| Belize Facts and Figures Location Central America
Bordered By Mexico, Guatemala
Area 8,867 sq mi
(22,965 sq km)
Coastline 175 mi (282 km)
Highest Point Doyle's Delight; 3,806 ft
(1,160 m)
Lowest Point sea level
Natural Resources hydropower
Nationality Belizean
Population (July 2015 est) 347,389
Largest City Belmopan
Ethnic Groups mestizo, Creole, Maya
Religions Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages English (official), Spanish,
Creole, Maya
Capital Belmopan
Form of Government parliamentary
democracy
Present Constitution Adopted September
21, 1981
Chief of State Queen Elizabeth II of
the United Kingdom; represented by Governor General Sir
Colville Young (since November 17, 1993)
Head of Government Prime Minister Dean Oliver
Barrow (since February 8, 2008)
Cabinet appointed by the Governor General on the
advice of the Prime Minister from among members of the
National Assembly
Legislature bicameral National Assembly
Judiciary Supreme Court of Judicature
Local Administration 6 districts
Currency dollar (BZD)
Per Capita Income $8,300
Industries garment production,
food processing, tourism, construction, oil
Agricultural Products bananas,
cacao, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber
Export Commodities sugar,
bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood,
crude oil
Import Commodities machinery and
transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Independence from the United
Kingdom Achieved September 21, 1981
National Holidays Battle of St.
George's Caye Day, September 10 (1798); Independence Day,
September 21
Flag 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 of 50 mahogany leaves; the
colors are those of the two main political parties: blue
for the PUP and red for the UDP; the figures, the tools,
the mahogany tree, and the garland of leaves recall the
logging industry that led to British settlement of Belize
(Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts
human beings)
SEE ALSO
Mexico
Guatemala
Queen Elizabeth II
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