Geography
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico.
CIA 2026
Data as of May 5, 2026
Belize
North AmericaLand of Contrasts
Belize ranks high and low in ways you wouldn't predict. Can you guess what else is surprising?
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?
17.3, -88.8 - North America
Area
23K km²
Pop.
422.0K
Stats
108
Reality brief
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.
Short factual summary generated from the same country data used in game rounds.
Core numbers
Stats worth knowing
Fast scan first, deep dive later.
Life Expectancy
73.6 years#116globally
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Human Development Index
0.72#115globally
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
GDP Per Capita
$13,277.94#119globally
GDP per person adjusted for purchasing power in constant 2017 international dollars, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Internet Users (%)
72%#141globally
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
$14,346.52#122globally
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Country briefing
Grounded facts about Belize
A quick real-world briefing before you dive deeper into rankings, surprises, and matchups.
Culture
Major languages include English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, and more.
CIA 2026
Identity
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.
CIA 2026
Cities
Cities in Belize
Browse this country's cities before City Detective asks you to guess.
Top stats
Where They Stand Out
The strongest source-backed stats before the deeper data table.
Obesity Rate
41.91%#20globallyTop stat
Share of adults with obesity, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Protected Land (%)
37.3%#24globallyTop stat
The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
Government Debt (% GDP)
99% of GDP#23globallyTop stat
Central government debt as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Merchant Fleet Size
774#31globally
Number of merchant marine ships from the frozen public-domain CIA World Factbook snapshot.
Lowest Elevation
0 m#60globally
Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Reality checks
Did You Know?
The stats that tend to surprise players in real rounds.
Only ranks #165 in high-tech exports (%)
#1650.00%High-Tech Exports (%)
High-tech products (like computers, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace) as a percentage of total manufactured exports.
Only ranks #155 in armed forces personnel
#1552.0KArmed Forces Personnel
Total armed forces personnel from the World Bank latest available country value.
Only ranks #191 in population density
#19118.02 /km²Population Density
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Only ranks #195 in mobile subscriptions (%)
#19567 per 100 peopleMobile Subscriptions (%)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people, from World Bank Open Data.
Only ranks #142 in smoking rate
#1428.8%Smoking Rate
The percentage of people aged 15 and older who use tobacco products.
Compared with the region
How Belize Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
Belize
North America avg
World avg
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
- Country
- $14,346.52
- Region avg
- $38,271.63
- World avg
- $31,844.55
Belize$14,346.52
North America$38,271.63
World$31,844.55
-55% below worldWB 2023
Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
- Country
- 73.6 years
- Region avg
- 75.5 years
- World avg
- 73.7 years
Belize73.6 years
North America75.5 years
World73.7 years
0% below worldWB 2023
Human Development Index
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
- Country
- 0.72
- Region avg
- 0.77
- World avg
- 0.74
Belize0.72
North America0.77
World0.74
-3% below worldOWID 2023
Internet Users
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
- Country
- 72%
- Region avg
- 76.55%
- World avg
- 70.29%
Belize72%
North America76.55%
World70.29%
+2% above worldWB 2023
Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Play this countryFactbook notes
About Belize
Country briefing
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D.
Read the full Factbook note
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.
Geography & Climate6 facts
- 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
People & Culture4 facts
- 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 & History9 facts
- 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)
Economy & Trade7 facts
- 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)
Infrastructure & Defense4 facts
- 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)
Source:World Factbook archive 2026
Data vault
Deep Dive
Every tracked stat, grouped for fast scanning.
Health & Survival9 statsBest: #20
Obesity Rate
Life Expectancy
Infant Mortality
Child Mortality
Doctors (per 1,000)
Suicide Rate
Health Spending (% GDP)
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
Smoking Rate
Wealth & Economy10 statsBest: #23
Government Debt (% GDP)
Youth Unemployment Rate
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
Unemployment Rate
GDP Growth Rate
Inflation Rate
GDP Per Capita
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
GDP (Nominal)
High-Tech Exports (%)
Environment9 statsBest: #24
Protected Land (%)
Forest Coverage (%)
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
Renewable Energy (%)
Forest Area
Electricity Access (%)
CO2 Per Capita
Irrigated Land
35 km²#155
Total CO2 Emissions
Infrastructure2 statsBest: #31
Merchant Fleet Size
774#31
Airports
Lifestyle5 statsBest: #49
Land & Sea4 statsBest: #60
Lowest Elevation
0 m#60
Coastline Length
386 km#120
Land Border Length
542 km#137
Highest Elevation
1.1K m#155
Demographics12 statsBest: #62
Teen Birth Rate
Birth Rate
Youth Population (%)
Fertility Rate
Elderly Population (%)
Median Age
Land Area
Population
Urban Population (%)
Dependency Ratio
Death Rate
Population Density
Education & Future4 statsBest: #74
Military & Defense2 statsBest: #126
Technology3 statsBest: #141
Society & Equality1 statsBest: #147
Women in Parliament (%)
Energy1 statsBest: #168
Electric Generating Capacity
220.0K kW#168
Keep exploring
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Neighboring Countries
Share a country stat
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Belize
#116 in Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Top half globally
73.6 years
Frequently Asked Questions about Belize
What is the population of Belize?
Belize has a population of 422.0K, ranking #173 globally by population.
What continent is Belize in?
Belize is located in North America. It has an area of 22,966 km².
What is the life expectancy in Belize?
Life expectancy in Belize is 73.6 years, ranking #116 globally.
What is the GDP per capita of Belize?
Belize's GDP per capita (PPP) is $14,346.52, ranking #122 globally.
What is Belize known for in global statistics?
Belize ranks particularly high in Life Expectancy (#116), Life Expectancy (#135), Human Development Index (#115).
What is Belize's Human Development Index?
Belize has an HDI of 0.721, ranking #115 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
How densely populated is Belize?
Belize has a population density of 18.0 people per km², ranking #191 globally.