rank
Name
District
Pop.
Belize
Belize City
San Ignacio
1
Belize
Belize City
Belize
Belize District
57,169
Belmopan
Orange Walk Town
2
San Ignacio
Cayo District
17,878
3
Belmopan
Cayo District
13,939
4
Orange Walk Town
Orange Walk District
13,708
5
San Pedro Town
Belize
Belize District
11,767
6
Corozal Town
Corozal District
10,287
7
Dangriga
Stann Creek District
9,593
8
Benque Viejo del Carmen
Cayo District
6,140
9
Ladyville
Belize
Belize District
5,458
10
Punta
Punta Gorda
Toledo District
5,351
Religion[edit]
Main article: Religion in Belize
Religion in Belize
.svg/200px-Americas_(orthographic_projection).svg.png)
Religion in Belize – 2010 Census
Religion
percent
Roman Catholic
40.1%
Protestant
31.8%
Jehovah's Witnesses
1.7%
Mormon
0.4%
Other Christian
0.1%
Other religion
9.6%
No religion
15.6%
No response
0.3%
According to the 2010 census,[4] 40.1% of
Belizeans
Belizeans are Roman
Catholics, 31.8% are
Protestants
Protestants (8.4% Pentecostal; 5.4% Adventist;
4.7% Anglican; 3.7% Mennonite; 3.6% Baptist; 2.9% Methodist; 2.8%
Nazarene), 1.7% are Jehovah's Witnesses, 10.3% adhere to other
religions (Maya religion, Garifuna religion,
Obeah
Obeah and Myalism, and
minorities of Mormons, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Bahá'ís,
Rastafarians
.svg/440px-Flag_of_Ethiopia_(1897-1936;_1941-1974).svg.png)
Rastafarians and other) and 15.5% profess to be irreligious.
According to PROLADES,
Belize
Belize was 64.6% Roman Catholic, 27.8%
Protestant, 7.6% Other in 1971.[91] Until the late 1990s,
Belize
Belize was a
Roman Catholic majority country. Catholics formed 57% of the
population in 1991, and dropped to 49% in 2000. The percentage of
Roman Catholics
.jpg/440px-Ignatius_of_Antiochie,_poss._by_Johann_Apakass_(17th_c.,_Pushkin_museum).jpg)
Roman Catholics in the population has been decreasing in the past few
decades due to the growth of Protestant churches, other religions and
non-religious people.[92]
In addition to Catholics, there has always been a large accompanying
Protestant minority. It was brought by British, German, and other
settlers to the British colony of British Honduras. From the
beginning, it was largely
Anglican
Anglican and
Mennonite
Mennonite in nature. The
Protestant community in
Belize
Belize experienced a large
Pentecostal
Pentecostal and
Seventh-Day
Adventist
Adventist influx tied to the recent spread of various
Evangelical Protestant
Evangelical Protestant denominations throughout Latin America.
Geographically speaking, German Mennonites live mostly in the rural
districts of Cayo and Orange Walk.
The
Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church has a presence in Santa Elena.[93]
The
Association of Religion Data Archives estimates there were 7,776
Bahá'ís in
Belize
Belize in 2005, or 2.5% of the national population. Their
estimates suggest this is the highest proportion of Bahá'ís in any
country.[94] Their data also states that the
Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith is the
second most common religion in Belize, followed by
Hinduism
Hinduism (2.0%) and
Judaism (1.1%).[95]
Hinduism
Hinduism is followed by most Indian immigrants.
Muslims claim that there have been Muslims in
Belize
Belize since the 16th
century having been brought over from
Africa
Africa as slaves, but there are
no sources for that claim.[96] The Muslim population of today started
the 1980s.[97] Muslims numbered 243 in 2000 and 577 in 2010 according
to the official statistics.[98] and comprise 0.16 percent of the
population. A mosque is at the Islamic Mission of
Belize
Belize (IMB), also
known as the Muslim Community of Belize. Another mosque, Masjid
Al-Falah, officially opened in 2008 in
Belize
Belize City.[99]
Health[edit]
Further information: Healthcare in Belize
Belize
Belize has a high prevalence of communicable diseases such as malaria,
respiratory diseases and intestinal illnesses.[100]
Education[edit]
Main article: Education in Belize
A number of kindergartens, secondary, and tertiary schools in Belize
provide quality education for students—mostly funded by the
government.
