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manpower - fit for military service:

       males age 15–49: 2,068,221 (2004 est.)

      Military manpower - reaching military age annually:

       males: 61,270 (2004 est.)

      Military expenditures - dollar figure:

       $3.999 billion (2003)

      Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

       1.3% (2003)

      Transnational Issues Belgium

      Disputes - international:

       none

      Illicit drugs:

       growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound

       ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine

       processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and

       marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of

       legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering

       related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol and tobacco

      This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

      ======================================================================

      @Belize

      Introduction Belize

      Background:

       Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the

       independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.

       Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism

       has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued

       by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug

       trade, and increased urban crime.

      Geography Belize

      Location:

       Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and

       Mexico

      Geographic coordinates:

       17 15 N, 88 45 W

      Map references:

       Central America and the Caribbean

      Area:

       total: 22,966 sq km

       water: 160 sq km

       land: 22,806 sq km

      Area - comparative:

       slightly smaller than Massachusetts

      Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

      Coastline:

       386 km

      Maritime claims:

       territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from

       the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's

       territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,

       1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for

       the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences

       with Guatemala

       exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

      Climate:

       tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry

       season (February to May)

      Terrain:

       flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

      Elevation extremes:

       lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

       highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

      Natural resources:

       arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

      Land use: arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 1.71% other: 95.44% (2001)

      Irrigated land:

       30 sq km (1998 est.)

      Natural hazards:

       frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal

       flooding (especially in south)

      Environment - current issues:

       deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents,

       agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

      Environment - international agreements:

       party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

       Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law

       of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

       signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      Geography - note:

       only country in Central America without a coastline on the North

       Pacific Ocean

      People Belize

      Population:

       272,945 (July 2004 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 40.6% (male 56,530; female 54,322)

       15–64 years: 55.8% (male 77,118; female 75,309)

       65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,674; female 4,992) (2004 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 19.1 years

       male: 19 years

       female: 19.3 years (2004 est.)

      Population growth rate:

       2.39% (2004 est.)

      Birth rate:

       29.89 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

      Death rate:

       6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 26.37 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 22.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

       male: 29.75 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 67.43 years

       male: 65.11 years

       female: 69.86 years (2004 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       3.77 children born/woman (2004 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       2.4% (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       3,600 (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       less than 200 (2003 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

      Ethnic groups:

       mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%

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