Belize- At a Glance

LOCATION:
East Coast of Central America, bounded on the North by Mexico, on the South and West by Gua- temala and on the East by the Caribbean Sea.

LAND AREA:
8,867 Square Miles or 22,923 sq. km.

CAPITAL AND MAJOR TOWNS:
(Capital) Belmopan: (Other City) Belize City, (Towns) San Ignacio, Benque Viejo Del Carmen, Corozal, Orange Walk, Dangriga, Monkey River and Punta Gorda.

CLIMATE:
Sub-Tropical (dry and wet season)

RAINFALL:
Ranges from 60 inches in the North to 200 inches in the South annually.

POPULATION:
Approximately 216,000 (1995), roughly 48% ur- ban and 52% rural.

DENSITY OF POPULATION:
Nine(9) persons per square kilometer.

LITERACY RATE:
80%

LABOR FORCE:
69,720 (1995)

LANGUAGES:
Official language is English, however, Spanish is widely spoken. There are also a number of ethnic languages e.g. Creole, Garifuna, Maya and Ketchi.

RELIGIONS:
Mainly Christianity - both Roman Catholics and Protestants. Small groups practice Islam, Hindu- ism and Bahai.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT:
Democratic - Bicameral Legislature based on Westminster System.

CURRENCY:
Belize dollar - pegged to the US$ since 1976.

EXCHANGE RATE:
US$ 1.00 = BZ$ 2.00

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
(BZ$ m) 986.0 Million (1995) Current Market Prices.

PER CAPITA GDP:
(BZ$) 4,718 (1995) Current Prices.

CHIEF PRODUCTS:
Sugar cane, citrus, bananas, rice paddy, red kidney beans, beef, pork, poultry, marine products, honey, garrnent, aerated beverages, alcoholic beverages, wheat flour, cigarettes,and batteries.

FOREIGN TRADE:
Exports - BZ$ 281.9 Million (1995), Imports BZ$49 1 .0 Million ( 1995).

PRINCIPAL EXPORTS:
Sugar, citrus, bananas, fish products, garments, and timber.

PRINCIPAL IMPORTS:
Machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and beverages, construction materi- als, fuel, and lubricants.

MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS:
The Unites States of America, United Kingdom, CARICOM, Mexico and Canada.

FUELS:
Oils and gas all imported.

ELECTRIC POWER:
Belize Electricity Limited Voltage 110 Volts, Optional 220 Volts, Cost of Kwh: BZ$ 0.38. Type of Generating: Diesel. Continuity: 90% - 95%

TELECOMMUNICATIONS:
All automatic systems: Direct dialing with major countries in the world, telexes and faxes are also readily available. U.S. Telexes and Faxes readily available.

BUSINESS HOURS:
Government working hours: (Monday - Friday) 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and l :00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Banking hours: (Monday - Thursday) 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Friday) 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ENTRY AND VISA REQUIREMENT:
Visitors are permitted to stay up to one(l) month provided they have a valid passport. Nationals of a few countries require visa for entry into Belize.

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