Belize
Belize has about a dozen tertiary level institutions, the
most prominent of which is the University of Belize, which evolved out
of the University College of
Belize
Belize founded in 1986. Before that St.
John's College, founded in 1877, dominated the tertiary education
field.
Education in Belize
Education in Belize is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14 years.
As of 2010[update], the literacy rate in
Belize
Belize was estimated at
79.7%,[4] one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere.
The educational policy is currently following the "Education Sector
Strategy 2011–2016", which sets 3 objectives for the years to come:
Improving access, quality, and governance of the education system by
providing technical and vocational education and training.[101]
Crime[edit]
Belize
Belize has relatively high rates of violent crime.[102] The majority
of violence in
Belize
Belize stems from gang activity, which includes
trafficking of drugs and persons, protecting drug smuggling routes,
and securing territory for drug dealing.[103]
In 2015, 119 murders were recorded in Belize, giving the country a
homicide rate of 34 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the
highest in the world, but lower than the neighbouring countries of
Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala.[104] Compared to the other
districts in Belize,
Belize District
Belize District (containing
Belize
Belize City) had the
most murders by far compared to all the other districts. In 2015, 55%
of the murders occurred in the
Belize
Belize District.[105] The violence in
Belize City
Belize City (especially the southern part of the city) is largely due
to gang warfare.[102]
In 2015, there were 40 reported cases of rape, 214 robberies, 742
burglaries, and 1027 cases of theft.[104]
The
Belize Police Department
Belize Police Department has implemented many protective measures
in hopes of decreasing the high number of crimes. These measures
include adding more patrols to "hot spots" in the city, obtaining more
resources to deal with the predicament, creating the "Do the Right
Thing for Youths at Risk" program, creating the Crime Information
Hotline, creating the Yabra Citizen Development Committee, an
organisation that helps youth, and many other initiatives. The Belize
Police Department began an Anti-Crime Christmas campaign targeting
criminals; as a result, the crime rates dropped in that month.[103] In
2011, the government established a truce among many major gangs,
lowering the murder rate.[102]
Social structure[edit]
Further information: Belizean society
Belize's social structure is marked by enduring differences in the
distribution of wealth, power, and prestige. Because of the small size
of Belize's population and the intimate scale of social relations, the
social distance between the rich and the poor, while significant, is
nowhere as vast as in other
Caribbean
Caribbean and
Central American
Central American societies,
such as
Jamaica
Jamaica and El Salvador.
Belize
Belize lacks the violent class and
racial conflict that has figured so prominently in the social life of
its
Central American
Central American neighbours.[106]
Political and economic power remain vested in the hands of the local
elite. The sizable middle group is composed of peoples of different
ethnic backgrounds. This middle group does not constitute a unified
social class, but rather a number of middle-class and working-class
groups, loosely oriented around shared dispositions toward education,
cultural respectability, and possibilities for upward social mobility.
These beliefs and the social practices they engender, help distinguish
the middle group from the grass roots majority of the Belizean
people.[106]
Women[edit]
In 2013, the
World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum ranked
Belize
Belize 101st out of 135
countries in its Global Gender Gap Report. Of all the countries in
Latin America
Latin America and the Caribbean,
Belize
Belize ranked 3rd from last and had
the lowest female-to-male ratio for primary school enrollment.[107] In
2013, the UN gave
Belize
Belize a
Gender Inequality Index
Gender Inequality Index score of 0.435,
ranking it 79th out of 148 countries.[108]
As of 2013[update], 48.3% of women in
Belize
Belize participate in the
workforce, compared to 81.8% of men.[108] 13.3% of the seats in
Belize's National Assembly are filled by women.[108]
Culture[edit]
Main article: Culture of Belize
In Belizean folklore, there are the legends of Lang Bobi Suzi, La
Llorona, La Sucia, Tata Duende, X'tabai, Anansi, Xtabay, Sisimite and
the cadejo.
