Belize
Belize ranks high and low in ways you wouldn't predict. A top performer in obesity rate (#20), it falls behind in population density. Can you guess what else is surprising?
Belize is a country in North America with a population of 422.0K and an area of 22,966 km². Life expectancy is 73.6 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Life Expectancy
73.6 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Life Expectancy
73.6 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Human Development Index
0.72The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
GDP Per Capita
$13.3KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Internet Users (%)
72.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
14.3KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
❤️Obesity Rate
41.9%The percentage of adults who are obese (BMI of 30 or higher).
🌱Protected Land (%)
37.3%The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
💰Government Debt (% GDP)
99.0%How much money the central government owes as a percentage of GDP.
🔧Merchant Ships
774Merchant marine fleet size from CIA World Factbook.
🌍Lowest Elevation
0Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #165 in high-tech exports (%)
High-Tech Exports (%): 0.0%
High-tech products (like computers, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace) as a percentage of total manufactured exports.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #163 in active military personnel
Active Military Personnel: 1.5K
Military and security service personnel strengths from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #20 globally in obesity rate
Obesity Rate: 41.9%
The percentage of adults who are obese (BMI of 30 or higher).
Our World in Data 2023Ranks #24 globally in protected land (%)
Protected Land (%): 37.3%
The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
World Bank 2023Ranks #23 in government debt (% gdp) (lower is better)
Government Debt (% GDP): 99.0%
How much money the central government owes as a percentage of GDP.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Belize Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Belize
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992, and the two countries are still involved in an ongoing border dispute. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.
- Location
- Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
- 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
- Natural Resources
- arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
- Natural Hazards
- frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than Massachusetts
- Languages
- English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.5% (2010 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Church of Jesus Christ, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, White 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3% (2010 est.)
- Major Cities
- 23,000 BELMOPAN (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- Capital
- Belmopan
- Capital Coordinates
- 17 15 N, 88 46 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Name Origin
- traditionally believed to be derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the last name of Scottish explorer Peter Wallace, who settled in the area in 1638; alternatively, may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered"
- Independence
- 21 September 1981 (from the UK)
- National Symbols
- Baird's tapir (a large forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, black orchid
- National Anthem
- "God Save the King"
- UNESCO Heritage
- 1 (natural)
- Overview
- tourism- and agriculture-driven economy; strong post-pandemic rebound; innovative and ecological bond restructuring that significantly lowered public debt and expanded marine protections; central bank offering USD-denominated treasury notes; high mobility across borders
- Industries
- garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
- Agricultural Products
- sugarcane, maize, bananas, sorghum, soybeans, chicken, rice, oranges, fruits, plantains (2023)
- Export Partners
- USA 22%, UK 14%, Spain 9%, Guatemala 7%, Portugal 5% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- raw sugar, bananas, fish, shellfish, refined petroleum (2023)
- Import Partners
- USA 37%, China 17%, Guatemala 10%, Mexico 8%, Costa Rica 6% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, orthopedic appliances, ships, garments, tobacco (2023)
- Military Forces
- Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard (BCG) (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-23 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient, but conscription has never been implemented; initial service obligation is 12 years (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 52.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 32.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- 8 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV provides access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations broadcasting on roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio was privatized in 1998 (2019)
Deep Dive
64 of 77 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Guatemala
Honduras
El Salvador
Nicaragua
Libya
Iraq
Nauru
TunisiaCompare Belize with...
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
BermudaShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Belize!
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Frequently Asked Questions about Belize
Belize has a population of 422.0K, ranking #173 globally by population.
Belize is located in North America. It has an area of 22,966 km².
Life expectancy in Belize is 73.6 years, ranking #116 globally.
Belize's GDP per capita (PPP) is 14.3K, ranking #122 globally.
Belize ranks particularly high in Life Expectancy (#116), Life Expectancy (#135), Human Development Index (#115).
Belize has an HDI of 0.721, ranking #115 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Belize has a population density of 18.0 people per km², ranking #191 globally.
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