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Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist

       3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%,

       Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)

      Languages:

       English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write

       total population: 94.1%

       male: 94.1%

       female: 94.1% (2003 est.)

      Government Belize

      Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras

      Government type:

       parliamentary democracy

      Capital:

       Belmopan

      Administrative divisions:

       6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

      Independence:

       21 September 1981 (from UK)

      National holiday:

       Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

      Constitution:

       21 September 1981

      Legal system:

       English law

      Suffrage:

       18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),

       represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17

       November 1993)

       head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28

       August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September

       1998)

       cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of

       the prime minister

       elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general

       appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the

       leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition

       is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime

       minister recommends the deputy prime minister

      Legislative branch:

       bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members

       appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime

       minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and

       one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and

       Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce

       and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National

       Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee;

       members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of

       Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular

       vote to serve five-year terms)

       elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next

       to be held NA March 2008)

       election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -

       PUP 21, UDP 8

      Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor

       general on the advice of the prime minister)

      Political parties and leaders:

       People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party

       or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]

      Political pressure groups and leaders:

       Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele

       CATZIM]

      International organization participation:

       ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,

       ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,

       LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,

       UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

      Diplomatic representation in the US:

       chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN

       consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

       FAX: [1] (202) 332–6888

       telephone: [1] (202) 332–9636

       chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

      Diplomatic representation from the US:

       chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN

       embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City

       mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City

       telephone: [501] 227–7161 through 7163

       FAX: [501] 2–30802

      Flag description:

       blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;

       centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of

       arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany

       tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the

       Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

      Economy Belize

      Economy - overview:

       In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism

       industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by cane

       sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The

       government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in

       September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000,

       4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be the

       sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective

       remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international

       donors.

      GDP:

       purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)

      GDP - real growth rate:

       3.7% (2002 est.)

      GDP - per capita:

       purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)

      GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.7% industry: 24.5% services: 52.8% (2003 est.)

      Investment (gross fixed):

       33% of GDP (2003)

      Population below poverty line:

       33% (1999 est.)

      Household income or consumption by percentage share:

       lowest 10%: NA

       highest 10%: NA

      Inflation rate (consumer prices):

      

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