Most of the public holidays in
Belize
Belize are traditional Commonwealth and
Christian holidays, although some are specific to Belizean culture
such as
Garifuna Settlement Day and Baron Bliss Day.[109] In addition,
the month of September is considered a special time of national
celebration. Besides
Independence
,_by_John_Trumbull.jpg/500px-Declaration_of_Independence_(1819),_by_John_Trumbull.jpg)
Independence Day and St. George's Caye Day,
Belizeans
Belizeans also celebrate
Carnival
Carnival during September, which typically
includes several events spread across multiple days. In some areas of
Belize, however,
Carnival
Carnival is celebrated at the traditional time before
Lent
Lent (in February).[110]
Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Cuisine of Belize
Rice and beans (with coconut milk), stewed recado chicken and potato
salad. An inter-ethnic staple meal
Belizean cuisine
Belizean cuisine is an amalgamation of all ethnicity in the nation,
and their respectively wide variety of foods. It might best be
described as both similar to Mexican/
Central American
Central American cuisine and
Jamaican/Anglo-
Caribbean
Caribbean cuisine.
Breakfast typically consists of bread, flour tortillas, or fry jacks
that are often homemade. Fry jacks are eaten with various cheeses,
refried beans, various forms of eggs or cereal, along with powdered
milk, coffee, or tea. Midday meals vary, from foods such as rice and
beans with or without coconut milk, tamales, "panades" (fried maize
shells with beans or fish), and meat pies, escabeche (onion soup),
chimole (soup), caldo, stewed chicken and garnaches (fried tortillas
with beans, cheese, and sauce) to various constituted dinners
featuring some type of rice and beans, meat and salad or coleslaw.
In rural areas, meals are typically more simple than in cities. The
Maya use maize, beans, or squash for most meals, and the Garifuna are
fond of seafood, cassava (particularly made into cassava bread or
Ereba) and vegetables. The nation abounds with restaurants and fast
food establishments selling fairly cheaply. Local fruits are quite
common, but raw vegetables from the markets less so. Mealtime is a
communion for families and schools and some businesses close at midday
for lunch, reopening later in the afternoon. Steak is also common.
Music[edit]
Main article: Music of Belize
Punta
Punta is a popular genre of
Garifuna music and has become one of the
most popular kinds of music in Belize. It is distinctly
Afro-Caribbean, and is sometimes said to be ready for international
popularization like similarly-descended styles (reggae, calypso,
merengue).
Brukdown is a modern style of Belizean music related to calypso. It
evolved out of the music and dance of loggers, especially a form
called buru. Reggae, dancehall, and soca imported from
Jamaica
Jamaica and the
rest of the West Indies, rap, hip-hop, heavy metal and rock music from
the United States, are also popular among the youth of Belize.
Sports[edit]
Main article: Sport in Belize
Accomplished Belizean cyclist Shalini Zabaneh
The major sports in
Belize
Belize are football, basketball, volleyball and
cycling, with smaller followings of boat racing, athletics, softball,
cricket, rugby and netball.
Fishing
Fishing is also popular in coastal areas
of Belize.
The Cross Country Cycling Classic, also known as the "cross country"
race or the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, is considered
one of the most important
Belize
Belize sports events. This one-day sports
event is meant for amateur cyclists but has also gained worldwide
popularity. The history of
Cross Country Cycling Classic in Belize
dates back to the period when
Monrad Metzgen picked up the idea from a
small village on the Northern Highway (now Phillip Goldson Highway).
The people from this village used to cover long distances on their
bicycles to attend the weekly game of cricket. He improvised on this
observation by creating a sporting event on the difficult terrain of
the Western Highway, which was then poorly built.
Another major annual sporting event in
Belize
Belize is the La Ruta Maya
Belize River
Belize River Challenge, a 4-day canoe marathon held each year in
March. The race runs from San Ignacio to
Belize
Belize City, a distance of
180 miles (290 km).[111]
On Easter day, citizens of
Dangriga
Dangriga participate in a yearly fishing
tournament. First, second, and third prize are awarded based on a
scoring combination of size, species, and number. The tournament is
broadcast over local radio stations, and prize money is awarded to the
winners.
