Country Profile: Belize

Belize is a tropical nation located in Central America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Guatemala, and Mexico. It features a diverse topography that includes coastal plains and low mountains, and has a population of about 421,960 people as of 2025, predominantly of Mestizo, Creole, and Maya descent. The economy is heavily reliant on tourism and agriculture, while the government operates as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. Despite its natural beauty, Belize faces challenges such as high crime rates, foreign debt, and a significant youth unemployment rate.

Geography

Belize is situated in Central America between Guatemala and Mexico, with a total area of approximately 22,966 square kilometers. The country has a tropical climate characterized by a hot, humid rainy season and a dry season. The flat coastal plains are interspersed with low mountains, with Doyle's Delight being the highest point at 1,124 meters. Belize is notably the only Central American country without direct access to the North Pacific Ocean.

• 22,966 sq km - total area
• 386 km - coastline
• 58.3% - forested land (2023)
• 4.4% - arable land (2023)
• 35 sq km - irrigated land (2012)
• 266 km - border with Guatemala
• 276 km - border with Mexico

People and Society

Belize’s estimated population in 2025 is around 421,960, with a median age of 27.2 years. The population is comprised of various ethnic groups, with Mestizo making up 52.9%, followed by Creole at 25.9%. English is the official language, although Spanish and Creole are also widely spoken. The country enjoys a relatively high literacy rate of 87.9% (2022), and approximately 46.6% of the population lives in urban areas.

• 421,960 - population (2025)
• 27.7% - population aged 0-14 years
• 1.47% - annual population growth rate (2025)
• 74.3 years - life expectancy at birth (2024)
• 2.02 - fertility rate (children born/woman, 2025)
• 87.9% - literacy rate (2022)
• 15.5% - population reported with no religion (2010)

Economy

Belize has an economy driven predominantly by tourism and agriculture, with a real GDP of approximately $5.538 billion expected in 2024. The country has demonstrated a strong economic rebound post-pandemic, with a projected growth rate of 8.2% for 2024. Agricultural products include sugarcane and bananas, while the services sector contributes significantly to GDP.

• 8.1% - agriculture's contribution to GDP (2023)
• 62.4% - services' contribution to GDP (2023)
• 7% - unemployment rate (2024)
• $1.64 billion - projected exports (2024)
• $1.724 billion - projected imports (2024)
• $5,538 - real GDP (PPP, 2024)
• 4.4% - remittances as GDP share (2024)

Government

Belize operates as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with Belmopan as the capital. The country gained independence from the UK on September 21, 1981. The political structure includes a bicameral legislature comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate. The current Prime Minister is John Briceño, who has been in office since November 12, 2020.

• 1981 - year of independence from the UK
• 18 - minimum voting age
• 6 - administrative districts
• 32 - members of the House of Representatives
• 13 - members of the Senate
• King Charles III - current head of state (since 2022)
• Froyla Tzalam - Governor-General (since 2021)

Military and Security

The Belize Defense Force (BDF) serves as the military of Belize, supported by the Coast Guard. The country maintains a small military presence, focusing on both national defense and support for civilian authorities. Military expenditures are around 1% of GDP, and personnel strength is approximately 1,500.

• 1% - military expenditure as a percentage of GDP (2024)
• 1,500 - approximate BDF personnel (2025)
• 18-23 - voluntary military service age
• 0.9% - military expenditure as a percentage of GDP (2023)
• UK - primary military training partner
• Belize Coast Guard - responsible for coastal security
• BDF - traces history back to 1817

Energy

Belize has made significant strides in electricity access, with around 98.6% of the population electrified as of 2022. The country's primary electricity generation sources include hydroelectric, fossil fuels, and biomass. Belize has a total generating capacity of 220,000 kW, with a focus on renewable energy sources.

• 98.6% - total population with electricity access (2022)
• 595.389 million kWh - total electricity consumption (2023)
• 52.9% - hydroelectricity share in total installed capacity (2023)
• 800 bbl/day - total petroleum production (2023)
• 5,000 bbl/day - refined petroleum consumption (2023)
• 32.7% - biomass and waste share in total installed capacity (2023)
• 30.752 million Btu/person - energy consumption per capita (2023)

Environment

Belize faces various environmental challenges, including deforestation and water pollution. The country is a party to multiple international environmental agreements aimed at preserving biodiversity and tackling climate change. Urbanization is occurring at a rate of 2.3% annually, with 46.6% of the population residing in urban areas.

• 58.3% - forested area (2023)
• 21.734 billion cubic meters - total renewable water resources (2022)
• 101,400 tons - municipal solid waste generated annually (2024)
• 10.4% - percentage of municipal solid waste recycled (2022)
• 662,000 metric tonnes - carbon dioxide emissions (2023)
• 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter - particulate matter emissions (2019)
• 68.4 million cubic meters - total water withdrawal for agriculture (2022)

Transportation

Belize has a moderately developed transportation network, featuring 27 airports and a small merchant marine fleet. The main ports are in Belize City and Big Creek, facilitating trade and transportation. The civil aircraft registration prefix is V3.

• 27 - number of airports (2025)
• 774 - total merchant marine vessels (2023)
• 2 - total number of ports (2024)
• 5 - number of heliports (2025)
• 140.519 million kWh - electricity transmission/distribution losses (2023)
• Belize City - primary port
• Big Creek - secondary port

Communications

Belize has a growing communications infrastructure, with high internet usage at around 72% of the population. There are multiple telecommunication services, including mobile and broadband subscriptions. The country has 8 privately owned television stations, providing access to a mix of local and foreign content.

• 72% - internet user penetration (2023)
• 271,000 - mobile subscriptions (2022)
• 39,000 - fixed broadband subscriptions (2022)
• 17,800 - fixed telephone line subscriptions (2022)
• 10 - broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2022)
• 4 - fixed line subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2022)
• 50 - different frequencies broadcast by radio stations

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	421,960	Estimated for 2025
Area	22,966 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$5.538 billion	Estimated for 2024
Energy Consumption	30.752 million Btu/person	Per capita consumption (2023)
Birth Rate	17.44 births/1,000 population	Estimate for 2025
Unemployment Rate	7%	Estimate for 2024
Literacy Rate	87.9%	Estimated for 2022
Life Expectancy	74.3 years	Estimated for 2024
Electricity Access	98.6%	Total electrification (2022)
Military Expenditure	1%	As a percentage of GDP (2024)