The
Belize national basketball team
Belize national basketball team is the only national team that has
achieved major victories internationally. The team won the 1998
CARICOM Men's
Basketball
Basketball Championship, held at the Civic Center in
Belize
Belize City, and subsequently participated in the 1999 Centrobasquet
Tournament in Havana. The national team finished seventh of eight
teams after winning only 1 game despite playing close all the way. In
a return engagement at the 2000 CARICOM championship in Barbados,
Belize
Belize placed fourth. Shortly thereafter,
Belize
Belize moved to the Central
American region and won the
Central American
Central American Games championship in
2001.
The team has failed to duplicate this success, most recently finishing
with a 2 and 4 record in the 2006 COCABA championship. The team
finished second in the 2009 COCABA tournament in Cancun,
Mexico
Mexico where
it went 3–0 in group play.
Belize
Belize won its opening match in the
Centrobasquet Tournament, 2010, defeating Trinidad and Tobago, but
lost badly to
Mexico
Mexico in a rematch of the COCABA final. A tough win
over
Cuba
Cuba set
Belize
Belize in position to advance, but they fell to Puerto
Rico in their final match and failed to qualify.
National symbols[edit]
The keel-billed toucan
The national flower is the black orchid (Prosthechea cochleata, also
known as Encyclia cochleata). The national tree is the mahogany tree
(Swietenia macrophylla), which inspired the national motto Sub Umbra
Floreo, which means "Under the shade I flourish". The national animal
is the
Baird's tapir
Baird's tapir and the national bird is the keel-billed toucan
(Ramphastos sulphuratus).[112]
See also[edit]
Belizean people
Index of Belize-related articles
Outline of Belize
History of Catholicism in Belize
The Forgotten District
The Forgotten District – a documentary on Maya ecotourism in
southern Belize
Belize
Belize portal
Central America
Central America portal
Caribbean
Caribbean Community portal
Commonwealth realms portal
Geography portal
Notes[edit]
^ Percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able
to identify more than one ethnic origin.
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Central America
Sovereign states
Belize
Costa Rica
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Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
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North America
Sovereign states
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Dependencies and
other territories
Anguilla
Aruba
Bermuda
Bonaire
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Curaçao
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Martinique
Montserrat
Navassa Island
Puerto Rico
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saba
Sint Eustatius
Sint Maarten
Turks and Caicos Islands
United States Virgin Islands
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Members of the Commonwealth of Nations
Sovereign states
(Members)
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Botswana
Brunei
Cameroon
Canada
Cyprus
Dominica
Fiji
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
India
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
New Zealand
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Tanzania
The Gambia
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom
Vanuatu
Zambia
Dependencies
of Members
Australia
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Australian Antarctic Territory
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Coral Sea Islands
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Norfolk Island
New Zealand
Cook Islands
Niue
Ross Dependency
Tokelau
United Kingdom
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Guernsey
Isle of Man
Jersey
Montserrat
Pitcairn Islands
St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
Source: Commonwealth Secretariat - Member States
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Commonwealth realms and dominions
Current
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda (monarchy)
Australia
Australia (monarchy)
Bahamas (monarchy)
Barbados
Barbados (monarchy)
Belize
Belize (monarchy)
Canada
Canada (monarchy)
Grenada
Grenada (monarchy)
Jamaica
Jamaica (monarchy)
Realm of New Zealand
Cook Islands
New Zealand
Niue
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (monarchy)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis (monarchy)
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia (monarchy)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (monarchy)
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands (monarchy)
Tuvalu
Tuvalu (monarchy)
United Kingdom
United Kingdom (monarchy)
Former
Ceylon
Fiji
Fiji (monarchy)
The Gambia
Ghana
Guyana
India
Ireland (monarchy)
Kenya
Malawi
Malta
Malta (monarchy)
Mauritius
Newfoundland1
Nigeria
Pakistan
Rhodesia2
Sierra Leone
South
Africa
Africa (monarchy)
Tanganyika
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
1 Annexed by
Canada
Canada in 1949
2
Rhodesia
Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965, but this was
not recognised internationally. Declared itself a republic in 1970.
Authority control
WorldCat Identities
VIAF: 132456691
LCCN: n79126944
GND: 4005412-3
SUDOC: 028045564
BNF: cb131627681 (data)
NDL: 00576491
Coordinates: 17°4′N 88°42′W / 17.067°N 88.700°W /
17.
